Enlistment

At 18 years old we are just getting out of high school and have our whole lives ahead of us. Is it too early to commit ourselves to the military for the next 4-8 years?
     No, 18 years old is old enough to make the decision to join the military or not. At 18 our choices are limited to going to college, joining military, or getting a job to support ourselves. When you turn18 in America you legally become an adult. As an adult, we should have the choice to do whatever we want as long as it is within legal limits. A rise the age of enlistment and we are taking away one of the very few choices young adults have when turning 18.
     Most 18 year olds don’t really know what they want to do with the rest of their life and joining the military is a major commitment they can’t take back. The fact of the situation is, is that it is their CHOICE to join the military. I have many friends who have joined and I respect their choice. I’m not necessarily an advocate of joining the military, but more of an advocate of choice.
     The decision-making capacity of our young adults is underestimated way too often. Their choices should be respected as long as they aren’t doing any harm to themselves or anyone else.
     I view the military not as an alternative but as very similar to college. I know that sounds crazy, but hear me out. College is a choice. Were not forced to go to college but most of us do. When we go, we may not even want to be there. Regardless of how we feel, the fact remains, that if we stick with it and finish with a college degree, a million other doors that would be closed had we not gone to college are wide open. Just like college, we should give our young adults the choice to start when THEY feel comfortable. Not when WE feel like they are old enough to go. Of course with college we don’t risk getting shot, but this is an obvious risk 18 year olds take when they enlist.
As of now, our 18 year olds have a choice, let’s keep it that way.

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