>This isn't a decline in our recruits; this is a decline in our American society in terms of their physical capacity. It's just a softer generation.<p>In some unmarked grave, the minerals of the rotting bones of a Roman General are moving.
Hmmm, what's cause and effect?<p>I.e. how much have the kids entering the armed forces today been wrapped in cotton batting and therefore not had much of an active outdoor life?<p>I mean, I read about them being escorted to and from school bus stops, how it's actionable if they aren't under supervision until they're quite old (> 10), etc.<p>I'm an old fart who was born in 1960 when Eisenhower was still president, and their lives, in terms of activities, style of competition, etc. sound radically different.<p>(In general, of course, there will be exceptions.)<p>As far as that poor Roman General mentioned by run4yourlives, this sort of thing has been going on for a <i>long</i> time. E.g. the NRA was established after the Civil War to try to address the lack of marksmanship skills that Northern recruits brought with them compared to previous generations.