Pentagon urges a tobacco free military

This one is rather tricky, I can't speak for the US, but the UK has a covenant that is much overlooked by those who reap the rewards from it:

Soldiers will be called upon to make personal sacrifices - including the ultimate sacrifice - in the service of the Nation. In putting the needs of the Nation and the Army before their own, they forego some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the Armed Forces.

In return, British soldiers must always be able to expect fair treatment, to be valued and respected as individuals, and that they (and their families) will be sustained and rewarded by commensurate terms and conditions of service.

In the same way the unique nature of military land operations means that the Army differs from all other institutions, and must be sustained and provided for accordingly by the Nation.

This mutual obligation forms the Military Covenant between the Nation, the Army and each individual soldier; an unbreakable common bond of identity, loyalty and responsibility which has sustained the Army throughout its history. It has perhaps its greatest manifestation in the annual commemoration of Armistice Day, when the Nation keeps covenant with those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in action.

Army Doctrine Publication Volume 5

Considering this it is fair that service personnel abide by the rules should the military chose to impose them, "they forego some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the Armed Forces"

However, the idea that overnight any military can be turned into a "smoke free" zone is preposterous, in which case what of the smokers? Do they have to go outside to smoke? And what happens when people are killed by mortars, or snipers, or any one of the fatal or crippling things that can happen, because they had to go outside? Isn't that the ultimate breach of covenant?

Edit for an off Topic Rage against the UK Government:

From my perspective the British forces have had the covenant broken by our government. How can any government, except in times of the most dire need, send troops into combat without the very best equipment that their country can afford?

This month has seen a record number of British soldiers killed, and the month is not over yet.

How can any war be embarked upon unless it has the full weight of the nation, its peoples, and economy, behind the action?

What is worth more? Bailing out a failed bank, or saving the lives of the men & women that we send to fight; regardless of the cause.

Losing savings or a home is a terrible thing, but it should not ever be balanced against a persons life.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube

You already have to go outside to smoke, heh. Even in Iraq, we were on this crappy little post the size of a Football field, with some seriously ramshackle living quarters, and we still got reamed if we smoked inside.

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Honestly...Do you not feel that is endangering your life more than passive smoking? Its simply not right, on so many fundemental levels its bodering on the insane, I can only think of one reason to ban smoking, & that is when the majority of the personel stop smoking, but even then...

And Cube if you're in a war zone, ffs stop smoking outside & get some stuff off the Gurkahs, they have muuuuch better than ciggies.

Pluses include, keeping your head under cover, and not producing extra heat or light while providing a nice dicersion.

And JellyCube...Just keep your head down, OK?

Buying cigarettes = waste of money.. :smash:

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Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube

Well, depends on what you do. You generally can't smoke in Vehicles or Buildings in the Army. Heck, here at Ft. Sam there are very specific designated smoking areas, and you'll get a reaming if you smoke anywhere else. And it's army-wide that you shouldn't walk and smoke at the same time if you're in uniform.

So you know, it's not exactly restriction free as it is.

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I think that one is quite standard. At least it's the same situation here in Norway-land.

I don't think it's a health issue though, I think it's got more to do with discipline and appearances. Kinda like always having your hat/helmet/cap/beret on if you venture outside a building....

It's all a bunch of chicken:daisy: to me. That the brass is even entertaining such notions when there is certainly much more important things to attend to, such as...oh I don't know, maybe...

Winning the War!

The idiots in Washington really need to get a life. I mean we are in the greatest economic crisis in history since the great depression, in debt up to our keesters, fighting in two different countries with a third in the offing, and this is all that the politicos can ponder? Please Homer, spare me!