Nation
Page
Wednesday • January29,1'
Military closing gender gap in fitness requirement
WASHINGTON (AP) — When
the drill sergeant yells, “Drop and
give me 20!” women as well as men
are expected to respond. But in
most of the services, women do not
have to do as many.
Updated fitness requirements
have closed the gender gap, though
not all the way.
Gone are the days when female
Marines ran 1.5 miles while their
male counterparts ran twice as far.
As of this month, all Marines run
three miles. Women can run a
slightly slower time and still rate a
perfect score.
Before the new rules took effect,
women in the Marine Corps had to
do 50 sit-ups in two minutes as part
of their standard fitness test. Now
they do 80, as do the men.
“I’m glad we’re getting more on
equal terms. It’s long overdue,”
said Gunnery Sgt. Karen Imhoff,
an 18-year veteran of the Corps.
“The transition wasn’t difficult at
all because I’d always done more
than what the minimum require
ments were for us.”
The Anny likewise has closed the
gap on sit-ups, and all soldiers run
two miles. Female soldiers, however,
can run a slower time and can do
fewer push-ups than the men and
still pass. The Navy’s rules are similar.
The Air Force administers a station
ary cycle stress test, with some differ
ences in severity based on gender.
At a time when women make up
only 13.2 percent of the active-duty
force — up slightly from 11 percent
in 1990 — and recruiters encounter
difficulty attracting women into the
military, officers explain the equal
ized fitness rules as a morale booster.
Marine Corps Gen. Charles Kru-
lak, the service’s top officer, started
the move toward equalized fitness
rules two years ago.
“What signal do we send to the
Corps when at the end of a mile
and a half, all the women drop off
to the side and the men keep run
ning?” Krulak said.
Not everyone is satisfied with
the results.
When Army drill sergeants at Ab
erdeen Proving Ground, Md., were
accused of widespread consentual
and nonconsensual sex with subor
dinates, James Webb, former Navy
secretary and a Marine twice wound
ed in Vietnam, took a different view.
He suggested the problem may stem
from forcing young men and women
together in units that depend on
equality in discipline, recognition
and exposure to danger.
“When double standards are
introduced in matters of physical
training and performance, they
work against these very criteria,”
Webb wrote.
Three female Marine sergeants
said in an interview that grumbling
from men about lighter fitness re
quirements for women occurs only
when women do only the bare min
imum of what is required. In most
cases, they say, women do more.
“Women would always try to
keep up with the men in the run,”
said Gunnery Sgt. Melissa Crane.
“Then when we would finish the
run we would always try to do as
many sit-ups.”
The Marines still make a conces
sion on upper body strength, recog
nizing basic physiological differences
between the male and female body.
Thus women do a “flexed arm hang”
— hanging from an overhead bar
with arms bent — while the men do
between three and 20 pull-ups. Fail
ure in any of the three exercise cate
gories — running, sit-ups and pull-
ups — means a failing overall grade.
“It’s a burner,” said Maj. Leon Pap-
pa, head of ground training at the
U.S. Marine Corps base at Quantico,
Va. “We no longer have a male or fe
male sit-up. We have a Marine Coips
sit-up test. The run is the same.”
Combat and specialty training,
as opposed to fitness testing, is the
same regardless of gender.
In the Ar my, a male soldier in the
17-21 age group must do between
42 and 82 push-ups, 52 and 92 sit-
ups, and run two miles in no more
than 15:54. A female in the same age
group must do between 18 and 58
push-ups, 50 and 90 sit-ups, and the
two-mile run in no more than 18:54.
“There are physiological differ
ences that are taken into account.
Women will never be able to do as
many push-ups as males do,” said
Frank Palkoska, chief of doctrine at
the Army physical fitness center at
Fort Benning, Ga.
On the other hand, the Army
has toughened the sit-up require
ments for women after its fitness
experts concluded that the typi
cally lighter upper body weight of
women made this exercise easier
for them than for men.
The problem the Army notices is
not an inability of women to pass
fitness tests but poor overall results
for all its young recruits.
“They have the highest failure
rate,” Palkoska said of the youngest
soldiers. Societal changes, the grow
ing ranks of couch potatoes, are con
tributing factors. “Most have never
had the opportunity to go out and
basically sweat. They’ve never run
more than a quarter mile in their life.”
Military fitness
Over the years, fitness requirements for male and female membersol
the military have become more similar. Service members mustpassa
test once or twice a year.
Army
(17-21 age group)
Two minutes of push-ups
Marine Corps
Two minutes of sit-ups
Men 42 minimum, 82 for perfect score.
Women 18 minimum, 58 for perfect score.
Men 40 minimum, 80 for perfect score
Women 40 minimum, 80 tor perfect sco
Two minutes of sit-ups
Men 52 minimum, 92 for perfect score.
Women 50 minimum, 90 for perfect score.
Two-mile run
Men 15:54 maximum time, 11:54 for
perfect score.
Women 18:54 maximum, 14:54 tor
perfect score.
