In The Army, Sigh...

"The military shouldn't reflect the general population -- there is supposed to be a certain amount of self discipline, never mind enforced discipline, that goes with the trade.
"Some guy is getting medical treatment and surgery just because he's fat ... that just runs completely counter to the culture where you can and you will get up that rope, or whatever.
"There are guys who've got prosthetic limbs who can do a hell of a lot more physically ... than some guys in headquarters can, basically because they're obese."
Scott Taylor, editor of Esprit de Corps magazine

Weight loss, or bariatric surgery, designed to restrict the amount of food anyone is capable of eating at any given time is now offered to certain members of the Canadian military. Because research suggests such treatment is valuable for the very obese who cannot of their own volition, lose weight by any other means. And because of their morbid obesity, a whole range of other health risks impede them. If they are members of the military, they are obviously incapable of performing tasks that go with their profession.

It has been revealed that the Canadian military has undertaken the funding of 52 such weight-loss surgeries over the years; 25 performed since 2011. Clinics in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax have been used to aid in the procedures. That's the numbers released by the military. A former marketing specialist with one Toronto-based clinic thinks otherwise, that the numbers in accord with her experience would have that total much higher.

"We had a steady stream. You'd be surprised at how much obesity there is in the military", she said. From her perspective and experience, in her former capacity with the clinic she represented, regularly visiting with base physicians. It is the Department of National Defence that provides health care to its personnel. Either internally or by purchasing outside services.

There are three types of bariatric operations available to Forces' members in need. Gastric banding, gastric bypass and vertical sleeve, according to Major Nicole Meszaros, spokeswoman for Canadian Forces health services. Military personnel, to qualify for the services, must have a body-mass index of at least 35. Must be six feet in height and weigh 260 pounds or more. And also suffer from a related illness like diabetes or hypertension.

The Forces spend about $200,000 annually on such health services.

Which isn't a lot of money, considering the potential and what can be accomplished. On the other hand, it's a fair enough question to ask why are the Forces employing individuals who are undisciplined and incapable of the most basic of tasks; looking after their very own physical condition to enable them to represent as capable of "universality of service"?

All troops, in theory, are subject to the criterion of "universality of service" requirements.

Which boil down to being able to perform basic military functions such as lifting and carrying heavy weights. Being in fit enough condition, physically and mentally to be deployed to foreign destinations and to remain "more physically fit than the general Canadian population". On top of performing their particular position's very specific duties within the Armed Services.

Pat Stogran, retired army colonel, formerly an ombudsman for military veterans, observed in 2011 that the same universality of service standards that kept injured military personnel who suffered limb losses out of active duty though many had a desire to return to duty, wasn't being applied to the glut of "fat plugs" he claimed to be working at National Defence headquarters.

Incapable of meeting universality criteria, but managing handily to hang onto their jobs.

Defensively, Major Meszaros spoke of one soldier in her knowledge weighing close to 300 pounds, just returned from an Afghanistan deployment who can run ten kilometres. "I know several people who fit into that category, and I know that they are still able to meet all the conditions imposed upon them", she stated.

Gone, evidently, the time when the Forces selected only individuals already in good physical condition. Recruits are now being accepted who are significantly overweight. The military hopes to get them to lose weight until they can make it through basic training, said Mr. Taylor. It seems the rush to join the military by well-motivated, capable and fit individuals hasn't turned into a landslide. Leaving recruitment in the position of taking whatever presents.