How important is it for a Soldier to stay fit and in shape? Is there an “unspoken rule” that defines how “tough” and “strong” you should be in the Army? If so, what measures are Soldiers taking to live up to those standards?
Today we are highlighting a blog entry from the New York Times “At War” blog, titled “The Performance-Enhanced Military.” In the entry, author and Soldier, Tim Hsia discusses the use of performance-enhancing supplements by Soldiers in the military. Read an excerpt from his post below:
The military has received much scrutiny in recent years for allegedly overmedicating soldiers who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or from other mental illnesses associated with combat.
Although there has been much attention devoted to the military’s use of drugs to medicate mental illnesses, there has been little attention focused on the sharp rise of supplements used by service members.
During my deployments in Iraq there were often rumors that certain soldiers were taking steroids because of their sudden increase in physical size. When the unit deployed these soldiers looked no different from the average soldier, but upon completion of the deployment they looked Rambo-esque. Some soldiers felt that others were getting away with steroid use because these soldiers were rarely seen in the gym and because drug testing through urinalysis was rarely done by units while deployed. Moreover, many soldiers believe that although the military frequently tests for drugs like cocaine and marijuana, tests for steroids are conducted with less frequency.
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There is a subtle yet definite pressure soldiers feel about being stronger and tougher. These pressures can greatly impact the decision making of junior soldiers who seek recognition and who lack experience.
In their haste to become better soldiers, some soldiers could be imperiling their long-term health because they are not properly educated about the risks of certain supplements.
To read the entire post, visit http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/07/the-performance-enhanced-military/.
What do you think about Soldiers using performance-enhancing supplements? Leave us your thoughts in the comments section.
