Vast majority of US young people unfit for military service

Some interesting statistics about the US military appear in this week's Economist. You've heard the old slogan "Our people are our greatest asset"? Turns out finding good "assets" is a big problem for the American services.

In an article headed "Who will fight the next war?", the newsmagazine reveals "a growing disconnect between American society and the armed forces that claim to represent it." No-one wants to join the navy and see the world, or join the army or the air force or the marines.

Even worse, if every young American (aged 17 to 24) were willing to enlist, chances are that less than 30% of them would be found able. Which means that 70% or more would be rejected as ineligible.

Ineligibility varies by state, according to Mission: Readiness, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization led by senior retired military leaders. If your state has an "unfitness rate" -- that's what I'd call it -- of 70% or less, you're not in bad shape... or at least, things could be worse. Unfortunately, only 13 of the Paranoid States of America have a "UR" that low. That leaves, errr, 37 states of whose young people 71% to 78% would be deemed ineligible.

What makes a person ineligible for military service? Here's the Economist's checklist, which Walt presents as a public service, not as a handy guide to staying out of the army (etc).

* Inadequate education - the result of  ever-declining educational standards. Nearly half of those who would otherwise be eligible are disqualified because they dropped out of high school, or, typically (the Economist says) because most young Americans cannot do tricky sums without a calculator.

* Criminal record - a particular problem for young black men, about a third of whom will have been convicted of something or other by the time they're 24.  That accounts, at least in part, for the high numbers in DC and the deep south.

* Obesity - a greater problem for women (especially BBWs) than for men, thus a headache [bellyache? Ed.] for the military as it strives for "gender parity". If you have any doubt about the fattening of America, take a look at Judge Judy sometime.

* Visible tattoos - on hands or faces, that is. Why this should be a problem, I don't know, but Harry-with-the-snake-on-his-face [John Candy character on SCTV. Ed.] will never get to wear a uniform.

If you're 17 to 24 and don't have any of the problems mentioned, Walt suggests you hie yourself off to the local mall, where a recruiter will be lurking [near the donut shop? Ed.] to pounce on you. Because it's so difficult to get anyone to join (the Economist points out), the military offers a seriously fine array of signing bonuses, training programmes and other perqs. Of course you may get killed for no good reason somewhere in the Middle East, but what the hell.