90% of Young Philadelphians Unfit for Military Service

[93henfan]

The Philadelphia numbers are ridiculous, of course, but what was more startling to me was that 75% percent nationally are disqualified, per DoD. This country is pathetic.

Report: Most Philadelphians not fit for military

The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA—A nonprofit group says that up to 90 percent of young Philadelphians are ineligible for military service because of criminal records, obesity or lack of education.

Pennsylvania-based Mission: Readiness released its report Monday. It says 1 million Pennsylvanians are ineligible for the same reasons.

Mission: Readiness is made up of more than 150 retired generals and admirals. The group wants state and federal funding for pre-kindergarten programs that it says give children a solid foundation for academic and personal success.

The report says 145,000 Philadelphians ages 18 to 24 cannot meet the military's medical, moral and mental standards.

Nationally, the Department of Defense estimates that 75 percent of young adults are disqualified from military service.

Source: http://www.ydr.com/ci_15294490
The report: http://www.missionreadiness.org/MR%20Ph ... 206-11.pdf

[Col Hogan]

And they didn't even talk about the # of people disqualified because of things like tats...

[mrklean]

The Philadelphia numbers are ridiculous, of course, but what was more startling to me was that 75% percent nationally are disqualified, per DoD. This country is pathetic.

Report: Most Philadelphians not fit for military

The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA—A nonprofit group says that up to 90 percent of young Philadelphians are ineligible for military service because of criminal records, obesity or lack of education.

Pennsylvania-based Mission: Readiness released its report Monday. It says 1 million Pennsylvanians are ineligible for the same reasons.

Mission: Readiness is made up of more than 150 retired generals and admirals. The group wants state and federal funding for pre-kindergarten programs that it says give children a solid foundation for academic and personal success.

The report says 145,000 Philadelphians ages 18 to 24 cannot meet the military's medical, moral and mental standards.

Nationally, the Department of Defense estimates that 75 percent of young adults are disqualified from military service.

Source: http://www.ydr.com/ci_15294490
The report: http://www.missionreadiness.org/MR%20Ph ... 206-11.pdf

Sad. This should be a Defense Department matter. Who will defend our country if no one is fit to serve? I can get a FAT AZZ in shape, but lack of education and a criminal record says something about ones charter!!!!!!

[AZGrizFan]

Sad. This should be a Defense Department matter. Who will defend our country if no one is fit to serve? I can get a FAT AZZ in shape, but lack of education and a criminal record says something about ones charter!!!!!!

Agreed.

[YoUDeeMan]

Sad. This should be a Defense Department matter. Who will defend our country if no one is fit to serve? I can get a FAT AZZ in shape, but lack of education and a criminal record says something about ones charter!!!!!!

Philly is a shit hole.

[mrklean]

Sad. This should be a Defense Department matter. Who will defend our country if no one is fit to serve? I can get a FAT AZZ in shape, but lack of education and a criminal record says something about ones charter!!!!!!

Philly is a **** hole.

SO TRUE!

[dgreco]

I would of loved to do OCS, but I was dinged for asthma and tattoos. I would of also loved the possibility of JAG, but I am sure things won't change in 3 years.

[BDKJMU]

If we had today's late teens-20 somethings in WWII we would have been screwed.

[BDKJMU]

And they didn't even talk about the # of people disqualified because of things like tats...

When did the military start disqualifying people for tats? Seems like the majority of enlisted in the military have tats.

[Col Hogan]

And they didn't even talk about the # of people disqualified because of things like tats...

When did the military start disqualifying people for tats? Seems like the majority of enlisted in the military have tats.

Not for your basic tats...but stuff on the neck...stuff visible when wearing certain uniforms...racist or sexist stuff...tats like that which are becoming more and more common...

[houndawg]

You guys are such a bunch of Chicken Littles. Just because they're unfit for military service they could still be useful to the nation.






By joining the Navy.

[mrklean]

I would of loved to do OCS, but I was dinged for asthma and tattoos. I would of also loved the possibility of JAG, but I am sure things won't change in 3 years.

Its not the Tats!!

[Franks Tanks]

Philadelphia is not a shit hole. It is a historic city with lots of great things to do and lots of areas that are being revitalized by young people.

The fact is however that Philadelphia has many of the same problems as other NE cities like D.C, Baltimore and NYC. Also their is a significant poor black population within the city of Philadelphia. In overwhelming numbers young black men drop out of high school, go to jail, and are in worse shape than their peers of other races. It is terrible to say but demographically it is true.