Navy *
(20-29 age group)
^ Two minutes of push-ups
Pull-ups, no time limit
Men 3 minimum, 20 tor maximum scon
Women Flexed arm hang. 16 seconds
minimum, 70 seconds tor perfect scon
3-mile run
Men 28 minutes maximum, 18minutest
perfect score.
Women 31 minutes maximum, 21
tor perfect score.
Air Force
Men at le ast 29
Women at least 11
Two minutes of sit-ups
Men at least 40
Women at least 33
The Air Force imposes a cycle stress
involving a two-minute warmup arc t
minutes of pedaling against varying
resistance. Seventy of test differs r :
and gender. Technicians measured
rate, oxygen consumption and otherk
to determine fitness.
exas Depart mi
1st Karen Tayloi
(ness of an un id
Stic threats and
aylor drew the o
ity student desci
he Texas A&M
the student fit
i on Oct. 23, 1!
an unidentifie
her if certain d
lajor Josie Hoe
isual because t
ker.
It is very unusu
nown to the vie
out the motive.
Usually it is a b
!ak-up because 1
1.5-mile run
Men 13:45 maximum time.
Women 16:45 maximum time.
'The Navy also imposes weight and
requirements that differ with age. get
height. Sailors can substitute a timed
the run.
Source: The Pentagon
Bush expresses commitment to education in addresi
The Texas governor delivered
his second State of the State
speech to the Texas Legislature
on Tuesday.
AUSTIN (AP) — Here is the partial text of the State
of the State address Gov. George W. Bush delivered
Tuesday to the Texas Legislature:
This moment feels far different than it did two years
ago. As I entered this historic chamber for my first State
of the State speech, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.
In hindsight, I’ll admit I was nervous. I was the brand
new Governor, a rookie in a different ballpark.
Today, I come knowing I am among friends, many
close friends, who are led by Lt. Governor Bob Bullock
and House Speaker Pete Laney. I know you share my
respect for these two Texas leaders. It has been an hon
or to work with them. I have learned much from them.
We share a love for this great state, a deep desire to do
what is right for the people of Texas.
Two years ago, you and I found common ground for
decisions based on a shared philosophy that our gov
ernment should be limited — it should do a few things
and do them well. We know that local people make the
best decisions for their local communities and schools,
and we know that Texans can run Texas. We agree that
all our laws should support strong families, and that
laws approved in this great chamber should say to each
and every Texan: you are responsible for what you do.
We face no immediate legal or fiscal crisis. The state
of our great state is healthy and vibrant. Our economy
is diverse and it is growing. Our businesses are creat
ing new jobs for our citizens. Fewer Texans are on wel
fare, more are at work. Those who commit crimes face
tough laws, and we have jail beds waiting for them. Our
government today is more effective and more efficient.
Our state employees are dedicated and hard working.
And our state leaders check any partisan differences at
the doors of these chambers and work together for the
good of all our citizens.
This good news and these good times argue not for
our inaction, but for our action. Now is the time, in rel
ative calm, to think ahead, to see beyond the bend of
the turn of the century and act courageously to pre
pare Texas for tomorrow. I hope you will continue to
think boldly, continue the progress we began last ses
sion when we enacted historic reforms.
My fundamental priority is the education of our
children. We must confirm the spirit and not weaken
the intent of our new education code: that we trust lo
cal people to make the right decisions for local schools.
We can and we should improve some parts of the code.
I ask you to expand the menu of educational opportu
nity available to Texans by increasing the number of
charter schools. The quantity and variety of charter
schools should not be limited by some artificially im
posed state cap, but only by the energy and imagina
tion and enthusiasm of parents and educators eager
for change in their schools.
Today our children are learning in safer class
rooms with teachers — not troublemakers — in
charge. Zero tolerance is working. And it will work
even better when we clarify and strengthen the dis
ciplinary code. Earlier 1 mentioned we do not fai
fiscal or legal crisis, but we do face onecrisis:td
many of our children cannot read. Oneinfiveisfat
ing our reading tests, and that number wouldI)
even worse if every child took the test.
This is unacceptable. You cannot succeed ifyo 1 ,
cannot read. All Texas children must learn theonesE
that can make all the difference in their lives: readk
That is why I set the clearest and most profound goal!
have for Texas: that every child, each and everyduli
should learn to read at grade level by the third grad:
and continue reading at grade level or betterthroiigli|.
out his or her public school career.
Texans are responding to the reading initiativea/id
you can help as well.
1 ask you to fund reading academies —schools
within schools that provide rigorous instructs 1 #
sic, building-block reading skills. This money wfei
a clear message to our schools: results matter, stay,
cused on our goal, and do whatever it takes to teal
our children to read.
God bless you all and God bless Texas,
Governor's increased sales tax proposal gets mixed reaction
AUSTIN (AP) — Everyone agrees that a
property-tax break sounds good.
But after Gov. George W Bush announced
his proposal Tuesday to cut property taxes by
creating a business activity tax and raising
Texas’ sales tax, some of the state’s most pow
erful lobbies went on the defensive.
