One-third of U.S. youth unfit for militaryPublished:
Nov. 4, 2009 at 1:53 AM
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- More than one-third of Americans ages 17-24 are unqualified for military service because of physical and medical issues, U.S. military officials said.Curt Gilroy, the Pentagon's director of accessions, said the United States has "an obesity crisis.""There's no question about it," Gilroy told the Navy Times. "Kids are just not able to do push-ups, and they can't do pull-ups. And they can't run."The Pentagon figures -- 35 percent of the roughly 31.2 million Americans ages 17-24 are ineligible for military service -- are drawn from data from the Centers for Disease Control. In a study scheduled to be released Thursday in Washington, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and a group of retired military officers say young Americans' lack of overall fitness for military duty is a national security threat, the Navy Times reported.The report, drawing on Pentagon data, says almost three out of four 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for service for a variety of reasons including:-- 35 percent ineligible for medical/physical problems.-- 18 percent ineligible for illegal drug use.-- 9 percent ineligible for mental problems.-- 6 percent have too many dependents.-- 5 percent have a criminal record.
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The Grand Canyon State Games is a multi-sport Olympic Festival providing a showcase for the talents and aspirations for Arizona and America's youth regardless of age or ability and to share many of the great attributes of our state. In fact we have had a 3 year old come down the mountain in our Winter skiing event and a 99 year old gentleman throw the javelin in our Track & Field event. We truly have something for everyone.
