First Sergeant Bans Troops from Using the Elevator

Military.com ^ | 1 Nov 2022 | Steve Beynon

[ealgeone]

The Army's Holistic Health and Fitness doctrine, which outlines the Army's philosophy on how to maintain a soldier's physical well-being, focuses its guidance on a series of complex exercises, nutrition, sleep and mental health care. However, the 244-page set of rules makes a small note that soldiers should take stairs to "decrease sedentary time."

I think I see the problem. It takes 244 pages to tell you how to get in shape?

My HS coaches had a simple approach to this. RUN until they get tired.

[11th_VA]

WTF - never saw elevators in any barracks I ever stayed in

[Gil4]

When reached by Military.com, Peoples only replied, "Don't call me again," and hung up.

Sounds like a reasonable policy and a reasonable answer any time someone from military.com calls.

[Gil4]

I was an ALO at Ft Hood decades ago...
And I was Air Force, where we paid lip service to physical fitness! I do remember mandatory running at Ft Hood...wonder if they still do that!

The Air Force got into running around 2003, and fitness is a much bigger part of the culture than it used to be.

I can get you a definitive answer about Ft Hood in a few months when my son gets there. He's a TACP officer, so he will probably be in your old unit. (They renamed the career field a few tears ago.)

[Dogbert41]

Oh the humanity! I’d call my Congressman! Stairs, sheesh!

[lurk]

The weird part is that this is a news story. Generally when a 1st Sgt says something that’s the way it’s going to be. And since when is physical fitness not a priority for troops?

[vpintheak]

If you have to keep your soldiers in shape be not allowing them to take an elevator; you got WAY bigger problems.
Another power-mad idiot that gets off on telling people what to do.

[minnesota_bound]

The defense secretary is fat!
He must use an elevator all the time.

[linMcHlp]

Doctor’s office, 7th floor, ran up the stairs, waited, and first thing he would do, is check BP - OK. BTW, for office visits, he charged $1.00/min. (Years later, visit to a doctor who charged $240/min.)

[linMcHlp]

Correction: Years later, doctor’s visit not $240/min., but $140/min.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

That’s after the government stepped in to make health care affordable.

[grwcfl537]

Been there, done that.

[Mr Rogers]

I was in the Air Force thru 2008. Running was pushed but there was no formation morning runs - unlike the Army, who would jog past our Detachment in formation first thing every morning.

Around 1990, our squadron had its annual fitness test with 1.5 mile run. They shut down the runway and had us run down it. At the finish line was enough cold beer for half the squadron! A number of us ran pretty good that year....

;>)

[daniel1212]

It’s a lawful order with a valid military purpose.

Indeed.