"She had enlisted during her senior year at Pinellas Park High School. A recruiter approached her several times. She didn't really want to go, but she didn't know what else to do.
She told the recruiter "no." Why did he keep coming back? Let's take no for an answer and sign up people who are enthusiastic not reluctant. Wasn't the best time to "get her the hell out of the service" before she even got in? If it takes a hard sell, that's not exactly an ideal recruit and potentially more trouble than useful as it turned out to be here."
As a Brit, I wasn't aware that military recruiters target high school children in the US & I have to say that I'm a little surprised.
What age are these kids approached by recruiters and if they sign up, how long are they obliged to serve and how long are they on the reserve list afterwards?
Military recruiters are very active in the high schools of the USA. They even have extra-curricular clubs called JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps). The standard enlistment contract is 4 years of active duty followed by 4 years of non-drilling Ready Reserves for a total of eight years. There are other contracts that may require as much as 6 years of active duty (followed by only 2 years of IRR) and there is also a 3 year active, 3 year drilling reserve, and 2 year IRR contract. It all depends on what schools/programs you receive from the government but all of the contracts have an initial obligation of 8 years.
I don't know for certain, but I'm willing to bet that the majority of enlistments in the Services are recent high school graduates, about 18 years of age.
I know the British educational system is different - I don't think there is such a thing as high school - but I guess the equivalent is the GCSE.
What's the British Army, or the Royal Navy or RAF's recruiting policies?
Here in the States you can enlist at 17 years of age. I seriously considered that
Since when are 18-year-olds children? Some of them sign their contracts when they're 17, but those require parental consent and they aren't allowed to deploy until they're 18 (in accordance with international treaty).
What age are these kids approached by recruiters and if they sign up, how long are they obliged to serve and how long are they on the reserve list afterwards?
The length of their service depends on the contract they sign. They can sign for as little as two years and as long as six. If they qualify for a shortage specialty and sign a long contract they're likely to recieve a sizable bonus -- sometimes big enough to buy a rather nice car outright. Their length of IRR service varies with the time they spend on active duty collecting bonuses and paychecks. They aren't victims. They're soldiers. Deal with it.
BTW, as a 'Brit' why do you care how we recruit and pay the soldiers that make you safer?