I could see letting them join an academy early, but you can't send them to fight before 18 and you should give them a chance to back out when they actually turn 18.

Recruits can leave up to the end of their first six months of service - so 16½. After that they are committed until they are 22.

I don't see how you can get a minor to sign an enforceable contract. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Damn straight. A structured environment that doubles as a boarding school is exactly what some children at that age need.

There’s typically a fair bit of schooling a 16 year old goes through before college. Dropping out and joining the military may have benefits, but it’s hard not to see that as a failure by society.

Could not create a better environment for hazing and sexual abuse if you tried.

> doubles as a boarding school is exactly what some children at that age need.

Also environment for brainwashing

Military provides a bunch of benefits until it's actually used for its purpose. Then you send a bunch of underage kids to die.

I believe several nations have similar to Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) like the USA has, which can start at middle school or around 4th 5th grade or 12 to 13 years olds.

(edit: spelling)

Yeah we even have military schools that start at kindergarten too, but JROTC and military schools aren't really actually being in the military by a large margin and have no type of commitment. The overwhelming majority of kids involved in those programs don't join the military.

Really? I see a problem with people joining the military regardless of their age, but especially if they're too young to be sufficiently critical of whatever they were told by the recruiter.

There is an argument that even someone who is 18/19/20 is too young to be sufficiently critical.

We don't let those people drink alcohol for a reason.