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-Land of the Free
US Army: new recruits more prone to training injuries than previous generations
2022-02-24
[DVIDSHUB] Why Today’s ‘Gen Z’ is at Risk for Boot Camp Injuries

For today's generation of 18-to-25-year-olds, making it through recruit training and successfully transitioning from civilian life into the military is not easy.

Today's recruits are coming from a far more sedentary lifestyle compared to previous generations, making their skeletons more prone to injuries because they're not used to the kind of intense activity they will face at basic training.

"The "Nintendo Generation" soldier skeleton is not toughened by activity prior to arrival, so some of them break more easily," said Army Maj. Jon-Marc Thibodeau, a clinical coordinator and chief of the medical readiness service line at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
Posted by:Bubba Lover of the Faeries8843

#13  Bought it. Thanks.
Posted by: Skidmark   2022-02-24 23:28  

#12  The book,
Landigal
was crazy
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-02-24 22:25  

#11  ..at the 10th Mountain we had to carry a +100lb ruck, that's without live ammo, additional mortar rounds for the 61mm, plasma bag, and anything else the G3 could think of to add. Line units had to do 12 miles in 3 hours with that. Support units in four. Basically, we were mules. Way back when, SLA Marshal determined that around 30lbs is what the soldier can carry and still be efficient to go into close combat.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-02-24 19:04  

#10  Back in 1966-67 I was a wimpy little kid. But I carried my 22 pound (I packed right) pack plus for much of the time another even wimpier little kid's 25+ pound pack 50 miles on the Appalachian Trail in 2 1/2 days. That's what Boy Scouts did then. Never had to find out how that would transfer to 1971/72 basic training.
Posted by: Glenmore   2022-02-24 17:58  

#9  ...ah, the very last war may be fought with thumbs (on the launch buttons).
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-02-24 15:43  

#8  Too bad they can't fight wars with their thumbs. But war is not a video game.
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2022-02-24 13:42  

#7  I believe there are plenty of studies noting that physical work at formative years influences bone, tendon, and muscular development. Otherwise known as, don't arm wrestle anyone who has been stacking hay since they were ten.

Amateur athletes, what we used to call school athletics, has come a long ways, and with some perhaps a bit too tight; you want the guitar string to twing, not snap. They all want to go on to College with that scholarship, maybe make big bucks some day. Takes a good portion of able bodies out of the prime recruiting pool.

Nintendo Generation isn't quite right; they were still outside riding bikes and playing pick-up during the day.

These are the kids born turn of the century, and there are a number of factors which lead to being screen heads, raised by 'Smart Phones" and parents who for whatever reason didn't emphasize as least basic physical conditioning. Remember the scene in WALL-E when the humans were shown as totally out of shape and unable to get away from their screens, or even really think, and everyone giggled because "That Would Never Happen ha ha good one."?

PS - advertising to Island Boys and Karen the Gay is attracting who?
Posted by: swksvolFF   2022-02-24 10:48  

#6  ^
I'd guess the Canadian and Australian hues should be a little lighter on your chart there Pro.
Posted by: Vespasian Ebboting9735   2022-02-24 08:12  

#5  ...something to keep in mind.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-02-24 08:01  

#4  "Recruit Timmy (she/it) received top marks for the number of piercings sustained..."
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-02-24 06:14  

#3  Mother nature doesn't care what your mobilization plans are. The human body will be ready when it determines its ready.

Now did they analyze where their recruits were coming from, as in urban, suburban, and country environments?

Remember most schools dropped mandatory 'gym'. Don't expect it back because of 'equity'.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-02-24 06:11  

#2  March fractures, back and connective tissue issues top my list.
Posted by: Skidmark   2022-02-24 05:55  

#1  One might guess that 18 years of inactivity is not easy to remediate in a few weeks of intensive PT, no matter how well it's done.
Posted by: Bubba Lover of the Faeries8843   2022-02-24 00:04  

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