Jump to full article: North Texas e-News, 2004-11-21
Author: Samantha L. Quigley, American Forces Press Service Nov 21, 2004
Intro: One of the Defense Department's top doctors said he applauds any servicemember planning to use the American Cancer Society's 28th Great American Smokeout as their springboard to quit smoking.
The Great American Smokeout, which fell on Nov. 18 this year, is the one day a year to really focus on a very serious problem facing servicemembers, said Dr. David N. Tornberg, deputy assistant secretary of defense for clinical and program policy, in a Nov. 16 Pentagon Channel interview here.
"The health and well-being of our troops ... are of paramount importance to us," he said. "The Great American Smokeout gives that one special day where one significant health risk can be addressed and we can coordinate our activities with the nation at large."
While there are many reasons for the military to want servicemembers who smoke to kick the habit, the most important could be the impact smoking has on readiness.
Tornberg said that on a personal level, smoking reduces an individual's aerobic capacity and consequently, strength, stamina and life expectancy. Smokers also have a higher rate of injury and associated illnesses. That lost time on the job lowers readiness on a departmental level.
An Air Force study revealed some staggering statistics about smoking-related time loss.
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