The DF - Promoting Physical Fitness

[Fitter]

A recently read through an report published by last months oireachtas committee on Justice Defence and womens’ rights. The report advocated a need for Army Physical Training instructors to partner with education institutions to deliver a new physical training service for secondary schools. The document argued that future funding from the budgets? could be used to develop a new community Physical training programme for secondary schools in disadvantaged areas where the incidence of obesity is high. The concept involves using army personnel (who hold generic P.E. and fitness/recreation certifications) and other DF resources to run fitness courses for at risk students in these disadvantaged communities who may struggle to meet the Departments basic physical activity requirements. here is the link
to the report published last month

http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp.../document1.htm

(media review of the Document)

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...-15031579.html


My initial reaction to the concept was apprehensive at first however after reviewing the recommendations in the report my attitude has begun to change. I personally found the Deputies argument to be grounded and his use of Comparative evidence of more established programmes currently been run in the U.S. Britain and France made his argued to use the DF in this manner more appealing.

The real reason I am interested in the report is simply due to my active service as a member of the DF and as a physical Education tutor working within D. communities. For these reasons I hold a dual interest in seeing this programme become a success both for the DF and the Department of Education. However I am aware the TUI and some other interest seem less supportive of the idea ? why ?

Could members of the board take five minutes to review the report on the Oireachtus
page. as I believe the role of the DF in promoting physical health/fitness of young
people will be of great significance in the years ahead.

regards
FITTER

[Hello Alaska]

They need to focus on promoting a proper, combat ready level of fitness across the DF first.

[DeV]

Or recognising DF personnels civilian qualifications!

[thedollar]

Or recognising DF personnels civilian qualifications!

That'll be the day...!

[Bam Bam]

Its not for the army to take disadvantages youths and take them for a jog.

Its a parents/guardians responsibility to teach the importance of personal fitness.

[Docman]

I believe the idea is a good idea and should be implemented IF we were in any other country but Ireland.
In Ireland, there will be no financial support for it. The Army will be ordered to do it - an army already stretched to the hilt - with little discussion of how they will implement it. The Army will soldier on as it does and come up with something which half works because they won't have the resources or personnel to implement it fully. And it will fall apart somewhere along the line with full blame being levelled at the Army. If it doesn't fall apart, there will be discussion as to how to extend it further maybe into the classroom where Military Instructors may be used as teachers in disadvantaged areas in order to maintain discipline in the classroom (The TUI know this is exactly what an Irish Government would attempt hence their opposition to it)
Somewhere something will go wrong - a child will complain of bullying, someone will end up in hospital etc. The Army will get the blame. The Government will put up its hands and say that they never told the Army to do it the way they were doing it (that is why they never give proper guidance - so they can't be blamed when it goes wrong).
It is probably a great idea and does need to be implemented but it is a plan that is wide open to abuse by an Irish Government and everyone involved knows it. Sounds great on paper or radio and plays well to the masses but wide open to abuse.

[California Tanker]

Its not for the army to take disadvantages youths and take them for a jog.

Its a parents/guardians responsibility to teach the importance of personal fitness.

That's not to say it's always a bad thing either. A number of States in the US have Youth Academies, as a sort of last-ditch effort to save failing students. California's is the Grizzly Youth Academy. It's effectively a boarding school, run by the Army. All the usual lessons, following the State education curriculum, just the students wear uniforms, they are supervised by actual NCOs, organised into squads and platoons, and have extra curricular activities generally involving a lot of exercise or being shouted at. All students volunteer to attend. Call it voluntary rehab.
http://www.ngycp.org/site/state/ca/
The program is considered a success.

There is also the fact that the unfitness level of the average American these days is considered a matter of concern to national security. The Army needs fit people to draw from. It is in the Army's interest to help prospective recruits be fit before it comes time for them to apply, otherwise they're losing out on otherwise possibly excellent candidates. Especially in times when the Army cannot afford to be as selective as it currently is.

The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Women’s Rights

Isn't that a bit of an odd mix?

This bit is interesting (Just like it says!)

it is interesting to note the direct correlation that seems to exist between mandatory conscription and obesity rates. Notwithstanding the fact that low obesity levels are likely to be a function of a range of different factors and policy measures, nevertheless, countries like Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and the Netherlands all have mandatory conscription as well as some of the lowest obesity rates in the OECD (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/he...health-obesity). Most interestingly, Korea has the highest rate of conscription and the lowest obesity rate in the OECD.

NTM

[gibedepusib0ss]

at risk students in these disadvantaged communities who may struggle to meet the Departments basic physical activity requirements.

Travellers, knackers etc.

[DeV]

Why don't teachers do a 2 week course during their training instead?

[concussion]

Now that's a much better idea. Send them off to DFPES for a PTL course.

[Barry]

If only there was a thing in schools called "Physical Education", where sports and other physical activities occur....................

[gibedepusib0ss]

If only there was a thing in schools called "Physical Education", where sports and other physical activities occur....................

Take your crazy new-aged ideas elsewhere. What next; it's the parents responsibility to care for the health and fitness of their children?

[DeV]

Now that's a much better idea. Send them off to DFPES for a PTL course.

Why? Teaching students & teachers isn't a role of the DF

[turbocalves]

Why? Teaching students & teachers isn't a role of the DF

Nor is it the DF's Role to scoop snow.....

[hedgehog]

Nor is it the DF's Role to scoop snow.....

Or whale watch