What age to go to war?

wsjb78 · 03-22-2003, 02:32 PM

I just had some discussion with Twinkley after I've seen some news report on MTV Europe...

There was this really cute girl, PDM (or PMD or something like that) Dominguez. She is just 17 and currently she's in Katar to serve.

I mean she's half a kid. She can't buy alcohol, she can't do content (yet) but she can join the armed forces and get send to war.

When asked why she joined the armed forces she replied to get college fundings.

Twinkley did outline that Dominguez is doing all of the freely. No one forced her to join the armed forces.

Anyway, I tend to think even if she's doing this freely that is too young and that she does not fully comprehend what she's committing herself to. The US has troops all over the world in various hot spots and it's very likely to get oneself endangered.

I just think it's somewhat out of proportion: She can join the armed forces, willingly endanger her life but she must not buy alcohol?

That's just my personal opinion (which is based also a lot about the surounding I grew up with)

What do you think? At what age can you join the armed forces? Do you have to do military service?

Here in Switzerland males are obligated to do military service, this however at the age of 20 (or later). If you don't want to do so you still have an alternate choice of doing public service...

P.S.: No offense meant, don't intend on criticising the US system. I just wouldn't want to send 17 years olds to war...

Panky · 03-22-2003, 03:35 PM

Minimum age is 17 with parental consent. We can't vote until we are 18, though. Before 1986, each state could make it's own legal drinking age. A lot of states were set at 17. In 1986, US Federal law was passed to raise the age to 21 for all states thinking it would cut down on alcohol related teenage deaths. Now there is lobbying to try and drop the legal drinking age down to 18 in some states.

They never bothered to raise the enlistment age. There really is no reason to. At 18, you are considered an adult in the eyes of the states.

We aren't forced to join. Guaranteed the military entices with college funds, jobs after service, and the likes, but it's still our own choice to join or not.

Panky

wsjb78 · 03-23-2003, 04:54 AM

Panky, I know it's their choice but I had problems with my conscience sending them to war. You see, when I was 17 I went for a year to Australia as exchange student... I didn't really realize what I get myself into until I was in the plane.
I tend to think it's the same for them. They are too young to really see what they get themselves into it. Just my 2 cents. If I was their commanding officer I wouldn't send them near any hotspot!

Panky · 03-23-2003, 12:07 PM

Some 17, 18, 19 year olds have matured beyond their years. They have been through situations and have experienced things that some people in their 20's, 30's, and 40's wouldn't know how to handle.

Age is just a number that defines how many years someone has been alive.

If I was a commanding officer, I wouldn't want to send anyone to a hot spot regardless of age.

Panky

pornodoggy · 03-23-2003, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wsjb78
Panky, I know it's their choice but I had problems with my conscience sending them to war. You see, when I was 17 I went for a year to Australia as exchange student... I didn't really realize what I get myself into until I was in the plane.
I tend to think it's the same for them. They are too young to really see what they get themselves into it. Just my 2 cents. If I was their commanding officer I wouldn't send them near any hotspot!

They are adults.

Sure - there are stupid laws that don't let them do certain things. THAT's the part that's not fair - not the going to war. Have we gotten so soft in western society that we're going to presume 18 year olds are too young to make their own choices?

I'm sorry ... I realize the trend today seems to be to stay home until you are in your twenties, or something, but you grow up when you have to. People who make the decision to sign their name on the dotted line select an option that will grow them up quickly.

Rochard · 03-24-2003, 12:11 AM

I was seventeen and serving in the US Marines - And I could buy a drink in a public bar. However, I was aloud to drink on base.

Evil Chris · 03-24-2003, 11:10 AM

What is the law on that in the US?
When I was in the Canadian Military, I was 17 when I first joined. The drinking age in Ontario at that time was 19 (still is), and I wasn't allowed to be served alcohol in any bars. Even my own "mess hall" to which I paid monthly mess dues to.

Rochard, I didn't quite understand your post....

twinkley · 03-24-2003, 05:26 PM

PornoDoggy is right....

At 18 you are considered an adult here supposedly with all rights and privedges.... with the exception of drinking. How stupid is that? You are old enough to get a job, defend and/or die for your country, make porn films - anything BUT consume alcohol.

Seems kinda silly doesnt it?

AND

IMHO - it seems like doing that just makes tennagers drink more. I know i did! It was a game to see how much you could get away with in public without getting caught. My 21st birthday was fun - but after that, drinking just lost some of its mystique and fun - its just not as much fun if someone isnt telling you NO.

twinkley