How do we compare physically?

[orange.paint]

For the past little while I've been thinking of how I perceive others army's from my past experience.I have always thought that as Canadians we were quite obese in comparasion to our neighbours the US or Britain.

After doing a little searching I'm surprised to find almost EVERY protection organisation (police,firefighters,army) are having problems with the "Nintendo generation" joining and the baby boomers just leaving.Meaning the youth are joining chubby due to a lack lifestyle (due to dirty hippy parents in my opinion..another rant) and the baby boomers....well their getting old and gravity is taking over.


I have noticed that ALL other organisations I have found reporting the problem, also Implemented strictly enforced guidelines to prevent this deadly disease.

-The Philippines 117,700 police force has 6 months to reduce waistlines to 34" or face dismissal

-Thailand Armed Forces facing same problem as us will enforce basically same policy as Canada,no career progression.

-(my favorite) US army will not post obese pers during probation period to any schools.

-US army recruitment centers don't leave it up to the schools to get the members in shape,they provide PT every morning for future troops who are out of shape. Good idea in my books.

-In 2003 alone, more than 3,000 people were kicked out of all branches of the military for failing weight standards, Bathalon’s study reports.(USA military)

-British army loosens BMI to accept less than fit soldiers.
(maybe going to a more Canadian system?...should we call and warn them!)


One thing I found interesting was something I never heard of before.The US army has a  "coy fitness NCO" to perform PT and make sure larger troops are making right eating decisions.

So maybe its not just us......

And to finish in another rant,CDS wants to get his army in shape as we all know.

-As a one income family I dam near break my bank every two months on running shoes (little less than 200 per pair).Why not implement an allowance for fitness of the individual soldier?Or better yet get proper running shoes (all brands) coolmax shirts,and other fitness gear placed on logisticcorp.No reason why we shouldn't have access to this.

And before someone jumps all over it quoting budgets etc,obesity costs our medical system a lot of monetary funds,think of it as preventative spending.

have fun

some links

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8423112/

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/01/04/thailand.fatsoldiers/

http://www.army.mil/soldiers/april95/p31.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4592230.stm

 

[Cpl4Life]

I don't agree in min waist sizes or keeping "obese" people out of schooling etc. I could be considered obese yet I am in decent physical condition, I only have my physical testing every two years but excel every time.  I am 6'1 and 215 lbs which is considered overweight.  (ok maybe not obese but certainly overweight).  My pant size is a 34" waist, and I have a few civvy 36" as well depending on the cut.

I keep myself in shape, I run almost daily, cycle to work, participate in PT every chance I get, and eat reasonably well.  I love that my job encourages me to stay physically active, and actually pays me my wage while I'm exercising.  Not many jobs that do that, even RCMP members I know have to work out on their lunch hours or after work.  We are very lucky in the CF in this regard and I wish everyone would take advantage of this.

On the other hand, it bothers me seeing guys walking around the air base I am training at with huge beer guts, looking like they are 8 months pregnant.  It really makes the CF look bad.  I bet for every one obese soldier the public sees they see 50 or more in shape soldiers, but what soldier will they remember?  You got it.

And why isn't PT compulsory for all trades?  If you have a medical condition usually there's at least SOMETHING physical you can do  to improve your health so I don't buy that "I have a medical condition" CRAP.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Careful where this one goes. It has fairly narrow lanes set in the first post. People will start to go off into areas we've covered extensivley, numerous times, before. If it goes off track into those areas again, it'll be locked down. Fair warning, no second grace.

 

[SupersonicMax]

And why isn't PT compulsory for all trades?  If you have a medical condition usually there's at least SOMETHING physical you can do  to improve your health so I don't buy that "I have a medical condition" CRAP.

I'll give you an example.  At my squadron, we have pilots flying at 0600 in the morning, 0900, 1100, find an hour an somebody will be flying...  It's impossible to organise squadron sports because of everybody's schedule.  Also, pilots MUST have a 12 hrs rest between the end of a workday and a flight. 

Also, there are 3 technical crew shifts (morning, afternoon, evening) and they have a LOT of job to do to keep those aircraft flying.  I have hard time to imagine the Sgt explaining to the CO that an aircraft couldn't be made serviceable because we had PT to do.  Operations are more important than group PT.

