“it was still not all that uncommon for a judge at sentencing to offer a defendant a choice of jail or boot camp”
And virtually all of those kids went on to serve honorably and then continue on in life as great people. Know a few, mostly Vietnam vets, and they’re all normal Americans.
The military made a lot of kids grow up. It doesn’t have to be filled with choir boys.
I remember a few potheads whose folks gave them the ultimatum - move out of the house or join the army. From what I’ve heard, it did them a world of good.
I was one of those kids. It was quick. One day I was in court, 2 days later in an Army physical in LA and off to Ft Ord same day.
For the majority, it’s health issues. Of those, more than half are too obese to be accepted.
*************
Maybe the FedGov should reverse the disastrous “everything low-fat .. eat WAY more grains” mantra they started around 1970 or so... all it’s done is cause diabetes ,, obesity and cancer.
maybe not choir boys but I’m afraid we have too many sissies....
The military made a lot of kids grow up. It doesn’t have to be filled with choir boys.
No but they will take choir girl/boys!
My father, a Navy officer veteran and a circuit judge in Florida for almost thirty years accommodated military recruiters in that manner and it usually worked out. Prudently, he insisted that the recruiter be informed by the prosecutor of all charges and negative information, that the recruiter appear in court and go on record, and with the young miscreant warned that the prosecutor could revive the charges if he busted out of the military. The recruiters liked that approach.
I don’t know how many war movies feature a bad boy forced into the military. We always throw the baby out with the bathwater. Never fails.