According to the latest Pentagon figures, 35 percent of the roughly 31.2 million Americans aged 17 to 24 are unqualified for military service because of physical and medical issues. Curt Gilroy, the Pentagon’s director of accessions was quoted in Army Times last week, stating that “the major component of this is obesity. We have an obesity crisis in the country. There’s no question about it.” When I was in the Marine Corps ROTC in the 80s, statistics showed that less than 5 percent of my age group was obese. Then came the arrival of the internet, video games, and far too much unhealthy eating. I think kids these days need a gunnery sergeant like I had in ROTC, the one who did four tours in Vietnam and spewed expletives in your ear if you couldn’t do 40 push-ups in a minute. Twenty years later I can still do 40 push-ups in one minute, scared that my ole sergeant will come around the corner and kick my ass if I don’t (he also smoked two packs of Marlboros a day and could outrun anyone in the weekly 7-mile run). Have a Happy Thanksgiving this week, but do your family a favor and take a group run or walk together and stay active! I’ll return next Monday with a new blog.