Posted on 07/21/2019 8:27:59 AM PDT by Towed_Jumper
As the Army, Navy and other services contend with a thriving economy and a directive to expand their ranks, there is a growing debate over whether the military should consider lowering the minimum enlistment age from 17 to 16. More than a dozen countries, including the United Kingdom, already have adopted the policy.
Critics say the idea is deeply flawed and presents a host of societal problems, but supporters argue that the Pentagon needs to think outside the box if it wants to continually overcome one of the toughest recruiting environments in decades.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Bad idea for sooo many reasons
And use that time to inoculate them against collectivism before they go to college.
This may be what it is about.
At one time the Army had GED classes and did GED testing so that shouldn’t be a problem.
In my opinion teens today though far more “worldly” in things like dating, sex, ETC are no where near as mature or have the sense of responsibility those of earlier generations had.
My dad was considered a man at 16, left home and went into the world. That was during the Depression. My brothers were mature, responsible, and doing the work of grown men at 16. I have a grandson that is pretty mature, responsible, and a hard worker at 16. He is not close to where my brothers were at the same age though. Maybe it is just the grandma in me but I say no to 16.
If they go back to doing the GED in service they should be able to get more recruits just from doing that.
I don’t know what they may need to do to recruit the numbers they need, they may end up taking 16 year olds. I hope not.
No it isn’t. The modern military doesn’t need two year and leave rotations. That is a recipe for disaster
And yet, they still have trouble making numbers. I've get to believe that the marginal cost to the military to feed an house one more recruit is pretty close to zero.
Maybe they should recruit older people, instead of younger.
Large pool of males socially promoted up through elementary and middle school that are then dumped into the high schools. At 16, they drop out.
“Want to increase volunteers? Stop teaching global communism in our public and Catholic schools”
Want to increase volunteers? Stop using our military for far-away nation-building invasions that aren’t necessary for the security of the United States. I wouldn’t advise any of my family to enlist when there’s a prospect of being sent to wars we never should have been involved in - Iraq, Syria and now Iran - or never ending wars that should have ended long ago (ie Libya)
If your kids are patriots and hanker to enlist to defend America, encourage them to consider the US Border Patrol
This is a ploy by liberals to drop the voting age to 16.
This creates a real quandary for the low I.Q. RATs. They would finally have an argument for lowering the voting age to 16 but how could they explain allowing a 16 year old to carry a firearm. Hmmmmmm.
Raise the age limit, use those enlisted for admin work and free up the REMF crowd to take on call me at duties.
Stop the SJW bullcrap that’s infesting the military and quit driving men out of the service with a whip and the problem just might solve itself.
As it is, there’s so much time taken up with all the social engineering sensitivity training there’s no time for actual MOS training.
OK so make it 4 yr minimum.
I said 2 yrs because I don’t believe the short fall if we even have one at this time, is very large plus there will always be a % of the mandated recruits who opt to re up.
NO!
We must be careful. If they start recruiting 16 year olds, the Dems will use it as an excuse to lower the voting age to 16. Bank on it
I tried to join the Marines when I was 30 and they said I was too old.
Stupid idea. If anything, the age should be increased. If we need more soldiers than we have recruits, then either increase pay and bonuses or institute a draft.
Not sure when you were trying to join but if they have the numbers they are looking for they toughen up on requirements. When numbers were lower than they needed it seemed there were waivers for just about everything.
When they weren’t accepting GED (I think- but not sure they changed that) that was pure nonsense. They were giving gang bangers with some criminal record waivers, medical waivers, weight waivers, and not accepting GEDs?
They need to come up with a working plan for sure, at times it seems anyone can join and at other times if you don’t have a degree and or skill they need forget it. I think that is their biggest issue.
“Stop the SJW bullcrap that’s infesting the military and quit driving men out of the service with a whip and the problem just might solve itself.”
Another solution: no more “preemptive” wars and nation-building expeditions in the Middle East and other distant lands. If our military was used for its proper purpose - to defend America’s borders and sovereignty - I promise you enlistments would rise
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