Posers

[tacticalcity]

@TC I have no doubts that there would issues from the example both of you have placed but I should have clarified it a little more. I would believe that the ration of Spec Ops folks that results with mental issues would be a very small percentage.

BTW: I still have my active duty ID. They forgot to ask for it when I left Langley.

One would hope. I do know former Rangers, Special Forces, and Marine Sniper and Recon guys that seem perfectly normal and to my knowledge don't have any mental or substance abuse issues...all of which saw a great deal of combat in recent years. So it is not a given by any means. It just reminds me to give the guys who don't have their stuff squared away the benefit of the doubt.

I have two military IDs. One of the really old ones n green (active duty) that was laminated, and then a newer hard print card in red I got when I seperated from active duty and entered the reserves. The laminated one is so beatup it looks like it is from Vietnam. The newer card one looks brand new after 12 years of being in my wallet (including several trips through the washing machine).

As I understand it the IDs are totally different now. More like smart cards. They store information about you right on the card, and can be used as your digital pass key for secure military installations. Not sure they have been released to every member of every branch of service yet. But they are coming. So our old IDs will stand out. Newer generation guy's probably won't be able to recognize them at all.

[Outta Control]

Agreed. I have a buddy of mine trying to be a LEO and was screen-out because they were afraid that he would suffering from PTSD. I mean the guy was a Marine w/ a purple heart or goodness sakes. Anyways he got into a better agency in my book and he seems very happy there.

[ottomatic]

Overweight

Referring to overweight people in service:

Hell yeah there was overweight people on active duty in my unit. IIRC it is a flag on their record but waiver-able, thus they are eligible for promotion. Once you are in and get to you permanent station your service longevity is going to depend on your work ethic, or ability suck up to the higher up's.
You can be chapterd out for being overweight but unless you are a complete turd you will be fine.

hell that was the only thing that really struck a nerve with me: a lazy fat (FAT!) SSG telling me that my PT scores need improvement. S*I!, I could smoke you on any PT test and you are giving me flak. Pfft OK.

[Outta Control]

Interesting read: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_seal_sleuths

SEAL sleuths expose those who've faked service
By DAVID SHARP, Associated Press

[tacticalcity]

Referring to overweight people in service:

Hell yeah there was overweight people on active duty in my unit. IIRC it is a flag on their record but waiver-able, thus they are eligible for promotion. Once you are in and get to you permanent station your service longevity is going to depend on your work ethic, or ability suck up to the higher up's.
You can be chapterd out for being overweight but unless you are a complete turd you will be fine.

hell that was the only thing that really struck a nerve with me: a lazy fat (FAT!) SSG telling me that my PT scores need improvement. S*I!, I could smoke you on any PT test and you are giving me flak. Pfft OK.

That is a very common and usually completely incorrect attitude. Yes we can all point the one example of the sickcall ranger who fit the sterotype, but in my experience he is the exception and not the rule.

There are people who are going to heavy no matter how much they exercise. They are the guys who make up an offensive and defensive line on just about every high school and college football team in America. Calling those guy's lazy is ridiculous. They work their behinds off everyday, just as much or more than the skinny guys on the team. They usually are a lot tougher as well.

A lot of those guys go on to join the military. They keep up their work ethic and physical fitness level, but also keep on the weight. Then some guy who can eat nothing but junk food and sit on the couch all day long and never put on weight calls them lazy. Meanwhile that heavyset guy is ten times the Airman, Sailor, Soldier or Marine they are.

It is called genetics. Guy's with a stong enough work ethic and mindset can overcome their fat gene and tough out those long runs and endurance tests, even with the weight that just won't go away.

I personally was on the skinny side back in my military days. Not so much any more. But I did serve with guys that were heavyset and had ten times the work ethic as the jerks who were ridding them about their weight.

I watched very skinny people make fun of those guys, for being "fat" and question how they ever made it into our particular unit. Then when did our morning PT and came to the five mile run. Those skinny people (usually smokers) where lagging way behind and hating life while the fat guys were near the front and doing just fine.

My point is, fitness level is not just about how much weight you are carrying. Mental toughness and a strong work ethic are a lot more important than appearances.