Groups representing retailers, restau
rants and doctors, to name a few, said they
would fight because the new taxes would
drive down their operations.
“We want to work with the governor in
securing property tax relief, but from the
outset we have expressed our opposition
to a value-added (business activity) tax,”
said Mickey Moore, president of the Texas
Retailers Association.
The group represents 1,500 companies
in the state, ranging from local merchants
to chain food and drug stores.
Bush’s proposal would raise the state’s 6
1/4 percent sales and motor vehicle sales
taxes by one-half cent. It would also replace
“This is a pretty dramatic
change.”
Bob Kamm
senior vice president Jexas Association
of Business & Chambers of Commerce
the corporate franchise tax with a new “busi
ness activity tax” — a 1 1/4 percent levy on
total business sales over $500,000, minus the
cost of goods and capital invested.
Doctors, lawyers and others organized
as professional associations do not cur
rently pay franchise taxes, but would be
subject to the business activity tax.
“If the costs go up too much, there is a
very real risk in which physicians with a
low-reimbursement, high-indigent pa
tient load may be forced to leave those
kinds of practices,” said Kim Ross of the
Texas Medical Association.
“We get hit with an increase in sales tax
and then a value-added tax on top of
that,” said Richie Jackson, executive vice
president of Texas Restaurant Associa
tion. “I don’t know who the great untaxed
is, but it’s not restaurants.”
Others, including energy companies,
small businesses and farmers announced
support for Bush’s tax plan.
“The Bush proposal implements a
much more balanced approach in taxing
business,” said Bob Stallman, president of
the Texas Farm Bureau.
“At the same time, labor-intensive in
dustry, which generates a much higher per
centage of economic activity, shares a
much smaller tax burden,” Stallman said.
In the middle are legislators who are
faced with approving a tax bill at a time
when the business climate in Texas is
considered strong.
In asking the Legislature to cut school
property taxes by nearly $3 billion and pay for
it with budget savings and the new sales and
business taxes, Bush said he wanted to head
off a looming crisis. He said the state’s reliance
on property taxes to provide $10 billion in
public school funding is out of control.
“This is a pretty dramatic change,"®
Bob Kamm, senior vice president ofiif
Texas Association of Business & Chamfe
of Commerce, who supports Bush’sfK-
posal but acknowledges an uphill cliii
“Do lawmakers want tovotea$3l)i
lion tax bill when otherwise the bmines
climate is pretty good and we haveabal
anced state budget? In that sense, it’sgo
ing to be scrutinized by the Legislature,
Kamm said.
Legislators such as Sen. Teel Bivins,
Amarillo, chairman of the Senate Educa
tion Committee and a co-sponsor of tin
property tax relief bill, said creating ane*
tax system is the right thing to do.
“I think that we do have an opportunit
to do something proactive for a change in
stead of just reacting to crises,” Bivins
Green
Board of Regen
vice to the Texa
end this year af
Wisenbaker’s te
Wisenbaker wa
>lph Briscoe in
&rk White in 19f
rd term by Gov.
Wisenbaker, ar
(as, got his bad
M in 1939. He c<
leering in 1940.
fHe has endowe
ed two perma
fps for the Colle]
[In January 1987
ineering build
- , !.■■■ . M 'wJsring Research '
fCMCITs fa,
Br remember,” Vi
By Joe
Long
John
8081 Texas Ave.
College Station
and
3224 S. Texas Ave.
Bryan
We accept checks.
ALL you can eat
Large Wrap with
Fish or Chicken.
drink.
$3.99
i aSjK I
Sun.-Weds.
(all day long)
! S3.79
BUY ONE ENTREE,
CET SECOND ENTREE
FREE
(Second entree must be of equal or lesser value.
Coupon value up to $7 ( Valid anytime except Fri. & Sat.
after 6 p.m. Not valid with special lunch menu or other
entree specials. Dine in only. One coupon per table.
VALUE
MEXICAN RESTAURANT @
607 E. University Drive • 846-5333
Exp. 2/12/97
“The Best Pizza Value Anywhere!" Jnlndlidfnhh.
r-^ludWar II from
/f//~tyDCf-CAN-EfiI fit building. I le h;
VJVj In March 1942,
LPUmj I sk second lieutei
ACTD/W 77-9:30 hity. He reached h
.ARGEST VARIETY OF FRESH PIZZA
(THIN CRUST AND SICILIAN DEEP DISH),
GARLIC CHEESE BREAD, BAKED PASTA.
PIZZA ROLLS, SALAD BAR, 4 DIFFERENT DESSERTS,
University
Dr. N.
Georqe Bu
ih Dr.
<6
>
Culpepper
Plaza
<
CiCI’s l|
1
Harvey
he time of his (
actice of consult
vs which lasted:
■Wisenbaker als
l ^nt companies,
and farming.
®Je and his wife
stil
We Accept Personal Checks ^ ^ 4 / ycai'Scin
w/Approved I D. 694-6939