Should the army be allowed to recruit children?

[jake-the-peg]

An article from a few years back and David Cameron has graciously decided to end the trap preventing kids from changing their minds after 6 months of service but not much has changed

http://www.newstatesm...army-recruitment-iraq

40% join under the age of 18

At that age they're too young to drink vote or buy fireworks - but apparently they're old enough to join up.

The Army says they don't recruit at schools but just give information - is it really going to hurt them to wait another couple of years to get hold of their new recruits?

Are they worried they'll change their minds?

[cathfromsaron]

that's how andy mcnabb started and it could a good start for some lads!

but, yes not in active roles in battle and with a getout clause!

cath x

[craft1948]

You can get married at 16...........are they classed as children then?

[jake-the-peg]

Take one into a pub and ask the barman

[craft1948]

I fail to see what being an adult has to do with the licencing laws.

[Mosaic]

Perhaps the question needs to come from the other side, ie is it correct to delay legal adulthood to 18? Why is this age chosen?
If you've been around 'kids' of this age it's clear that given a clear role, rewards and boundaries most of them are well up to the task. And physically, young men are at their peak. And it is definitely the case that the army is a good choice where there is large scale unemployment.
Part of being treated a an adult means accepting that some decisions are not easily undone.

[jake-the-peg]

OK - smoking or voting or getting a credit card

I think especially with the divorce rate your argument would be stronger directed at also raising the age that you can get married at

[jake-the-peg]

You have serving soldiers too young to go into a shop and buy a knife

[craft1948]

lol jake it wasn't an argument............it was just to point out that differing laws say that people are classed as children.

[jake-the-peg]

I shall post a question about whether the age to marry should be raised to 18

But we don't have vicars coming into schools encouraging kids to get hitched!

[jackthehat]

My son joined up, aged 17 and a half, I signed his papers.

He was glad, when aged 18, he could go out drinking with his mates.

He was miffed, when aged 19, neither he nor his mates could go drinking whilst they were on exercise in the USA.

I'm not sure if all American service personnel are aged 21 and over, Jake....

[McMouse]

I joined the RM's aged 16 and it was the making of me.

[Mosaic]

Not being picky, but isn't it the law that you can marry at the age of 16 with parental consent? After 18, it;s your own decision.
Re. smoking and drinking: we might get some surprising answers if we run an poll on this in AB ie when you had your first. Not even going near the 'first sex' issue.
I think it's very hard when anyone wants out of a binding decision like joining up, whatever their age, but sometimes life is just like that.
It's like voting Tory - a good idea at the time, then you're stuck with....oh sorry. I'll shut up.

[Quizmonster]

What vicars have been coming into schools and encouraging children to do, Jake, has frequently been much more diabolical than getting married! And I am not solely referring to physical abuse but to the mental abuse of feeding them the nonsense of their beliefs.

[NOX]

No the armyshould not be allowed to ' recruit' or ' give information' in schools. End of.

[Quizmonster]

Of course the army should be allowed to visit schools and provide information to pupils. The profession of arms is just as much a profession as is the profession of medicine or any other and - what's more - the existence of an army is essential for any nation, even the most peaceful, if its security is to be assured. Even the Vatican has an armed body, the Swiss Guard.