Also the weight thing in crazy. I believe someone who is 6'2" can weigh no more than 189. That is really skinny. Plenty of people are 6'2" and well over that weight and in tremendous shape in every way. Weight should not be a requirement provided that a person can perform the exercises.

[dgreco]

I would of loved to do OCS, but I was dinged for asthma and tattoos. I would of also loved the possibility of JAG, but I am sure things won't change in 3 years.

Its not the Tats!!

I do not have neck tattoos or face tattoos or hand tattoos, but I do have tattoos that are easily visible. When I went to a recruiter for OCS that was the first thing they cited to me.

[mrklean]

Philadelphia is not a **** hole. It is a historic city with lots of great things to do and lots of areas that are being revitalized by young people.

The fact is however that Philadelphia has many of the same problems as other NE cities like D.C, Baltimore and NYC. Also their is a significant poor black population within the city of Philadelphia. In overwhelming numbers young black men drop out of high school, go to jail, and are in worse shape than their peers of other races. It is terrible to say but demographically it is true.

Also the weight thing in crazy. I believe someone who is 6'2" can weigh no more than 189. That is really skinny. Plenty of people are 6'2" and well over that weight and in tremendous shape in every way. Weight should not be a requirement provided that a person can perform the exercises.

Now you want to blame it one the black population?? WHen it comes to the black males, its the education and criminal record that keeps them out. This is my concern. Like I said before, I can get a Fatt Azz in shape at anytime. This was not just the city of Philadelphia but the entire surrounding areas. And yes Philadelphia is a SHIT hole of a City. 70% black male drop out rate. Great Work Philly

[Franks Tanks]

Philadelphia is not a **** hole. It is a historic city with lots of great things to do and lots of areas that are being revitalized by young people.

The fact is however that Philadelphia has many of the same problems as other NE cities like D.C, Baltimore and NYC. Also their is a significant poor black population within the city of Philadelphia. In overwhelming numbers young black men drop out of high school, go to jail, and are in worse shape than their peers of other races. It is terrible to say but demographically it is true.

Also the weight thing in crazy. I believe someone who is 6'2" can weigh no more than 189. That is really skinny. Plenty of people are 6'2" and well over that weight and in tremendous shape in every way. Weight should not be a requirement provided that a person can perform the exercises.

Now you want to blame it one the black population?? WHen it comes to the black males, its the education and criminal record that keeps them out. This is my concern. Like I said before, I can get a Fatt Azz in shape at anytime. This was not just the city of Philadelphia but the entire surrounding areas. And yes Philadelphia is a **** hole of a City. 70% black male drop out rate. Great Work Philly

Well who makes it a shithole (in your opinion)? Could it be those 70% of kids that drop out to deal drugs and shoot each other? Hmmmm...

You cant make someone attend school and give a crap. Unless some of the inner city Philly communities get some self respect things will not change.

[GannonFan]

Now you want to blame it one the black population?? WHen it comes to the black males, its the education and criminal record that keeps them out. This is my concern. Like I said before, I can get a Fatt Azz in shape at anytime. This was not just the city of Philadelphia but the entire surrounding areas. And yes Philadelphia is a **** hole of a City. 70% black male drop out rate. Great Work Philly

Well who makes it a shithole (in your opinion)? Could it be those 70% of kids that drop out to deal drugs and shoot each other? Hmmmm...

You cant make someone attend school and give a crap. Unless some of the inner city Philly communities get some self respect things will not change.

It's not just poor Black people though - it's poor people in general. Philly's got plenty of poor white and poor Hispanic kids that drop out too. I worked as an engineer at a manufacturing plant in NE Philly for 4 years and the inability to find even literate people for operators in the surrounding neighborhoods was appalling. That's the real problem with the inner cities - even in spite of large amounts of money being pumped into the educational system, there are just too many kids for too many reasons that don't/can't succeed. And then they grow up and have their own kids that don't/can't succeed. And Philly is just like any other city in that regard.

[Franks Tanks]

Well who makes it a shithole (in your opinion)? Could it be those 70% of kids that drop out to deal drugs and shoot each other? Hmmmm...

You cant make someone attend school and give a crap. Unless some of the inner city Philly communities get some self respect things will not change.

It's not just poor Black people though - it's poor people in general. Philly's got plenty of poor white and poor Hispanic kids that drop out too. I worked as an engineer at a manufacturing plant in NE Philly for 4 years and the inability to find even literate people for operators in the surrounding neighborhoods was appalling. That's the real problem with the inner cities - even in spite of large amounts of money being pumped into the educational system, there are just too many kids for too many reasons that don't/can't succeed. And then they grow up and have their own kids that don't/can't succeed. And Philly is just like any other city in that regard.

