A recently disclosed research funded jointly by the Veteran's affairs Department and Pentagon showed the necessity to ban smoking in troops, including both recruits and active soldiers. However, the research suggested a gradual crackdown of smoking to a point that by 2020 smoking across military would be outlawed.

In conformity with the actual laws, smoking is banned only in indoor military facilities and during trainings. Nevertheless, there is some good news for smokers in troops, as the Pentagon administration confirmed that they have no intention to prohibit smoking immediately, but rather focus on encouraging a smoke-free environment.

The motive for the introduced ban on tobacco use seems to be wise and just, because it would help reducing the expenses on curing smoking-related illnesses among the troops. According to statistics, 30 percent of active soldiers smoke, what results in $1.5 billion expenses on health care annually, apart from costs of veterans’ treatment. Therefore, the decision to ban smoking in troops has sense. But, there is another side of the medal, suggesting that not every reasonable intention should be implemented in due to several particular conditions.

Such conditions include living in the close proximity to combat are, or participating in those combats. Those theoreticians, who proposed the ban, would never even imagine the stress; terror and shock which make an integral part of a soldier’s life. They know nothing about living with a permanent feeling of menace that waits soldiers in every dark corner. Thus, if lighting up makes soldiers calmer and helps them forget the terrible things they see every day at battlefields, I think it should be up to the soldiers to decide whether to keep smoking or not.

It can be compared with a surgery: every surgeon knows that it should be avoided if not necessary, because slashing a part of the body brings great harm to the whole body. Soldiers certainly should not smoke if they don’t want to, but if it can help to overcome the most crucial and stressful moments of their lives, the Pentagon administration should let them puff.

In my personal opinion, it would be much wiser to impose less strict restrictions, instead of a complete smoking ban. The Pentagon officials would better introduce special campaigns, encouraging troops’ new-comers to have a smoke-free life and educating them about the strategies to deal with stress without lighting up. In addition, they can increase the cost of cigarettes, like it is done in the remaining part of the country, as it can contribute to a significant reduction in the smokers’ rates.

!!! Annonce !!! Forum Marlboro.