Too fat to fight for country

A Colorado nonprofit says the military is threatened by childhood obesity.

COLORADO SPRINGS» Even the kids in America’s fittest state are too fat to fight their nation’s wars, a promilitary nonprofit argues in a new study.

The military has long bemoaned America’s tubby youth, and the Council for a Strong America says Colorado is part of the problem, with more than 27 percent of the state’s children categorized as overweight.

“Low levels of physical activity and the obesity epidemic are contributing to an unprecedented readiness problem for our armed forces,” the nonprofit said.

Those extra candy bars compound a complex problem for military recruiting. Between other health issues, criminal records and other troubles from facial tattoos to drug habits, a full 70 percent of Colorado teens are ineligible for military service.

Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terrance McWilliams said extra pounds are of special concern because weight can cost lives on the battlefield.

“It gets extremely dangerous when you can’t keep up with the rest of the pack,” said McWilliams, the former top enlisted soldier at Fort Carson. “You are putting your fellow comrades at greater risk.”

Strong America has been citing the issue for years as a danger to America’s national security.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 17 percent of America’s kids are overweight. But the military has a tougher standard. A 6-foot teenage recruit is expected to weigh less than 184 pounds by military standards, when most medical charts allow for 12 more pounds.

M. Michael Cooke, Strong America’s state director, said the nonprofit sees the goal of slimmer kids as more than a military imperative.

“It does render those kids unfit to fight, but there are many other reasons to combat childhood obesity,” she said, noting that fat children face health challenges for a lifetime, costing society.

But as the Army aims to bring in 80,000 recruits in the next year, having too many obese teens is troubling for the military.

In a news release, Army Recruiting Command’s Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Snow said it met 2017 targets by bringing in 69,000 recruits, but hitting the goal came at a cost — enlistment bonuses of as much as $40,000.

To help the military get more fit recruits, Strong America wants state-mandated physical education classes in public schools, more bicycle lanes and boosts to programs that provide healthy food to the poor.

Cooke noted that Colorado, while recognized as a fit state, is one of three states that doesn’t mandate physical education.