[ottomatic]

That is a very common and usually completely incorrect attitude. Yes we can all point the one example of the sickcall ranger who fit the sterotype, but in my experience he is the exception and not the rule.

There are people who are going to heavy no matter how much they exercise. They are the guys who make up an offensive and defensive line on just about every high school and college football team in America. Calling those guy's lazy is ridiculous. They work their behinds off everyday, just as much or more than the skinny guys on the team. They usually are a lot tougher as well.

A lot of those guys go on to join the military. They keep up their work ethic and physical fitness level, but also keep on the weight. Then some guy who can eat nothing but junk food and sit on the couch all day long and never put on weight calls them lazy. Meanwhile that heavyset guy is ten times the Airman, Sailor, Soldier or Marine they are.

It is called genetics. Guy's with a stong enough work ethic and mindset can overcome their fat gene and tough out those long runs and endurance tests, even with the weight that just won't go away.

I personally was on the skinny side back in my military days. Not so much any more. But I did serve with guys that were heavyset and had ten times the work ethic as the jerks who were ridding them about their weight.

I watched very skinny people make fun of those guys, for being "fat" and question how they ever made it into our particular unit. Then when did our morning PT and came to the five mile run. Those skinny people (usually smokers) where lagging way behind and hating life while the fat guys were near the front and doing just fine.

My point is, fitness level is not just about how much weight you are carrying. Mental toughness and a strong work ethic are a lot more important than appearances.

Wow, I don't have time to respond to this right now. Wish I did. especially "It is called genetics", That equates to "I have no long term self motivation and cant cut down my caloric intake". Damn Biology paper keeping me from CGF.

[Outta Control]

If you look people like Oprah, Denzel Washington, even Mark Walhberg who regularly workout and eat right, etc, and some some having good success to fight to maintain their physique. There are some people that have a predisposition to gain weight as they age. So you can say I am on TC's side.

[llamatrnr]

Naw. I'm 43. I retired when I was 42. I went in at the ripe old age of 18. Kinda of scary when I see it in print.

Don't worry; it gets better. At my age I can't see the print

[epilepticninja]

Don't worry; it gets better. At my age I can't see the print

What really freaks me out, was looking at 18 year old E-1's and thinking that it really didn't seem like it was that long ago that I was a slick sleeve. And then realizing that I was now that crusty Senior.

[EOD3]

Isn't it amazing how many "kiddies" think being a soldier is ALL about the PT test and being "pretty" in their class A uniform. Usually, it sounds like their only source of "pride" is being a shiny pebble in a larger "box of rocks".

Brains and ability are a lot more useful than a well dressed corpse.

[mlevans66]

Isn't it amazing how many "kiddies" think being a soldier is ALL about the PT test and being "pretty" in their class A uniform. Usually, it sounds like their only source of "pride" is being a shiny pebble in a larger "box of rocks".

Brains and ability are a lot more useful than a well dressed corpse.

Ahahaha so right!

[Uriah02]

I don't think anyone answered my question. How is it that overweight soldiers are deployed?

People fudge records all the time to get the bodies needed to deploy...

[haole_50]

In the early 70s, the Army was attempting to go VOLAR (Volunteer Army), with no draftees; they implemented a program that gave "guarantees" to new enlistees, who signed up for 3 years. I did that, and yes I was a bit on the heavy side. I did an "delayed" enlistment (signed up in April, didn't report until Sept 72). I had hair down past my shoulders and an E-1. When I reported, I was promoted to E-2. I arrived at BCT (Ft Ord) and the DIs were questioning my "skeeter wings", I showed my prom order and they left me alone; problem was some of the idiots in my platoon/company saw my stripes and thought they "could just buy and put 'em on!" That got them a lot of push ups. Yes I struggled for a couple of weeks, getting in shape and felt a lot better (I entered at 185#), 10 weeks of BCT and I needed new uniforms. "What makes you think you need new uniforms" was my Sr DIs query. I raised my uniform shirt and showed him my pants were folded over to my right side. Got new ones right away. So, yes we had "posers" even in basic training, until they were called out by the "door sized" drill sgts we had.