Is The Military Still Up to the Task?

One reliable barometer of our military’s health has to do with the consumption of alcohol and drug usage.

Until 1999, drug and alcohol usage were down significantly.
But according to recent studies, the long term positive trend has reversed itself. Today, in surveys among military men in Iraq, there’s been not only a surge in troops but in heavy drinking or “binge” drinking. In a recent study, it was show that approximately 25% of the troops are engaged in routine binge drinking meaning at least five drinks at one time…
Although alcohol is banned in both Afghanistan and Iraq, both Muslim countries, the military is able to procure alcohol easily and cheaply. Added to this problem, is the fact that drug ue is also on the rise. It is estimated that approximately 5% of the military uses drugs.

Reasons given for the increases in drug and alcohol consumption have to do with anxiety, depression, frustration and the fact that many of the troopers have had to return to Iraq time and time again during their enlistments or for the term of their agreements.

Both liquor consumption and drug usage are gauges of future performance and speak volumes about the moral of troops sent to hot spots like Iraq and Afghanistan. In an increasingly technological military, the growth in drug and alcohol usage do not auger well. However, despite concerns, the military has cut back programs to address these problems by nearly half.

Add to the above problems, the propensity to lower the standards for recruitment and a failure to reenlist soldiers in the top MOS’ does not auger well for a volunteer army
That is both demoralized, unable to flesh out its ranks and spread too thin…

Joe Biden’s attack on the Executive yesterday addressed this government’s willingness to sacrifice the world’s leading armed services…

Expect hearings and investigations to come.

Les Aaron
The Armchair Curmudgeon