Should these young American boys be in the Army?

Question

I saw 2 new recruits

At a food market... They were buying cookies and cases of Mountain Dew. They were children,and no offense meant to them at all,,but they were not very mature young men,,just their interaction with each other seemed more like the actions of thirteen or fourteen year old boys,,,with their very short haircuts I ventured a guess as to what service they were in. It was the Army. Now America,,I see that real children are heading to be soldiers in Iraq. CHILDREN, Every trainer, Every recruiter,,every drill sergeant knows of what I speak.I felt ashamed to be an American last night. These two children were certainly very low I Q's kids. We should be ashamed of some of the kids we are taking advantage of these days.Perhaps this week I will visit the recruiters and see exactly what the intelligence limits are for the new recruits. Seeing these very immature kids get through basic was alittle frightening to me. Trust me. This would have not made you proud.

Answer 1

And because they cant get their recruitment numbers up, the army is now keeping ALL recruits. Whereas about 20 percent used to wash out because they couldnt handle the stress or whatever, now the army only washes out about 7 percent, and that number includes those that just change their minds and refuse to continue.

Answer 2

We have an all volunteer army in the US. These young men saw an opportunity to do many things (serve their country, earn a paycheck, learn a skill, become disciplined, see other parts of the world). Some may not be the sharpest tools in the shed but others are some of the most professional, experienced, mature young men you'll find anywhere. I personally served with the youngest (27 years old) Master Sergeant in the US Air Force. He could have been an honor's student at any major university in this country but he chosed to serve this land. I DONT feel ashamed when I see any member of our military.

Answer 3

Hey, maybe they were just blowing off steam. Although I personally have a high I.Q., there are many times in my life when I would likely appear stupid or mentally deficient because of the dumb way in which I was behaving.
The truth is, if you are smart, you can always act stupid. But if you are stupid, you can't act smart.
As far as buying cookies and Mountain Dew, these recruits are probably are getting 3 square meals on the base. If anyone wants to buy some junk food, who are we to judge. I know I have eaten my share, especially in my youth.
Lastly, being especially intelligent does not necessarily make you a better soldier. Qualities like bravery and willingness to follow orders are probably more highly regarded.

Answer 4

Don't let the Neo-Conservatives get you down with their comments Erudite. Your observations are worth a thousand sound bites. In fact, Bush and Co. have lowered the standards to allow more bodies in the military. (no bun intended) The same thing happened during the Vietnam War, and the kids were called, "McNamara's Kids" if I remember correctly.

It is a clear signal that all has gone wrong in Iraq, and also that the White House staff and republican majorities in Congress can find no answer, no hopeful policy and no real road map for us except, "things are getting better in Iraq," and then cross your fingers and your chest because none of us, know, know what is about to happen, except two things.

The War is expanding and those two kids and others like them are going to have their futures painfully distorted at least and a good chance of being destroyed.

Answer 5

Hell-o again. I'll put the dumbest private in the army up against America's enemies any day and be damn proud to serve beside him. As far as the "educated" intelligence of our enlistees our citizens should be looking at the people who are NOT educating them from pre-school through college. I was young, went off to war and pulled some duties in other countries and received more of an education than the college I graduated from ever gave me. I was an 85 Cat 2 on ASVAB. Not the smartest nor the dumbest. Just a young American kid who learned to grow up fast and to be thankful for what I have. I paid my dues and my own way and have never asked anyone for anything nor never will. Thank God for American youth in uniform and by the way.... most of our servicemen (99%) are very educated not only in smarts but in life. Love in Christ and I mean that in a good way..........

Answer 6

There are several troops in the military that probably shouldn't be in, but that falls back on the recruiter and people at the MEPS (Military Entrance and Processing Station). Numbers are low right now, so it seems almost anybody can get in. As a member of the military, I'd rather be low on troops than full of people that are just in for the benefits or because they couldn't make it in the "real world."

Answer 7

this is the third meaningless question that i have read of yours. i dont understand why you could be so negative to marines, or any branch for that matter, meaning the navy army, airforce when those people are giving up there freedom and the chance to be with there families, to share intiment moments with there husbands/wifes and to see there children growing day to day. Those people are fighting for you to set over here in america and run your pathetic mouth. Im proud of our troops and the rest of the americans that support our troops, but you sir i am not proud of. i hope that a bomb 'accidentally' gets dropped on your rooftop! IM A PROUD NAVY WIFE!!!!!!!!!! god bless all the familes and men and women going through this terrible time, and all the times yet to come! if your ashamed of young people going over to defend our country, why dont you get off your fat beer drinking *** and keep the 'boys' at home

Answer 8

Sounds like you were judging these kids too quick by calling them "children."

Just because they bought cookies and Mountain Dew, doesn't mean that they have low I.Q.'s

Keep in mind that joining the Army, or any cervice, is voluntary. If those kids were in the Army, that was THEIR CHOICE!

But now let's assume for a moment that those kids did have "low I.Q.'s"....wouldn't that type of kid be better off in the Army, where they're forced to learn some discipline, rather than in the real world causing who-knows-what kind of trouble (doing drugs, getting girls pregnant, robbing, etc, etc...)??

Answer 9

The concern is not intelligence,it is age and body count.As long as there 18 and older when the recruiter tells them about the benefits,like paying for there schooling,job training,retirement all the recruiter wants to here,after a little minding about the good things is yes.

Answer 10

22 years pluss in the Navy.. About the only thing I can say is now you know just why I'm out...It sure seems that young people are not growing up very fast any more..Its not by any means there fault, blame the schools and the parents.. When I went in a 2nd class told me he was going to kick me in the Butt if I didnt move.. 22 years later as a LT Comander I was balled out for saying something about the same to a recruit...Were in trouble, for sure...Beleive me they dont act that way on base or in boot camp... YOUR FRIEND ROB