Should the US Military Recruit & Pay 14 Yr Olds for Future Combat Duty?

[chlamor]

In an effort to increase its ranks for coming wars, the U.S. military is recruiting - and paying - children as young as 14 years old for future combat duty.

Tim Schmitt , Iraqwar.ru

Hadley's windfall was made possible under the Pentagon's "pre-enlistment program" that was quietly authorized last month in an effort to ensure the number of military troops available for combat remains steady for at least the next few years. The conditions of the program are simple. A young man who is at least 14 years old and has a parent's permission can enlist in the U.S. military, but will not report to duty until he reaches the legal age. The future soldier agrees to remain "physically and mentally fit" and to undergo annual physical examinations at the Military Entrance and Processing Station (MEPS). In exchange, the government provides him a $10,000 sign-on bonus that is paid in yearly installments of $2,500 until the age of 18, at which time any remaining balance is given to the recruit.

And while waiting to report to duty at 18, the new recruits are paid a modest stipend and allowed access to funds granted veterans for education. Because combat duty is a requirement of enlistment, the program is currently open only to young men, and it has been authorized for only three years, so Congress will have to renew the program again in 2008.

"The program is still in the early stages, but we're certain it will prove a valuable tool for the U.S. military while providing future soldiers with much-needed financial assistance so they can start planning for the future now," says Lt. James Pederson, a spokesman for the U.S. Pentagon's Office of Recruitment and Retention.

<snip>

"We're going to appeal to the patriotism of parents," says Pederson. "Parents have to understand that their children are needed in a time of war and that sacrifices need to be made for the good of the nation."

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=11136&hd=0&size=1&l=x

[MissWaverly]

1. this should not be allowed

they are under age, they are not considered old enough to drive for God's sake and we are asking them to enlist, and what if they don't meet the physical requirement in 4 years, do we then jail them for
breach of contract.

[lenidog]

2. Its fake

This was posted a couple days ago in another thread. The site was different but the story is still fake. Its just another example of having to be careful on what you read on the net.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Oh, ok... Never mind.

[lenidog]

7. Don't feel bad its pretty decent example of fakery

You have to slowly read it and pick out the small little errors or things that just smell of BS.

[Just Me]

3. (((((((((THUD)))))))))

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Both parents have to sign the enlistment form...

which makes me wonder just what kind of parents would allow this to happen to their sons.

[vpigrad]

5. I think Snopes said this wasn't true...

But what is true is that the thugs in green maintain a large presense in thousands of high schools in this country with a propoganda and hate program they call JROTC. We need to stop their hate mills now. They are one reason the schools are turning-out so many mindless Jebus-worshipping Bush-freaks.

[lenidog]

9. Never checked Snopes when it first was posted a couple days ago

several people on the thread including me just though it smelled of BS and started pulling it apart.

[KlatooBNikto]

8. I think we should recruit fetuses and outlaw abortions because they are

potential future warriors unless, of course, the offspring sports the name Bush, Cheney or Rumsfeld. Then a deferment might be in order.

[ltfranklin]

10. My take on this urban legend?

It's the booshivites floating a trial balloon. They may not be doint it now, but...

[rocktivity]

11. Another left wing blogger honey trap?

Was this story planted in hopes that left-wing bloggers would pick it up and end up being discredited by the MSM? Seems to be a lot of disinformation going around all of a sudden.

:headbang:
rocknation

[chlamor]

13. Wondered

about this. Sadly, doesn't seem too implausible even if it isn't factual.

[omega minimo]

12. They don't need this when videogames train & indoctrinate future soldiers

Look at the military TV commercials! Ever wonder why most videogames since Battlestar Gallactica are about shootemupbangbang? Ever wonder about the efffect on kids who grow up saturated with that?

Mystery solved! Military brass came out in Bush Gulf War I CROWING about how great it was that their (then) current crop of grunts had been plugged into videogames all their lives and could segue right into modern warfare technology.

Note: the dehumanizing and disassociative effects of vidgames are an added bonus when it's time to recruit for wargames.



:evilfrown: