Smoke 'Em... If You Can Get 'Em

By Lt Col P

One big fat bad, very bad, idea is festering in DOD: "Tobacco Ban Urged On Military".

WASHINGTON — Pentagon health experts are urging Defense Secretary Robert Gates to ban the use of tobacco by troops and end its sale on military property, a change that could dramatically alter a culture intertwined with smoking.
Jack Smith, head of the Pentagon's office of clinical and program policy, says he will recommend that Gates adopt proposals by a federal study that cites rising tobacco use and higher costs for the Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs as reasons for the ban.

The study by the Institute of Medicine, requested by the VA and Pentagon, calls for a phased-in ban over a period of years, perhaps up to 20. "We'll certainly be taking that recommendation forward," Smith says.

I am not a cigarette smoker, nor a chewer or dipper. I enjoy a cigar now and then, and a pipe too. But "now and then" in my case means "every three or four months". However, I recognize that for some of our servicemen (and service'men) the one thing they need is a smoke. Especially, say, at the end of a long patrol, or a particularly tough fight. In a place where they can't drink. Or screw. And where there are no days off. And no showers.

People in these situations need some sort of release, yes, some sort of mild vice. I'm not for issuing them tobacco rations, but I think a ban is an enormously bad idea.

July 11, 2009 06:21 AM Supporting the Troops

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Comments

This is one of the dumbest proposition to float across DOD. Who thinks this nonsense up?

VFRMarine · July 11, 2009 07:34 AM

Not sure, VFRMarine, but chances are he or she is very VERY tall... These things tend to fit patterns.

LtCol P · July 11, 2009 08:15 AM

So smoking cigarettes is soon to be out, and smoking pole is soon to be in?

Curtis · July 11, 2009 08:32 AM

Like I've been saying at other sites where I see this:
lock whoever came up with this idea in a room with a few shops worth of smokers, with the smoking lamp out, and don't let them out until the smokers say OK.

If what's left can still propose it, THEN we can argue with it.....

Foxfier · July 11, 2009 09:35 AM

more mounting evidence that the accountants are taking over the military

John · July 11, 2009 12:13 PM

Implement it on my admin shop first, maybe the unit diary will get done on time if they aren't taking 3-4 smoke breaks an hour.

JV · July 11, 2009 01:01 PM

Jason over at:

http://iraqnow.blogspot.com/

has in interesting take on the proposal. You'll have to roll down a bit from the first screen.

Don · July 11, 2009 05:59 PM

I am with JPP this is a bad idea, unfortunately it will probably become the rule, then our serviceman will have to resort to have friends and family send them tobacco illegally. Of course knowing the military they will make it part of General Order 1 so we end up with soldiers who can't @##$##@#, drink, or smoke; but they can die for their country!

Townie 76 · July 12, 2009 04:22 AM

If this goes through then the President better damn well quit. He is, after all, commander in chief.

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