16 year old recruits in UK?

[eddie]

First, I didn't know you could join the army at 16 in the UK!?! Seems a bit young to me, and some say in the UK, that it isn't working out real well, because of the drop out rate.
Why do they want someone that young to enlist in the first place? Just curious myself.

http://news.msn.com/world/16-year-ol...hts-groups-say

[Herr-Berbunch]

They aren't able to go to enter a combat zone until they are 18.

I'm in two minds whether it's ok or not, for some 16 year old with crap schooling and crap family life it can make them really mature quicker than their school friends and give them the family and support they've needed for years.

Nah, changed my mind, only of one mind now - I've convinced myself.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by eddie

First, I didn't know you could join the army at 16 in the UK!?! Seems a bit young to me, and some say in the UK, that it isn't working out real well, because of the drop out rate.
Why do they want someone that young to enlist in the first place? Just curious myself.

http://news.msn.com/world/16-year-ol...hts-groups-say

The age is only one year younger than the minimum age to enlist in US armed forces.I don't really see what the problem is as they are by the time the enlist only going to be 6 months or so younger than a 17 year old.And one could argue that a 17 and even 18 year old dose not have much more maturity than a 16 year old.

To enlist at 16 they must also have parental permission.The Brits also require a person to 18 to be deployed to combat in the US a person could enlist at 17 go through basic and advanced training and get sent into combat as an infantryman and not yet be 18 years old.

As Herr said for most that choose to enlist at 16 in the UK or 17 in the US in most cases it is the best possible route to take in life in order to get ahead unless you want another burger flipper.

[Beardmoresam]

If you join the Army in the UK at 16 you go to harrogate Army Foundation college.

They don't actually go to Catterick for infantry training or Perbrite for Corps training untill they are 18, so really, they are just like cadets for 2 years, but full time.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Beardmoresam

If you join the Army in the UK at 16 you go to harrogate Army Foundation college.

They don't actually go to Catterick for infantry training or Perbrite for Corps training untill they are 18, so really, they are just like cadets for 2 years, but full time.

The article tries to make it sound bad but as I described in the US a person 17 years of age can go to combat.Unlike in the UK where they will be past 18.I do not have a problem with the idea
and the UK set up keeps them from deploying until they are 18.A US Army or Marine Corps infantryman can easily deploy and not yet be 18 the combined training only lasts about 4 or 5 months total if a person had just turned 17 upon enlistment they would still be 17 upon completion of training and in turn get deployed even to Afghanistan.

The British Army website explains it better;

http://www.army.mod.uk/training_educ...ning/7127.aspx

[eddie]

Originally Posted by Beardmoresam

If you join the Army in the UK at 16 you go to harrogate Army Foundation college.

They don't actually go to Catterick for infantry training or Perbrite for Corps training untill they are 18, so really, they are just like cadets for 2 years, but full time.

Thanks for that information.

[TLAM Strike]

After a 6 second search...

16 years - In Army phase 1 training before your 33rd birthday
(Parental consent needed for under 18s)

http://www.army.mod.uk/join/20145.aspx

Parent or guardian says okay then you can join the army and receive basic training.

In the US it is 17 with parental consent.

Comparing the British military's recruitment policies to that of North Korea or Iran is just ludicrous. British teens can enlist of their own free will and with the consent of their parents, and they are not to be sent in to combat. While in North Korea they are drafted, and in Iran they are sent in to quell anti-government riots.

Ap and "Human Rights Groups" why not complain about the age our enemies are recruiting at instead of the Brits?

[Jimbuna]

At 18 they can vote and believe you me....that takes real courage when you look at the voting options these days.

[BossMark]

My nephew joined the Coldstream Guards when he was 16, then 3 weeks after his 18th birthday he was in Afghanistan. Then three years later he was aloud to leave due stress and other personal problems.

His proudest moment was doing trooping the colour in 2006 and 2007

[Jimbuna]

I've a friend (a pensioner now) who was also a Coldstreamer, he fought in Kenya and has some tremendous stories to tell when he's had a few.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by BossMark

My nephew joined the Coldstream Guards when he was 16, then 3 weeks after his 18th birthday he was in Afghanistan. Then three years later he was aloud to leave due stress and other personal problems.

His proudest moment was doing trooping the colour in 2006 and 2007

My brother had a Marine under his command that was 17 years old this was also in Afghanistan according to my brother the 17 year old was more mature than most of the other 18~21 year olds in his unit.He turned 18 while in Afghanistan.

Just some whino "rights" group if you ask me.

[eddie]

My Father (who is 89 years old now) needed parental consent to enlist in the USMC right after Pearl Harbor.

[Oberon]

My great-grandfather was one of the many who lied about his age to join up for the Great War. At least it's harder to do that these days.

When did Britain change it?
It used to be 171/2 a few years back

Ap and "Human Rights Groups" why not complain about the age our enemies are recruiting at instead of the Brits?

In case you didn't notice, they complain about all of them.


@ Berbunch

They aren't able to go to enter a combat zone until they are 18.

They aren't supposed to go to enter a combat zone, the deployment of underage troops to Iraq showed that the British military sometimes screwup the paperwork.

I'm in two minds whether it's ok or not, for some 16 year old with crap schooling and crap family life it can make them really mature quicker than their school friends and give them the family and support they've needed for years.

Or they could end up like Mike Philpott.
Given the relatively small size of your national forces, ex-servicemen do seem to be proportionally over represented in your prison population.

[fireftr18]

Here in the US we have our "military academies." High schools with a military type curriculum. We also have JrROTC (Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps). That's a high school level military club.