Our daughter just graduated and is off to West Point for a military career. She's only five feet, four inches tall. Will this be a disadvantage for her?
The military used to have height requirements but these have been abandoned. There was no evidence that being taller was an advantage for a soldier. In fact, being short may help in some areas where soldiers must move through small spaces.
One of the most common injuries in soldiers is a stress fracture in the pelvis, knee, or foot. Although many risk factors have been identified, height is not one of them. However, females are at increased risk compared to males.
Your daughter is at greater risk of injury if she is in poor physical condition. Good muscle strength is needed to reduce strain on the bones during vigorous training. Jogging, marching, and long-distance running are the types of activities that can cause bone stress injuries.
The risk of stress injuries is greatest during the first eight weeks of basic training. The sudden increase in amount and intensity of exercise is linked with bone stress injuries.
Injury-prevention programs have become the focus of attention for the military. Identifying the risk factors first has been necessary before a prevention program could be started.
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