VOA标准英语2009年-Report Finds 75 Percent of Young Ameri

A report from an organization of retired¹ military leaders finds most young American adults cannot be considered for the military. They do not qualify because they are either obese², dropped out of high school or have a criminal record.

Elizabeth Lee | Washington, DC 17 December 2009

 
A report released by Mission Readiness finds 75 percent of young Americans between 17 and 24 are unfit for the military

 
It is not a short term problem because high unemployment rates are causing many qualified³ people to join the military.  But retired generals and admirals say if the problem continues, national security could be in jeoperdy when the economy improves.

Staff Sgt. Terrence Pugh's isn't fighting in a war zone.  But on this college campus, his mission is anything but easy.

Pugh is looking for new Army recruits.  He says many people consider the military when they have no other options. 

"Most people are not really interested in joining any branch of service really until life gets them in a bind," he said.

Vernika Givens is a single mom and unemployed⁴. The Army offered Givens and her daughter a future.

"Medical benefits, a steady paycheck. I can get college money and I can save some money for her when she gets older," Givens said.

Givens is one of only a small group of Americans who qualify for the military.
The Army says seven out of 10 people who apply cannot pass a reading and math test.

A report released by Mission Readiness, an organization of retired military leaders, finds 75 percent of young Americans between 17 and 24 are unfit for the military. 

The reasons: they did not graduate from high school, have a criminal background or are physically⁵ overweight and out of shape.

Mission Readiness says the military is currently meeting if not exceeding its recruitment goals largely because of the economic downturn. But many retired generals fear that there may be a shortage of qualified recruits when the economy improves.
 
"Our national security in the year 2030 is absolutely dependent on what's happening in pre-kindergarten today," Retired Navy Rear Admiral Jamie Barnett said.

Barnett says research shows children enrolled⁶ in a quality pre-kindergarten program raises their high school graduation rate by 44 percent. 

"Those are the most sensitive years of their life, the years when you can really get them socially, emotionally, physically, any skill you want with them to make them a child who can succeed," Ricky Gleen said.

Gleen teaches at an early childhood development school called Centro Nia in Washington. He says students drop out of school and get in trouble with the law because they lack problem solving skills and self-esteem.

The Mission Readiness report finds students who do not get a quality early childhood education are 70 percent more likely to be arrested for a violent crime by the time they turn 18.

Gleen says every activity here teaches skills to help students make better life choices.

"They have a sense of self. They have a sense they can make it. They have a sense that they can solve problems," he said.

Gleen's school also teaches students the value of education, how to eat right and exercise.

The goal is that they can continue to apply what they have learned here when they get older.

Some of them may even decide to join a high school Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps⁷ class like this one.

"I really like the sense of team and leadership and friendship," Jamie Whitaker said.

Whitaker has good grades, is on a swim team and plans to join the U.S. Air Force.

The military wants to see more possible recruits like Whitaker. And the retired military leaders with Mission Readiness are pushing Congress for one billion dollars a year for up to 10 years to fund more early childhood development programs.

"It is a long term investment," Arne Duncan said. "It is not something that pays off overnight. It is absolutely the right investment we can make."

Duncan is the Secretary of Education. He adds, if nothing is done, America's national security will be at risk.
 

1 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

2 obese   

adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的

参考例句：

• The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
• Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。

3 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

4 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

5 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

6 enrolled   

adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 )；登记，招收，使入伍（或入会、入学等），参加，成为成员；记入名册；卷起，包起

参考例句：

• They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起，他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。