Child soldiers?

[HavocIRL]

I recently found out that great britain is one of the many countries that uses child soldiers. Needless to say I was shocked. I have a few questions which I'd like answered though, just to answer my curiosity.

Are they only recruited and trained at 16 or do they serve?

What do you servicemen think of it? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?

Also were any of you recruited at 16?

[AdamR]

You can sign up at 16 but you're not allowed on operations until you're 18, although I believe this has been the case for only a few years.

[Tab]

My Uncle was a boy soldier, he joined up at the age of 14, he wound up as a Lt/Colonel in the RE. The Chairman of our Branch of the PRA joined the Army at 14.6 years and wound up as a Major in the RA. Now they did not get near combat until they had turned 18 years, but they did get a good career and a good education what they did with it was up to them.

[Guest]

I am 17 and i start my training on sunday in the Paras.

It is definatly a young persons game, especially in the infantry, its just whether the young ones like myself can take the hardcore training...i am going to find out soon enough.

James

[flo]

I joined up at 16 and was one of the youngest recruits to go through basic at Raleigh. Many a time i felt homesick and wondered what the hell i was doing there but i persevered. But in hindsight i would not do it again, i would first go to college and/or gain an insight into what employed civvy life was like. The reason i say this is that when i did eventually leave the wrens i found civvy street quite hard to cope with and it dawned on me that i had been institutionalised, both by being at school and then joining up straight from school. My son is now 15 and is wanting to join up and i have put my foot down and am insisting that he goes to college to get a trade first that,

A - will be beneficial to him in civvy street if forces life doesnt work out.
B - he can use that trade to gain an sq whilst in the forces if things do work out.
C - Being the canny jock that i am, he can do rabbits whilst in the forces and earn lots of dosh to top up his forces pay and keep his old mum in the manner she is acustomed too.

At least when he has completed his college course he will be much more mature and ready to take orders and react to them.

[whyi]

i joined up at 15 i do know that some went to places they should not of done at 16.5 and thats a true fact

[Wholley]

Not so here in the US.
You can fight for your country at 18 but you can't drink a bevy till your 21,or smoke a tab either.The G.I.Bill allows Servicemen(And Women,Sorry Flo )To enter college with a gurt big grant provided they served their full enlistment and gained an Honorable Discharge.
So to get a good education here you serve first then your rewarded.
The G.I.Bill is open to all Arms including National Guard but not State(Volunteer)Guard.If anyones interested I'll get into the Veterans Administration later,Open not only to Vet's from this country but also"Allies of the United States"Who are currently resident or Citizens of the U.S.
Wholley.

[exxonuk]

I have always wanted a military career but the time has never been the best for me. I am now 26 and hopefully have my PRMC in April. I understand that i will probebly be the oldast there however i have gained a lot of life skills and i hope that they will benefit me as well as the younger guys. Has anyone else joined al a later age? how did you find it?

[Wholley]

Exxon.
One thing I would keep in mind is not just the life skills you have gained but the age difference between you and most Nods who are going to be be eight years younger than you.At my age eight years may as well be five minutes,but at yours its almost a lifetime.
Just something to dwell upon.
Wholley.

[exxonuk]

Forgive me but i dont understand what you mean

[Wholley]

Sorry mate,
I kinda missed your last.
My point is that you may find you have nothing in common with the young people your joining with.Eight to Ten years is a gap.I'm not suggesting you should not do it,Good for you,And I wish you all the best.
Wholley.

[exxonuk]

Yes i understand that but it is only going to be for the first 32 weeks, when i go to a unit there will be marines my own age and having someone older than they are other than the PTI's cant be a bad thing.