The Army says no more fast food for U.S. troops stationed in countries near Russia. It's banning “creature comforts” that also include their favorite coffees as part of a new projection of strength.
According to Grub Street, the Army’s top commander in Europe said troops “are never going to see Burger King.”
“Be ready for potatoes three meals a day for six months,” added Gen. Ben Hodges. “The Irish have figured out how to make it interesting. I am sure you can, too.”
The purpose of the ban is apparently to keep troops focused amid the new NATO deployment, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Army said soldiers got a little too comfortable while stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and became accustomed to fast-food restaurants like Burger King and Pizza Hut, and also did a lot of shopping at military strip malls.
“We went a little too far on some of the luxuries,” Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Muhlenbeck said, per The Journal. “We set a climate that soldiers weren’t in a combat zone anymore. They weren’t in the right mind-set to fight tonight.”
Hodges said that’s all about to change now, though.
“The standard of living is Spartan — Spartan, plus Wi-Fi,” Hodges jokingly told soldiers.
Troops plan to get their luxurious habits out of their system while they’re still stationed in Germany.
“I am probably going to hit the American Burger King on post at least twice this week,” said one sergeant, per Grub Street. “And then I am going to get out to one of the German Pizza Huts.”
This comes after the military came under fire after thousands of troops failed to meet weight and fitness requirements last year, military.com noted.
“There’s a continued high rate of service members losing their careers due to weight and fitness standards,” said Rep. Tim Ryan. “The number of Army soldiers kicked out for weight standards jumped tenfold between 2008 and 2012, with 1,800 soldiers losing their job [in 2012].”
“In the Navy, almost 10 percent of the force, 34,000 sailors, have failed at least one physical fitness test since 2011, and most were due to weight standards,” Ryan added. “So we know these problems.”
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