Comments on: Recommended Ban on Smoking for Soldiers

By: Kasey

Kasey — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:56:39 +0000

This would be a good way to cut our military’s numbers down, but it would also be a huge mistake. Sure smoking henders you some, but so does Pizza Hut and Burger King. We don’t see the Army banning those from post across the nation. A soldier who smokes is more capable of doing his or her mission than a soldier who is overweight from eating fast foods everyday, and both of those are the person’s own choice.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 19:19:18 +0000

87% huh, curious where you have gotten your none existant facts. I have seen many soldiers who smoke and can out preform and out PT non smokers. How bout we ban fast food and alcohol since those are also bad for you and have proven long term health risk. Lets say we do that and then anytime we catch you eating a pizza or some fries or drinking a beer we give you an Article 15. Also 1/3 soldiers smokes, where do you propose the Army would get new soldiers when they cant enlist citizens who smoke? Maybe they can just lower the standards some more in regards to weight, test scores, tattoos, and age like they did when they couldnt get enough people to enlist because of these wars. Now I can say this because I am a soldier, since the inception of the new regulations so the Army could prove it could meet recruiting goals, a large portion of the soldiers joining the army now adays are pathetic. Overweight, overage, disrespectfull, and lazy.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:46:36 +0000

I agree with banning it. A Soldier who smokes, at best, has 87% of the physical endurance of a nonsmoking Soldier. We are fighting illiterate terrorists who will hide behind a concrete wall and blind-fire over it until the Bradley cannon goes through it. Relatively easy compared to highly-trained Korean People’s Army or whoever the next enemy may be, but we need to think about the welfare of the nation and free people around the world, and future conflicts, not about ourselves and not about the present. We need to think now about how to fight tomorrow’s war.

By: josh

josh — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:02:21 +0000

i think its bull to ban it, its personal choice and it may affect your health, but wtf does sending you to iraq and afganastan to fight do?
joshwaisenguard@hotmail.com

By: Sybergeek

Sybergeek — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:12:36 +0000

they say 33% smokes, how about how many in the military use ANY form of tabacco, i know alot of soldiers that dont “smoke”, but chew, dip, snuff, these are much more widely used as i can see, some use both, just curious

By: John

John — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:45:04 +0000

I’m currently serving in combat zone in Afghanistan, I believe in theater there should be no tobacco products as there is no alcohol in theater. In the States to have a ban is kinda ridiculous, but army regs say basically do nothing unprofessional in uniform and I think smoking and chewing is unprofessional. Scouts Out

By: Carlton McCall

Carlton McCall — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:19:23 +0000

I wonder who came up with this idea. Was a test of some kind performed that showed that tobacco or cigarette smoking effect the judgment or reaction time of a soldier in time of a crisis? If that’s not the case then leave our HEROES alone!!

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:31:17 +0000

You have to be kidding This soldier is willing to give his life but if he lites up he goes to jail. Someone has too much time on his/her hands CNN shame on you, do something constructive FOR the country. I don’t smoke but I don’t like taking away adult rights to soldiers or anybody for that matter. Governebr should get out of peoples lives, there is no first admenment anymore it’s gone and no one cares.

By: Army Supporter

Army Supporter — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:46:58 +0000

That is insane. I say if they want to smoke a cigarette than let them! They are out there every day being shot at and you are telling me that they should be denied that? That has got to be one of the stupidest ideas! Really people? No smoking for soldiers that are risking their lives for us but we at home can?

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 03:28:41 +0000

Um, Okay….So what are you going to do if you ban smoking and you catch someone in a warzone with a cig? Send them to Leavenworth? Give them an Article 15? PuHlease!! These are people getting shot at on a daily basis.