Possible total tobacco ban in military

[KarlvB]

Came across this article this morning

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?s...0546387C759671

Haven't seen much coverage of it until now and can't figure out if it will be extended to smokeless tobacco or snus.

Here is another link which gives the impression that it will.

http://www.army.com/news/item/5637

"The report also recommends that the Defense Department to stop selling tobacco products in military commissaries and exchanges, to prohibit tobacco use anywhere on military installations, and to treat tobacco use in the same way as other health-related behaviors, such as alcohol abuse and poor physical fitness."

Ps: If this is in the wrong thread feel free to move it. Just thought I'd keep it in the same section as the PACT discussion.

[lxskllr]

Adolf Hitler was a heavy smoker in his early life—he used to smoke 25 to 40 cigarettes daily—but gave up the habit, concluding that it was a waste of money.[11] In later years, Hitler viewed smoking as "decadent"[15] and "the wrath of the Red Man against the White Man, vengeance for having been given hard liquor",[11] lamenting that "so many excellent men have been lost to tobacco poisoning".[19] He was unhappy because both Eva Braun and Martin Bormann were smokers and was concerned over Hermann Göring's continued smoking in public places. He was angered when a statue portraying a cigar-smoking Göring was commissioned.[11] Hitler is often considered to be the first national leader to advocate nonsmoking, although James VI and I has a better claim that title by three hundred years.[20]

Hitler disapproved of the military personnel's freedom to smoke, and during World War II he said on 2 March 1942, "it was a mistake, traceable to the army leadership at the time, at the beginning of the war". He also said that it was "not correct to say that a soldier cannot live without smoking". He promised to end the use of tobacco in the military after the end of the war. Hitler personally encouraged close friends not to smoke and rewarded those who quit smoking. However, Hitler's personal distaste for tobacco was only one of several catalysts behind the anti-smoking campaign.[11]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-to...owards_smoking

[ChrispyPolanks]

it's true they are trying to ban all tobacco use on military instillations now. there pushing really hard to ban it where im stationed at now but that cant stop anyone from smoking off base. doesn't matter what they say they can't outlaw tocacco.

what it will do is get people to quit or smoke less due to they can't smoke on base. i still think its bull shit, we fight for freedom accordiing to them but we have none (if they ban tobacco)

they will ban tobacco on base but they wont alcohol how stupid is that alcohol causes deaths also. they should just tell use when to eat, sleep , and what to do with our lifes (they kind of do in a way).

the Air Force seems to be pushing this alot harder than our sister services to what iv noticed

Chris - USAF

[Horatio McCallister]

It's funny because I have a friend who's father smokes. He started smoking when he was in Army basic training. They would actually give them smoke breaks and if you didn't smoke, you were shit out of luck. He wanted a break, so he picked up the habit.

When I was at basic training in Lackland, they didn't have smoke breaks. In fact, you couldn't have any tobacco with you while you were in basic training. The base I was stationed at didn't seem to care though. You couldn't smoke indoors, but all you had to do was walk outside and nobody cared.

It's funny to see that they're now going so far as to get rid of all tobacco in the military.

[chadizzy1]

I read that on CNN last night as well. I think if ANYONE deserves more freedoms than any of us it's those in the military.

[bromat80]

I started smoking in the Army because every time I tried to get a "fresh air break" with the smokers I was told to get back to work. I started smoking just so I could get the breaks with the rest of the guys.

[Snusdog]

What about all the second hand smoke from things like munitions? And last I heard getting shot at is pretty bad for you as well?

Man, leave our service men and women alone. They do so much for us without a bunch of asshole politicians making their service and sacrifice that much harder

[Nicobuzz]

I was in the British Army for 12 years and was a smoker. I can honestly say that it never harmed my fitness in the slightest. If you're fit, you're fit, it's as simple as that. The only time when smoking is going to affect you is when you're older - I'd say from about 40 onwards you'll start noticing its effects at which time you'd be demobbing anyway, so I don't see what the flippin problem is here!!!

I'd say that if the American Army is in any way similar to the British Army that alcohol abuse is your big problem. It is certainly a huge problem in the British Army but then again - the guys can still do their job at the end of the day and do it to a very high standard. That's what counts.

It's an Army for Gods sake - a rent a mob. There are some tough lads in an army. Leave them alone, respect them, let them do what they want with their spare time and let them do whatever makes them feel good - because there's very little of that 'feeling good' going around most of the time in the Army.

This is just bullshit on top of the already overflowing level of bullshit within an army.

[lxskllr]

I was in the British Army for 12 years and was a smoker. I can honestly say that it never harmed my fitness in the slightest. If you're fit, you're fit, it's as simple as that. The only time when smoking is going to affect you is when you're older - I'd say from about 40 onwards you'll start noticing its effects at which time you'd be demobbing anyway, so I don't see what the flippin problem is here!!!

I'd say that if the American Army is in any way similar to the British Army that alcohol abuse is your big problem. It is certainly a huge problem in the British Army but then again - the guys can still do their job at the end of the day and do it to a very high standard. That's what counts.

It's an Army for Gods sake - a rent a mob. There are some tough lads in an army. Leave them alone, respect them, let them do what they want with their spare time and let them do whatever makes them feel good - because there's very little of that 'feeling good' going around most of the time in the Army.

This is just bullshit on top of the already overflowing level of bullshit within an army.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...4385601&page=1

[MasterGuns]

more silliness from our fine American government. "Brave New World", anyone?
Control of society is never in its best interests.

[Nicobuzz]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/...4385601&page=1[/quote]

Guess I'm wrong with that 40 remark lol.

[Lucky Striker]

I read that on CNN last night as well. I think if ANYONE deserves more freedoms than any of us it's those in the military.

NO American deserves more freedoms than another American; military, cop, politician or no. That's why we're in the mess that we're in now, because for some reasons politicians believe they're above the law.

Which brings me to this stupid banning of personal freedoms from the United States military. These are the guys busting their butts day in and day out- and you want to take away tobacco because some closet Hitler decided it wasn't cool anymore? I call bullshit- outlaw tobacco just after you outlaw alcohol from military installations. See how well that flies.

[SnusinUsa]

Smoking Ban

That would be a pretty dumb move to ban tobacco on military installations. When I was in the Army about 90% of the people smoked and 5% used smokeless, I wonder what effect the ban would have on recruiting and retention.

[Nicobuzz]

If there's a reasonable chance of dying in action - why the hell ban cigarettes? The regular soldier doesn't give a damn about the health consequences from smoking - he's got waaaay to much else to think about.

I'll tell you what guys - I'm glad I don't live in America, but unfortunately Britain has a habit of copying you so it's probably coming our way in the future.

Why don't you become French - they don't take any stick from their government.

[hoss]

Talk about worst recruitment & retainment tool ever. Last I checked our military consisted of all volunteers from a pool of consenting adults. I think if those brave folks are competent enough handle a role in our military they can decide if they want to smoke or not.