US army overhauls basic training because new recruits weakened by computer games

&#62;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 (&#62; 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.

Ah, yes. In 1943 my father was in basic training at Camp Lee. His sergeant described it as "Camp Cupcake, the country club of the U.S. Army."