Members of Congress Join Retired Admirals and Generals to Raise Awareness of Military Recruitment Crisis

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, a bipartisan group of Members of Congress joined the retired admirals and generals of Mission: Readiness to run on the National Mall for “Mission Ready. Set. Go!”

Members of Mission: Readiness were joined by U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Marc Molinaro (R-NY).

This annual 5k run, previously called “Run with the General,” brings Mission: Readiness members and lawmakers together to highlight the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity, especially for kids . —According to the Department of Defense, 77 percent of young adults ages 17-24 cannot qualify for the military, and obesity is one of the leading medical disqualifiers.

Being overweight disqualifies 11 percent of youth from serving if they so choose, and contributes to the 44 percent of youth who are disqualified for multiple reasons. With an increase in youth being ineligible for military service, it is critical for policymakers to support efforts that promote healthy eating, increased access to fresh and nutritious foods, and physical activity for children from an early age.