That beeing said, it doesn't excuse out of shape people.  Everybody should take the time to exercise every day or at least every couple of days.  It doesn't have to be with the unit and it doesn't need to be at the military gym.  And yes, it pisses me off seeing the same MCpl every day going all the way to the other end of the hangar to take the elevator even though there is a set of stairs right beside her office (which is only to the first floor by the way...)

Max

 

[Haggis]

In 2002 I was the Sgt Maj of a Canadian contingent in the Republic of Georgia (for those who can't find it, go to Chechnya and turn south).  There were sixteen national contingents from both eastern and western Europe as well as Canada and the US, working together as a multi-national infantry battalion.

The Canadian contingent was, for the most part, made up of Reservists.  All-in-all they were head and shoulders above most others in terms of fitness, with the exception of the Brits (on par) and a bit behind the Americans (who were mostly Army Rangers/SF types).  That being said, the Georgians had some *ahem* "inventive" PT regimens.

 

[Kat Stevens]

And why isn't PT compulsory for all trades?  If you have a medical condition usually there's at least SOMETHING physical you can do  to improve your health so I don't buy that "I have a medical condition" CRAP.

I'm glad you're an uberfitt supertrupper, keep up the good work, hero. I hope you never sustain an injury that could end your career, because then you would have to listen to sanctimonious dogshitt like you just spewed all over my screen.  I injured my back on duty, and took 7 months to learn to walk upright again.  I have not been able to run more than a klick and a half since, without retiring to the hottub and dropping Motrin like pez.  So, yes, "I have a medical condition."  Wanna compare CVs?  Any time you like...

Rant off, apologies to those that matter, get stuffed to those who don't.

 

[orange.paint]

Haggis thats amasing,as I said earlier just when you think other countries are way ahead...


Good stuff to those that were there from canada.

Anyone see this from an outside point of view?i.e other countries

 

[Scott]

I'm glad you're an uberfitt supertrupper, keep up the good work, hero. I hope you never sustain an injury that could end your career, because then you would have to listen to sanctimonious dogshitt like you just spewed all over my screen.  I injured my back on duty, and took 7 months to learn to walk upright again.  I have not been able to run more than a klick and a half since, without retiring to the hottub and dropping Motrin like pez.  So, yes, "I have a medical condition."  Wanna compare CVs?  Any time you like...

Rant off, apologies to those that matter, get stuffed to those who don't.

+ 1 Kat, I am right with you. I've been hurt as a firefighter and may end up taking some of those injuries with me when I retire a long time from now, it sucks knowing that but I hope that I will be lucky. Guess you don't have that issue Cpl4Life sitting on the top floor of that glass house.

Consider yourself warned to wind your neck in.

I'm not arguing that there are some slugs out there who play the system, there are everywhere and I have worked with a few myself. Let's just avoid bashing everyone, there are guys who are genuinely frigged up, they got that way on the job so have some bloody respect for that.

Edited to add: Back on track, read again what recceguy said. Thanks

 

[Cpl4Life]

Sorry, will pm to Kat to keep on topic.

Cpl4Life

 

[kincanucks]

39 pages of "I am so much better than you" and "Look I saw an obese soldier today" tripe (http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/37780.0.html) and now it starts all over again.  There must be a better place for rcac_011 to brag about his physical fitness accomplishments.  Worse than an ex-smoker going on how bad smoking is for you.

 

[the 48th regulator]

39 pages of "I am so much better than you" and "Look I saw an obese soldier today" tripe (http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/37780.0.html) and now it starts all over again.  There must be a better place for rcac_011 to brag about his physical fitness accomplishments.  Worse than an ex-smoker going on how bad smoking is for you.

:rofl:

best bithday gift I could get kincanucks cheers!

dileas

tess

 

[orange.paint]

Kincanucks I looked back through this post and seen nothing of myself or pointing out certain fat personell in this army.

And before you jump all over me for being "like a ex smoker" maybe check out your own posts.

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/25733/post-154497.html#msg154497

Apparently the mod squad are playing the pm game to run it off the rails,success!

Cheers to haggis for at least one good post.

happy birthday John

 

[the 48th regulator]

Apparently the mod squad are playing the pm game to run it off the rails,success!

Cheers to haggis for at least one good post.

happy birthday John

Yes,

Due to our envy, We do it to undermine the brilliance of your message ....

and thanks, I will definately hoist one in your honour...

Mod squad... :rofl:  it gets better with every post...

dileas

tess

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Kincanucks I looked back through this post and seen nothing of myself or pointing out certain fat personell in this army.

