Should the legal age to Serve be raised from 18 to 21?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Should the legal age to Serve in the Military be raised from 18 to 21?

[Buzz Clik]

1. Why?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. The other Polls got me wondering...

Should the legal smoking age be increased from 18 to 21?
Poll result (38 votes)
Yes (11 votes, 29%)
No (27 votes, 71%)


Should the legal drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18?
Edited on Sat Nov-11-06 02:56 PM by Alexander
Poll result (81 votes)
Yes (44 votes, 54%)
No (37 votes, 46%)

[porphyrian]

2. That would reduce the brainwashability of the recruits. - n/t

[onecent]

3. It seems to me they should be able to smoke and drink if they

can give their life....but I'm not sure raising the min age would change much. They still smoke and drink.

I do know two of my children joined the marines and went to Desert Storm (twins- boy and a girl), and it made a man and a woman out of both of them...and gave me alot of gray hairs.

[stonecoldsober]

4. I'd be interested in a discussion of the pros and cons

I voted no because if I were going to be drafted I'd rather get it out of the way as early as possible before I became vested in a career, marriage, kids, etc. Now if we are talking pure volunteer the only concern I would have is it would make it very hard to maintain a military (IMHO) for the same reasons.

[Jim__]

5. Do you believe that 18 year olds are incapable of deciding for themselves?

If so, do you think the age of sexual consent should be raised to 21? I realize joining the military generally has the potential for more dire consequences than having sex; but, if 18 year olds are not capable of thinking for themselves, shouldn't we protect them in all areas?

I think 18 year olds can decide for themselves. I disagree with a lot of decisions they make. I believe a lot of their decisions are due to inexperience. But I really don't believe I have more right to think for them than they have to think for themselves.

[rpannier]

8. In addition

If they're not capable to make that decision, what's to say they won't lose their right to vote as well?

[silverojo]

11. Teenagers aren't yet capable of making adult decisions

The military knows this, and preys upon it.

[Swamp Rat]

6. Yes

[bluestateguy]

7. I would say no

That's not the answer. Instead, we need a truth in recruiting law. Recruiters must be required by law to tell the truth.

[HawkerHurricane]

9. They are.

Recruiters get in big trouble if 'caught' 'lying'.
Lies by ommission are common, and not counted.
And 'caught' means that there is no way for them to weasel out of it.
Funny thing, you're more likely to be 'caught' if you're below quota...