Steroids

[BrianH]

Originally Posted by kgoerz

They should test for it.
I don't want anyone on my Team who needs or feels the need to take performing enhancing drugs in order to excel. You want someone excelling in Combat training who is taking Steroids?? What happens when he is deployed and doesn't have them??
If he can't do it with his natural Heart, Motivation and commitment. Then he should be sent packing.

The same thing could be said for night vision, FLIR, JDAM, ACOG, EoTech, GPS, or any other technological performance enhancing product.

Why would you throw a guy off the team who has decided to further enhance his natural abilities to perform his job? Like Cric stated earlier, the short and long term effects of AAS are grossly overstated for political and athletic reasons, mostly involving cheating. It is banned simply because it DOES make people stronger and faster. War isn't an activity that falls under those guidelines. If a guy on my team feels the desire to (responsibly) take a substance that would allow him to more easily carry wounded teammates off the battlefield, I am not going to stop him.

Too many people drank the BALCO Kool-Aid.

[Koa18B]

Originally Posted by BrianH

The same thing could be said for night vision, FLIR, JDAM, ACOG, EoTech, GPS, or any other technological performance enhancing product.

Why would you throw a guy off the team who has decided to further enhance his natural abilities to perform his job? Like Cric stated earlier, the short and long term effects of AAS are grossly overstated for political and athletic reasons, mostly involving cheating. It is banned simply because it DOES make people stronger and faster. War isn't an activity that falls under those guidelines. If a guy on my team feels the desire to (responsibly) take a substance that would allow him to more easily carry wounded teammates off the battlefield, I am not going to stop him.

Too many people drank the BALCO Kool-Aid.

I agree in some aspects with what you said. Having recently went through the Q. I am not on a team yet so I still have yet to deal with certain aspects of being an 18B however, FLIR, GPS, and EoTech's have not killed someone due to irresponsible usage (well other then the enemy).

I have heard and seen team mates of mine experiment with everything from AAS to plain OTC Creatine and other "Supplement's." IMO it makes little to no difference as guys that twice my size and are big "PT Studs" when it comes to that run or forced marches they have always been lacking in the stamina area.

[Triman19]

Just a quick comment on this topic. In the triathlon community steriod use is pretty big. I have completed twenty one races (not that a certain number matters, many people have done hundereds more) but one trait that I have repeatedly seen with different bodie shapes, sizes ect is that during the race many of these people honestly die out. Of course I do not know every person who uses, but I do train with guys weekly who do. They claim stronger sprint abilities, faster recovery and better metabolism to name a few benefits. However, their true endurance seems to be taking a hit. Maybe I am wrong or misguided, but I was under the impression that EPO actually gives the "endurance athlete" that extra push? I will do some research and see what I can find out.
I respect and see both sides of the issue. I guess I would rather be tall and skinny and work with the talents God gave me than try to change my body to a thick lifters build. That is why I have chosen to not use, although it is very tempting to use when you get beat by peolpe who do not train as hard as I do.
I think a common misconception by those who do not know is that an "SF guy" does not necessarily look a certain way, i.e. John Rambo. I have personnally been put down by an SF guy who had to have been about fifty five years of age and weighed much more than me. Funny thing, he just worked his butt off his entire career and it got him the same place as some people who choose to use.
To each his own I suppose. Have a great weekend and be safe.

God Bless