why do i have to be 18 to volunteer?

Question

my grandma goes to a base where they ship about US soldiers to Iraq. i wanna go but i have to be 18. why?

Answer 1

You can join the Army at age 17. My husband did. You just need to graduate (or equivalent) and your parents (or legal guardian) to sign the paper work for you. If you are really interested go speak with a recruiter and be honest about your age. They will be able to help you out more.

The reason for the age 18 to join is simple. You are signing a contract. Like any other contract you must be 18 or emancipated.

Answer 2

Because no one wants to see a 15 year old in Iraq with his brains all over the ground, simple politics. If the media wasnt around and if we were in great need such as invasion of the homeland then the 18 status would be dropped.

Answer 3

Acutally, if you are 17 at the end of your Junior Year, you can join (the Marine Corps, anyway) And they will send you to bootcamp in June, graduate in August, complete your senior of high school while serving as a Marine reservist, and once you graduate high school, you will get orders to your "A" school, but you can enlist (and ship out) at 17 with a parent/guardian release.

Answer 4

You'll be able to join soon enough. You can join the Marines at 17, but you won't go into a danger zone until you're 18. There are laws, I can't find them right now. I know their out there.

Answer 5

At 18 you are legally considered to be an adult and therefore intelligent enough to make a legal decision about joining the military, after that you cant cry and say you want to go home, when the going gets tough!!

Answer 6

If you are a high school graduate and you have your parents signature you may be able to go earlier. I graduate HS at 17.