Report: 90% of youth in Philly cannot serve

[unhappycamper]

Report: 90% of youth in Philly cannot serve
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jun 14, 2010 15:40:22 EDT

PHILADELPHIA — A nonprofit group says that up to 90 percent of young Philadelphians are ineligible for military service because of criminal records, obesity or lack of education.

Pennsylvania-based Mission: Readiness released its report Monday. It says 1 million Pennsylvanians are ineligible for the same reasons.

Mission: Readiness is made up of more than 150 retired generals and admirals. The group wants state and federal funding for pre-kindergarten programs that it says give children a solid foundation for academic and personal success.

The report says 145,000 Philadelphians ages 18 to 24 cannot meet the military’s medical, moral and mental standards.

Nationally, the Defense Department estimates that 75 percent of young adults are disqualified from military service.