Not this one but almost every other you've done.

And before you jump all over me for being "like a ex smoker" maybe check out your own posts.

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/25733/post-154497.html#msg154497

He's certainly not being a zealot about it. Two posts, one saying he quit and another pointing at incorrect spelling. Oops, your conspiracy is starting to fall apart.

Apparently the mod squad are playing the pm game to run it off the rails,success!

Now if you want this off the rails, you just did it. Making unsubstantiated remarks and accusations against the Staff, AND GUIDELINES. Guess what, you're up to the top off the ladder right now. The statement you just made can get you banned. The only PM game being played was initiated, with the smug, condescending post, by you to me. I chose to ignore your childish attitude in it and I instructed you what to do to perpetuate your thread. That has been the only PM's on the subject. Your really not that very important to us for us to mount a conspiracy, and we don't have those. We may huddle to decide how to handle a troublemaker, but that's where it stops.

I suggest you reel in your neck, and see if you can salvage your dignity and your thread. I'm not going to tolerate it or you much longer.

Cheers to haggis for at least one good post.

It's up to you to see if you can generate enough interest and THOUGHTFUL dialogue to make this work. As been stated, most people feel it's been beat to death, ground into the gravel and powerwashed down the driveway. You only have a small window of opportunity here.

happy birthday John

I'm sure he appreciates your sincerity.

One last thing, as noted above, you are completely out of chances. I'd be very careful how i word anything from this point on, if I were you. Next infraction, of any sort, and your out the door. No warning, no debate.

 

[Haggis]

Cheers to haggis for at least one good post.

Are you saying my other 610 posts were crap???   :threat:

Yes, Happy Birthday, Tess. May you have to endure many more. 

 

[Fishbone Jones]

OK everyone. Let's give rcac_011 the benefit of the doubt, and minimum of excuses.

Post in this thread, ONLY, if you have something tangible to the original post, something that hasn't been stated before, on one of the other threads on the fitness subject.

I'll leave it for rcac_011 to post his own parameters on how and what he wants discussed. However, at this point, with his accusations etc. we don't need to give him any excuse as to why this failed.

 

[orange.paint]

Alright back on topic here.
parameters

-no complaining of fred mcfatty at work or personal "what I do"stories to stay fit
-Personal stories of how we compare to resemble haggis post earlier on.

I have to say I voted that we were a little below other countries we worked with.The serbs that came to compete in a competition with us were in amasing condition,Bosnians although appeared kinda chunky were also in great shape.

Gurkas were amasing in my books.
I really felt we placed just below,but not far.
Anyone care to give examples as to why they voted they way they did?

 

[Fusaki]

Here's a personal story (well, sort of).

In early 2005 the guys in my platoon would make the trip from Camp Julien to Kabul International Airport from time to time on tasking. There would always be other contingents around the airport waiting for their flights, or getting ready to head out to other camps. A MCPL in my platoon was once approached by a guy from the French Foreign Legion, starting up a conversation that went something like this:

FFL guy (smiling): Hello

MCPL: How's it going?

FFL guy (with a French Accent): You have some big people in the Canadian Army

MCPL (smiling): Well, we have a pretty good gym at the camp there and allot of us work out (This MCPL is into bodybuilding - well cut and muscled)

FFL guy: Noooooo, no, no, no, BIG people (as he holds his hands out to his sides indicating fatness)

Then some other FFL guys come over with their digital cameras and start showing off the photos they snapped of this fat trucker we nicknamed "Polly Pringles". There she was, digitally preserved, walking out of the KIA Pizzeria - with 1 hot pie in each hand - waddling back to her Bison. The Foreign Legion had a good laugh, and the MCPL couldn't really do much besides shake his head in disgust. What a fucking embarrassment.



Edit by Mod- respect the thread parameters. Your comments were covered previously in other threads.

 

[orange.paint]

Cheers for the story wonderbread
believe me I could rant on all day about certain individuals but I have prior on other posts ending in lock outs.

Good story to illustrate though.Compared to Haggis it seems quite different,maybe haggis hand picked his guys for Georgia? ;D

So compared to FFL some of our css guys are we shall say "below par"Sounds a lot like the serbians impression of us in Bosnia.

any more stories?good or bad.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

I'm also not going to spend all my time babysitting this thread. If the users can't follow some simple rules, it'll be locked.