AzTallRider

That's the way I read your original post, DoK: racing with a history of past military PED use. Personally, I'd have no problem with it.

revchuck 

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I was standing in line at the PX in Bagram behind a designated marksman (back in 2003). The other gray-hair next to me and I started discussing which one would hold him down and which would grab his M14. The young kid with the M14 just chuckled.
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Duke of Kent

Nope, never done it. Don't get me wrong; if I was in that situation, yes, I would explore the options available to me. The reasons have been explained by me and others. Modern medical/sports science has made it safe enough that I'd use every advantage I could get to expand my lethality/survivability.

But the reality is that in my current, convention situation, there is no need for it. Faster than all of my guys as it is.

benajah

I did two tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, with the 82nd Airborne and the 173rd Airborne. I didn't see much PED use in Iraq other than over the counter stuff like Hydroxycut and Ripped Fuel to keep you awake for days at a time, but in Afghanistan, operating between 7,000 and 10,000 feet elevation and carrying 100+ of gear up and down mountains all day, lots of guys were taking lots of different types of things ranging from viagra, snorting lithium, to the most serious stuff, and some of the special operations groups we worked with seemed to have some structured programs for tough missions, although they didn't discuss it openly.
All in all, the higher ups turned a blind eye...while we were downrange. By and large, once we got home, all that crazyness stayed back in the sandbox and things went back to normal.
It was funny to watch the weight lifters who went from 180lbs to 230lbs in a year tour shrink right back down in a matter of months when we got home though.

benajah

Ha, I had a PL like you once. Eventually our PSG had to take him aside and get him to take it easy on the kids fresh out of basic. Guy was an Ironman and would just shell everyone in the platoon on runs, and if the enlisted guys cant beat a green 2LT theres a problem.

Duke of Kent

Nah, that's not me. NCOs run PT, I just come up with the plan. My PSG and I just hang out at the back of the formation when we do platoon runs, talking about the day ahead and policing up any guys that fall out. Let my team leaders and squad leaders execute. If we do intervals, its on the track and on an individual basis. Only time my ranger buddy and I ever break them off is on ruck marches. Helps to tire them out before the weekend.

benajah

Yeahyoure the good kind of PL. I've had a lot, some were fantastic officers and let the NCOs work the Joes, and some wanted to neuter the PSG. It is nice to see the PL be hard on ruck marches and training missions though, but back to doping and military or bike racing. In my opinion that's simply apples and oranges. Doping on the battlefield to save yours or others lives and doping to win an athletic contest just don't compare. It's understandable and even necessary in one context but not the other.

Duke of Kent

Do the gains resulting from PED use for non-sporting purposes still qualify as ill-gotten?

Because I've heard that you still retain some sort of benefit long after you stop using.

I've enjoyed reading all of your responses thus far. This is the sort of philosophical ***** we (me and my fellow platoon leaders) our battalion commander (my boss's boss) presents us with, once or twice a month. I find it very interesting to see how an individual's background informs their world view, their decision making process and how they'd handle certain situations.

chiefDave

LT, be safe. Keep your head low and your 4th point of contact lower. Been there done that for over 24 years (101st, 82nd, 10th MNT, III Corps...) was a NCO and then crossed over to the dark side. In my day, chief was sure to break everyone off the younger Soldiers, NCOs and branch officers. The funny part was how great the young branch officers where in sports, like, damn these kids had mad skills... I liked the LTs so much I married one, and promoted her a few times after that. My house 6 was truly house 6

In my time downrange in the early 90s, and then OIF/OEF my Soldiers took spare time and hit the iron or did cross fit. Hell back in 90-91 we used 4x4s and sand bags as we had no weights. My Soldiers where hitting all the legal over the counter stuff, drinks and supplements. My units where different being Signal, so it was more mental the physical, so we allays had the best coffee on the FOB, seriously.

Do anything that helps downrange, but nothing that could hurt you or your Soldiers in the long run. Race when you get back and get a new bike or two You deserve it. Thanks for your service and be safe.
chief