American Notes Military

"Smoke 'em if you've got 'em" was the Army's traditional way of announcing a break for soldiers -- and it is no wonder that 52% of G.I.s smoke tobacco. Last week the newly health-conscious Army implemented a policy to stub out that hoary tradition. In a move assailed as "unjustified, unenforceable and unfortunate" by the Tobacco Institute, the service banned smoking in conference rooms, auditoriums, classrooms, all Army vehicles and at all times during basic training.

The Army is the first military branch to act on a Defense Department goal to reduce smoking to 25% throughout the military by 1990. The example starts at the top: Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, Army Secretary John Marsh and Army Chief of Staff John Wickham are all nonsmokers.