large % of US not smart enough for military

[Astro14]

Numerous articles cite the roughly 75%. This article didn't, but it's widely reported.

E.g.

http://time.com/2938158/youth-fail-to-qualify-military-service/

http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/21/three-fourths-of-youth-unfit-for-military-service/

http://www.wsj.com/articles/recruits-ineligibility-tests-the-military-1403909945

Big area of concern for the military, as it should be for all of us.

 

[supton]

Thank you.

Originally Posted By: Astro14
Numerous articles cite the roughly 75%. This article didn't, but it's widely reported.

E.g.

http://time.com/2938158/youth-fail-to-qualify-military-service/


From that article, with bold:

Quote:
Approximately 71% of the 34 million 17-to-24-year-olds in the U.S. would not qualify for military service because of reasons related to health, physical appearance and educational background, according to the Pentagon.


So... not just due to the educational issue. That was what I was missing. So 30% fail because of education, and the rest because of drugs, obesity or other random factors. That does sound bad.

I'm surprised this hasn't gathered a comment:
Quote:
Only 1% of young people are both “eligible and inclined to have conversation with” the military about possible service, according to the Defense Department.


So out of the 25% who are eligible, only 4% of them are interested in the military, or only 1% of the population.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
Numerous articles cite the roughly 75%. This article didn't, but it's widely reported.

E.g.

http://time.com/2938158/youth-fail-to-qualify-military-service/

http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/21/three-fourths-of-youth-unfit-for-military-service/

http://www.wsj.com/articles/recruits-ineligibility-tests-the-military-1403909945

Big area of concern for the military, as it should be for all of us.

That's initially though, fat people can become fit of course. 100% of this years highschool grads aren't suitable for med school school either, because they only have a HS diploma at this point...

I find the ADHD medication exclusion interesting though. I'd like to see the research behind that, since its so commonly prescribed.