Of cousre its not just the black folks. We have plenty of criminals and chronic welfare types of all races in Philly. However, black folks typically lead other races in terms of % of dropouts, those in jail etc. and Philly has a large black population. By simply using demographic information it is pretty easy to see why these numbers look so bad.

[mrklean]

Now you want to blame it one the black population?? WHen it comes to the black males, its the education and criminal record that keeps them out. This is my concern. Like I said before, I can get a Fatt Azz in shape at anytime. This was not just the city of Philadelphia but the entire surrounding areas. And yes Philadelphia is a **** hole of a City. 70% black male drop out rate. Great Work Philly

Well who makes it a shithole (in your opinion)? Could it be those 70% of kids that drop out to deal drugs and shoot each other? Hmmmm...

You cant make someone attend school and give a crap. Unless some of the inner city Philly communities get some self respect things will not change.

From top to bottom that City is a SHIT HOLE. Just look at the way they act at Eagles games. They tell you not to wear the opponent's gear at the games in fear that you will get attacked in the restroom. No wonder why they have a 70% drop out rate. Real classy Philly

[GannonFan]

Well who makes it a shithole (in your opinion)? Could it be those 70% of kids that drop out to deal drugs and shoot each other? Hmmmm...

You cant make someone attend school and give a crap. Unless some of the inner city Philly communities get some self respect things will not change.

From top to bottom that City is a **** HOLE. Just look at the way they act at Eagles games. They tell you not to wear the opponent's gear at the games in fear that you will get attacked in the restroom. No wonder why they have a 70% drop out rate. Real classy Philly

Ah, there we are, the typical fall back onto the fans being worse there than anywhere. Of course, that doesn't hold up to actual scrutiny as Philly is no worse fan-wise than most other cities, especially in the Northeast (although watching Diamondback fans stop a playoff game while peppering the field and opposing players with projectiles and with Chicago's Wrigley Field bleachers being notorious for hostility towards opposing fans and dumping beer on opposing players it's not just a Northeast thing), but hey, overhyped, tripe stereotypes wouldn't be stereotypes if people just didn't rotely recite them without any actual thought as to whether it's true or not.

[93henfan]

Also the weight thing in crazy. I believe someone who is 6'2" can weigh no more than 189. That is really skinny. Plenty of people are 6'2" and well over that weight and in tremendous shape in every way. Weight should not be a requirement provided that a person can perform the exercises.

Not sure where you got that info. I'm 5'9" and the max weight for that height when I was USMC was 186 lbs. There are waivers for those with higher weight due to muscle mass. They would measure you neck and waist and (roughly speaking - I forget the exact formula) if the waist minus neck measurement was 20 or less, you were OK.

EDIT: I looked up the Marine height/weight chart online. Max weight for 6'2" is 214 lbs.

[YoUDeeMan]

Well who makes it a shithole (in your opinion)? Could it be those 70% of kids that drop out to deal drugs and shoot each other? Hmmmm...

You cant make someone attend school and give a crap. Unless some of the inner city Philly communities get some self respect things will not change.

Uhhhh....why did you argue with me that Philly is a shit hole? Gannonfan's right....it runs across all races...we just closed down our Philly operation because we couldn't get enough qualified people to work. Say goodbye to about 40 jobs that paid an average of +60K.

The unions are whacked, the schools are sinking, the violence is ridiculous, trash is everywhere...the city is a shit hole.

[mainejeff]

If we had today's late teens-20 somethings in WWII we would have been screwed.

And if we had WWII in 2010.........we would have been screwed.

Can you see the fvckin Baby Boomers leading us in a do-or-die war like that!?!

[mrklean]

Well who makes it a shithole (in your opinion)? Could it be those 70% of kids that drop out to deal drugs and shoot each other? Hmmmm...

You cant make someone attend school and give a crap. Unless some of the inner city Philly communities get some self respect things will not change.

Uhhhh....why did you argue with me that Philly is a **** hole? Gannonfan's right....it runs across all races...we just closed down our Philly operation because we couldn't get enough qualified people to work. Say goodbye to about 40 jobs that paid an average of +60K.

The unions are whacked, the schools are sinking, the violence is ridiculous, trash is everywhere...the city is a **** hole.

I know several people who need a job real bad. SAD

[YoUDeeMan]

If we had today's late teens-20 somethings in WWII we would have been screwed.

Actually, it might have helped. We wouldn't have needed as many ships to invade on D-Day or the islands in the Pacific. The big boys could have floated ashore.