*shrug*

I've seen many, many NCOs do very stupid things while under the influence. They often show better judgment in regards to alcohol than lower enlisted, but not by an insane margin. For a long time, it was statistically safer to be in a hostile fire zone than stateside. I believe the second cause of death was motorcycles.

I was one of those young soldiers that could be trusted with an automatic grenade launcher or an Abrams, but not a Yuengling. Uhm. Yea. Makes perfect sense. I remember thinking that it was a pretty damning indication that my government did not trust me. Damn near zero percent of the population, outside of very religious folks, had an issue with me drinking underage while in the military.

I'm also a ideological supporter of the notion that soldiers should be carrying weapons whenever practical, and expected to keep their weapons for life. Yes, I remember how much of a pain in the neck it was to be digging trenches, putting up a radio tower, or whatnot while armed. Guy wires and web gear, let alone weapons, don't mix well. Obviously, no kidding there are times when folks can't be armed. FOD situations, conducting surgery, being on top of a radio tower, PT, binge drinking sessions, etc. Yes, I do believe enlisted dental techs or commissioned cube dwellers should be armed. Besides the practical aspects, it also reminds folks that THEY ARE IN THE BLOODY FRIGGIN MILITARY, which too many folks IN THE MILITARY tend to forget.

By the very fact that they have volunteered to serve, one could make the argument that their maturity/responsability level is greater than many of their peers.

I would disagree with that only because of personal experience. People join for many reasons but money is definitely one of them. How many other jobs can you get at 17 years old with only a high school diploma that: gets you a sign-on bonus, offers you 30 days paid vacation a year, pays you while you learn your skill, provides you with free or inexpensive healthcare for you and your dependents, provides you with free or subsidized room and board for you and dependents, provides you with tax free shopping, free world travel, offers a non-contributory pension plan after 20 years of service, regular cost of living adjustments  and will give you tax free/interest free money for college?   

I am not saying those are the right reasons, but when someone grows up in the ghetto, raised by a single parent, sees his friends dying on the streets on a daily basis, and you have a baby momma to support, joining the military can literally be a lifesaver. 

On the other hand, I have met people for whom socialism is not a good idea.  For example, I have met many privates who blow their money on strippers, gambling, alcohol, fast cars who simply wouldnt know how to survive in the real world. In the real world they would be buying food, paying utilities/rent, and balancing check books.  In the military you get a lot more spending money bc you can be completely broke, and still have access to the bare necessities: room, board, access to healthcare. For weak minded people, the military can be a crutch that delays growing up.

The military is all what you make of it. There are some highly motivate soldiers out there but there are also a lot of soldiers who are just there for the ride.

   

Perhaps this is not germane to the subject at hand, however I believe most of you have never heard of this:

In the aftermath of military demobilization following WWII, those who were drafted prior to completing high school were allowed to complete their senior year - in their home town schools.  The memoirs of   HS teachers from that time mention how well mannered the ALL the students were - with combat veterans as part of the student body!

You know, it'd be interesting to see statistics, from the Army Safety Office (or similar sister service organizations) on the percentage of DUIs, and vehicle related fatalities, that involve 18-20 y/o soldiers.

I know for folks who supposedly aren't allowed to drink, 18-20 y/o troopers sure seem to make up a lot of the troopers going to ASAP (Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention).