It's the adolescenceing of America.
My uncle joined the Navy during Korea when he was 15. He said it was called the “kiddie cruise”. Join when you’re 17 and get out on your 19th birthday. He got out on his 17th birthday just when all of his friends were enlisting.
He’s been a poker player his whole life and was a hell of a poker player even back then. He said he left home with $5.00. He said when he got to San Diego he had $35.00.