I like it!
- I am not for the govt telling us what to do however, smokers cost us so much in health care that I think the military should be allowed to make the decision to ban smoking. Ultimately because they are footing the bill for all of the damage that could be prevented. I think it's a very telling stat however that almost 1/2 of these smokers start the habit after joining. I think there are a few reasons: 1- Some pick it up because of peer pressure and or they think it's the cool thing to do. Most are very young and impressionable. 2- Others are stressed out due to their daily tasks and think it's the way to stress relief...it's not. They see guys getting smoke breaks and think, "why not I'll join in" it beats working all day. We should definitely give our troops healthier options to break for work. 3- Some are just bored and see it as a way to kill time. Smoking is so terrible for you and it looks so low class that I agree that it should be banned.
- —Guest jpbernie72
Against Ban
- I am personally am not a smoker, but I am against them tellng us what we cannot smoke if we wish too. That needs to be the individuals decision.
- —MHill27954
Monkey See Monkey Do
- Let those who would express such concern for the health and welfare of the troops first take care of their own house...YOU stop smoking, YOU get in a semblance of physical condition so that you can pass the APFT on a routine basis, and YOU place yourself in a high-stress combat/combat support environment (no cameras, reporters, or special entourages) where the only "stress-relief", oftentimes, is to involuntarily wet you pants. Once you have been anywhere near there, your advice MAY be taken seriously. Until then (I speak for my "pre-retired" bretheren), we'll call you if we need you. Don't hold your breath, though, it could be dangerous to your health! Sarge
- —Guest The Sarge
This is insane...
- This is so not going to work... People getting put out after years of service just for being a smoker...
- —Guest GoGuard
WWII
- Wow!! How did we ever get through WWII with so many smokers then?? How about vietnam? Let the individual choose, not the government....again.
- —Guest Sandy K
Give me a Break
- This is just another form of how the government can and will tell us what to do and when to do it.if you have never been in the boots of so many soldiers and have seen the devistation and had to deal with the the anger thrown at them on a daily basis in these third world countries then you(the government)who put them there should just leave the issue alone. It's your right to lite up if you prefer.
- —Guest Doug
Seriously...
- Thats insane... We fight to defend our country. It's bad enough those of us under 21 in the military cannot buy a beer in a bar on leave, or go play some blackjack in a casino. But taking away the American right to choose to smoke is just another show of control. People like us keep the freedoms of this country intact, so why can't we enjoy them? I am completly against this idea of a smokers free military.
- —Guest katarn
Get a life
- I have been in the Army for most of my life and to Iraq twice, wounded once. Yes, I smoke. the people who are propsing this smoking ban have never set foot in a combat zone let alone put their lives on the line. When in country you are under constant stress and there are very few ways to releve that stress smoking is one of them. Yes, its bad for you but so is getting blown up by an IED. Are these people going to put a ban on thoes? I think not. Tabacco is legal, sorry about that but thats the plain truth. I dont force my smoke on anyone. In fact I go out of my way to make shure that nonsmokers are not bothered by my habit. The Libs have run us smokers out of every place. Bars, restaurants, clubs. They have won there war on the smoker. Leave the soldiers alone. Go get a life and find another flag to fly.
- —Guest Guardsman
smokin in the miltary
- This is just another example of the US and state governments trying to control the lives of american people. I don't smoke and I wish my wife would quit, but this is AMERICA> The land of free people. I wonder how many good soldiers the military will lose if they ban smoking, all to save afew bucks and to satisfy some liberal!!
- —excalibur98
Some restictions would be nice
- I agree that it's a nice idea, but diffiult to accomplish. Banning tobacco outright will not work. I do agree with the idea that it needs to be harder to do on base, and those rules need to be enforced (the 50 ft rule is definately not enforced where I am). However, I think that stress is a poor excuse for smoking. I've been a non-smoker my entire life; I cope to the best of my ability by not turning to an addictive substance.
- —Deano83
Please!!!!!!!
- Smoking is a indivual right, and they are being taken away one by one. I have only two sons and they are both in the Army and it is their choice to choose. They can risk their life for this country but they can't smoke?? These men and women have enough on their minds without being told no somking. Thank you to all the men and women serving this country.
- —Guest reeveka
Ban everything that's bad for you!
- Consider the soldier, the Marine, or Navy corpsman in Iraq or Afghanistan. The stress experienced goes far beyond anything the writers of this smoking ban could ever imagine. Sure smoking is bad for you but it's also a great stress reliever. Are they trying to take away the last vestiges of simple pleasures these men and women need to press on in a hostile environment? Why not ban high cholesterol & fat foods? Yeah, smoking kills people but those foods cause a myriad of vascular & cardiac related problems. Why not ban overweight people from the military? Obesity related health problems kill about 400 people daily in this country. Obesity definitely effects military preparedness. While we're at it, why not ban alcohol consumption to? Realistically, anything that creates a health problem should be banned to be consistent with reason. Who are they kidding? Banning smoking is nuts!
- —Guest Bob
NO Smoking Ban
- NO... the military should not ban smoking. A scientific, in-depth medical, non-political, non-biased investigation and study must be initiated before the military falls prey to any politically-driven movement to eliminate our freedom of choice to consume a legally produced product - for which there is no pure, scientific proof of causing emphazyma, or for that matter, cancer. There are still too many unanswered variables and too many unexplained contradictions to the politically driven claims against tobacco usage.
- —Guest FrankB
I don't think so.
- I think it's a decision that every person has and they just need to be informed about it instead of being band from smoking. My personal opinion is more people won't join the military and will see lest people enlist because they wot be able too smoke.
- —Guest Haley
I'm against a smoke free military
- These people are defending our nation and risking their lives, yet they can't have the right to smoke? I think they should be able to. My friend is being shipped off to Afghanistan in the next few months, and tensions can rise. I think that if they can't settle their nerves, there will be a higher suicide rate. They need to find an outlet to the madness, it can get scary over there. People on our side shouldn't have the say, the people over there are the ones with the right to choose.
- —Guest Chad
