Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNavy Loosens Body Fat Rules to Retain Sailors
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/03/06/navy-loosens-body-fat-rules-to-retain-sailors.htmlSAN DIEGO -- The Navy is giving another chance to thousands of sailors who otherwise would be kicked out for repeatedly failing their physical fitness tests because they exceeded body fat limits.
The service branch loosened its body fat restrictions in January and is allowing those who failed their exams three or more times to get one more opportunity to be tested this spring under the more lenient guidelines.
The Navy said it has been losing too many talented sailors. Some were resorting to liposuction, diet pills and other measures to save their careers.
The Navy allowed about 2,400 sailors who passed a preliminary test under the new rules to stay in, reducing the number of failures on their records from three to one, said Navy spokesman, Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen. In the past, three failures were grounds for being kicked out. The sailors will be measured again this spring and allowed only two failures now instead of three.
The changes are the latest by the military looking to improve its abilities to recruit and retain talented people as it builds up its cyber-warfare strategy and faces competition from a rebounding economy.
A 2014 Pentagon study found that roughly two-thirds of Americans would not qualify to enlist in the armed services as a result of health problems, obesity and the failure to complete a high school education.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
8 replies, 1144 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (1)
ReplyReply to this post
8 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Navy Loosens Body Fat Rules to Retain Sailors (Original Post)
WhiteTara
Mar 2016
OP
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,947 posts)1. Fat is more buoyant than muscle.
Wouldn't it make sense for sailors to carry a little extra in case they fell overboard?
lpbk2713
(42,772 posts)2. Seems like it might also help ...
if they were in cold water for a while.
WhiteTara
(29,730 posts)3. why not
closeupready
(29,503 posts)8. OMG.
malthaussen
(17,230 posts)4. Huh, they kicked my brother out because he was too fat.
Some years ago, that was, but it was unfortunate, he was a first-class enlisted man otherwise (and would have made Chief in record time if he could have kept his weight down).
-- Mal
WhiteTara
(29,730 posts)5. too bad. Today he would be able to stay
maybe he can re-up as they have loosened the recruiting standards.
malthaussen
(17,230 posts)6. Ah, my brother, alas, has been dead for a decade.
Thus, not qualified to re-enlist. He was out in the mid-eighties.
-- Mal
WhiteTara
(29,730 posts)7. Oh, I'm sorry.
That's an experience I have not had to endure. I'm sorry for your loss.