European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 04, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The sliding scale reenlistment hinge More end More on whether candidates for retention Are in shape. Kight standards can be a mighty weighty  when standards for recruit ment do not equal standards or retention and that s what has happened in the army which is enlisting male recruits who Are overweight the minute they put on their uni  a result overweight recruits Are show ing up for Basic training while thousands of career sol Diers Are under orders to sweat off excess weight Acimo radiation that cropped up As the army went to new. Leaner weight standards for retention while maintaining its old standards for  of the careerists now carrying excess pounds had to lose weight to qualify for the service an Indica Tion that they might be the victims of chronic obesity and that present policy could be pointing to trouble in the  the Case the discrepancy in standards does Point up a dilemma that May become Mure acute for All branches of the military in the years  the services pushing a leaner image they must at the same time compete with business and Industry for the dwindling Pool of Ift year old males to fill the  policies and future considerations of the military draft Bear directly on this  air Force in an attempt to Deal with chronic Obes Ity stopped accepting overweight recruits three years  was army regulation 600-9. Which went into effect in january that set up different weight standards for retention than for recruitment. For males who make up the vast majority of new recruits the standards of retention Are stricter than those for enlistment. For women the reverse is True. Army regulation 40-501 permits a six fool male re Cruit. 20 years of age or under to weigh 227 pounds or 24 pounds More than the weight allowed for  the same Lime ar40-501 permits a five fool six Inch female recruit under 20. To weigh 144. Or i rec pounds less than the 147-Pound upper limit for retention. While the woman in this instance is permitted to gain three pounds the male recruit is expected to lose 24 pounds capt. Lee c. Anderson commander for the army european recruiting area. Heidelberg said. For recruits who must lose the losses must be made during the first term of  in addition to the weigh discrepancy army recruiters Are permitted with a doctor s approval to enlist prime prospects who weigh up to five pounds More than the standards allowed under ar40-501. This Means that a six foot male recruit taken Insen ice under this Type of waiver would be required to lose 29 pounds during his first term of enlistment. Both Anderson and his Boss. Maj. Gen. Eugene p. For Rester the army s chief Recruiter say thai Only a Small percentage of overweight recruits Are entering the army under the dual  an individual will follow the regimen of the army physical fitness program he or she can make weight Stan Dards and keep  Forrester  Navy approach is different. Recruiter . Hofman Navy recruiting office Frankfurt reported that he May enlist a six foot male at 227 pounds or 24pounds Over the Navy limit for retention. But. Under the Navy policy of using weight standards As a guide rather than As a rigid measure an overweight recruit who was muscular and looked fit in his uniform would nol be required to lose weight. The Navy looks at each individual where weight is concerned Hofman said. A person who is Well within the weight Chart Standard May be ordered to lose weight if he looks obese. But the individual who exceeds the weight Standard will not be bothered if he is not fat and looks  the Navy does draw a Fine line on the enlistment of overweight  cannot enlist women who arc As much As a Pound  Hofman said. This is because the Navy currently has a waiting list for women and has no need to take overweight  air Force policy of accepting overweight recruits. Ihen sending them to Lackland fab Texas to lose excess pounds changed in 1974.since then occasional exceptions Are made for highly qualified individuals who come within 10 per cent of weight  entering under this exception must sign con tracts to lose excess weight at the rate of no less than three pounds a month until weight standards Are met. Very very few people Are recruited under this except lion said  Ralph n. Bliven air Force recruit or Ramstein air  know of no one brought in under this provision. It s the kind of exception that might be Given for an sex cup. Tonally qualified person the air Force really  Bliven said that under present policy All recruits except the specially qualified must make weight before they Are enlisted into the service. Under former policy the overweight were conditionally accepted. Many have faced a losing Battle As a consequence. Since 1972, when weight Rule were established 2,000 airmen were separated for failure to make standards. Others continue Lite fight to save their careers. Football player Joe Morreale is trying desperately to Peel off excess pounds so he can remain in the air  the service Al 200 pounds in 1970, the five foot. Recruiters find that women have More trouble making weight standards than men. 10-Inch Morreale has Seldom been close to the weight he even tried a 28-Day stint in the new weight reduction program at the air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden. My request for an Extension was denied on the grounds of excess weight. I Don t know what my future will be Morreale said while eyeing an 800-calorie meal meant to help him  Obj Clive is to lose weight and to keep it Down. Morreale said. He came into the Hospital program at 232 pounds 49 pounds Over his limit. While no longer accepting overweight recruits the air Force encourages highly motivated individuals with top qualifications to lose weight. We might even refer a top Prospect to a doctor for advice on How to lose  Bliven  s still possible for individuals to lose quite a bit of weight and join the air Force. Motivation is very important in weight  Marine corps docs not seek overweight prospects a corps spokesman in Washington  recruiters use incentives similar to those employed by the air Force to recruit highly desirable individuals who fail to make weight  an individual looks like a Good Prospect and is just a few pounds overweight we May follow it up with Aphone Call to determine if weight has been Tost said sgt . Joan Fleming army european recruiting area. Those who arc very much overweight Seldom  a girl is 30 pounds overweight i never expect to see her again. But if she is eight to 10 pounds overweight there a Good Chance Shell come  both the air Force and army recruiters find that women have More trouble making weight standards than men. Bliven said women prospects have More problem with weight even though the air Force has become More lenient on wig he requirements for females in recent years. Anderson said As Many As is per cent of female prospects May exceed weight standards although Many of them eventually lose weight and Are enlisted. Dietician Shelley Hancock at the army s 5th Genera Hospital bad Canstatt Germany confirmed Anderson s observations. Fifteen to 20 per cent of the women i m counselling with weight problems had to go on crash diets to get into the  she said. Every year thousands of Young americans returned Down at recruiting stations across the United states because they fall to meet military weigh standards. As might be expected the highest number of rejects occur in the cold weather sales where diets Are geared to retain weight to fight off u e  said that As Many As 10 per cent May fail to make weight standards at recruiting stations in the Northeast. Data taken from army enlistment files in the . Indi Cates Inal Aboul two per cent of All applicants Are turned Down due to excess weight. Page a8 the stars and stripes wednesday May 4, 1977