my friend has a 16 year old acquaintance who lied to get into the army

UpsideDownFlag

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Tue Nov-30-04 10:46 AM
Original message

my friend has a 16 year old acquaintance who lied to get into the army

he's been emotionally unstable all year, ran away from home, lied about his age, and was enlisted. he's being sent to iraq in january.

i am at a loss for words right now.

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fertilizeonarbusto

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Tue Nov-30-04 10:47 AM
Response to Original message

1. Dear God

I'm afraid he's screwed for life, poor kid!

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tk2kewl

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Tue Nov-30-04 10:47 AM
Response to Original message

2. ia am sure that is one of those nudge-nudge wink-wink lies

Edited on Tue Nov-30-04 10:47 AM by tk2kewl

i think you should call your congressional rep and senator

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UpsideDownFlag

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Tue Nov-30-04 10:49 AM
Response to Original message

3. i have to go to class. thanks for any ideas, though.

i should add that his parents are ultra-fundies who actually WANT him there, doing the lords work.

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Auntie Bush

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Tue Nov-30-04 11:48 PM
Response to Reply #3

20. No wonder the kid is screwed up...with parents like that! n/t

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President Jesus

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Tue Nov-30-04 10:49 AM
Response to Original message

4. how can one still lie about their age in this era?

We give trillions of dollars in taxes to the govt every year, and they still can't authenticate a kid's age?

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UpsideDownFlag

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Tue Nov-30-04 10:50 AM
Response to Reply #4

5. perhaps, just perhaps, they didn't want to.

they need all the help they can get, after all, and its just a two year difference, wink wink.:scared:

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fryguy

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Tue Nov-30-04 10:50 AM
Response to Original message

6. they don't check IDs?

So let me get this straight, 7-11 asks for ID if a kid is looking to buy cigarettes but the Army just lets people in without question? :wtf:

I heard about things like that happening earlier in our history, but I thought nowadays recruiters would ask for something establishing one's identity and age.....

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Warpy

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Tue Nov-30-04 10:56 AM
Response to Original message

7. Call the army and fink him out

Call the newspapers, call your congresscritters, call the TV stations.

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elehhhhna

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Tue Nov-30-04 11:00 AM
Response to Reply #7

8. yes, asap.

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Spider Jerusalem

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Tue Nov-30-04 11:04 AM
Response to Original message

9. Seems like they'd find out he's underage.

You can enlist at, I think, 17 with parental permission, but 16 is too young. And you're required to give your Social Security number when enlisting (it's used as your service number).

Also, giving false information on enlistment forms is grounds for at the least an administrative discharge.

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uncle ray

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Tue Nov-30-04 12:48 PM
Response to Original message

10. i hate to say it, but nark him out!

it's not about saving his stupid 16 year old ass from being killed, it's to keep his stupid 16 year old ass from going over there and doing stupid shit that will get our REAL soldiers killed. STOP him!

take the kid out to the country, with guns, give him a five second head start before you start shooting, then ask if he's ready to deploy.

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soothsayer

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Tue Nov-30-04 01:18 PM
Response to Reply #10

11. prolly kids this young fought in all our wars

Hope he stays safe and gets it together. Maybe he'll write a book when he's done, if he's alive.

Ok, it's a totally valid point to worry about the other soldiers, too.

Guess you could try to tell on him.

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RamboLiberal

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Tue Nov-30-04 09:01 PM
Response to Reply #11

13. Yep in all wars kids found ways to sneak in to the military

Of course the Civil War had drummer boys. And many a kid snuck in to the military. I'm also fascinated that a number of women snuck in disguised as men.

In WWII many joined to escape The Depression. Youngest was 12.

2. The youngest U.S. serviceman was 12-year-old Calvin Graham, USN. He was wounded and given a Dishonorable Discharge for lying about his age. (His benefits were later restored by act of Congress).

http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,Defensewatch_111903_Lighter,00.html

And I think someone should rat out this kid to the military.

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Carson

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Tue Nov-30-04 08:47 PM
Response to Original message

12. I'm not sure this is entirely possible.

Edited on Tue Nov-30-04 08:49 PM by Carson

One has to have a valid Social Security number and a GED or H.S. Diploma to join the Services.

And they do check.

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Columbia

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Tue Nov-30-04 09:22 PM
Response to Reply #12

16. Correct

They don't do things like they used to do. They require social security card, birth certificate, and diploma among others.

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UpsideDownFlag

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Tue Nov-30-04 09:29 PM
Response to Reply #16

17. that's what I thought...but apparently, it happened.

:thumbsdown:

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Columbia

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Tue Nov-30-04 09:34 PM
Response to Reply #17

18. Perhaps your friend is mistaken

It is legal for a 17 year old to enlist with parental permission, so perhaps that is what happened. He would still need a GED or diploma though.

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malmapus

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Tue Nov-30-04 11:36 PM
Response to Reply #16

19. Yup all true

Not sure how one can "fake" getting in now-adays.

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Padraig18

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Tue Nov-30-04 09:05 PM
Response to Original message

14. Bust him! Let the Army know he's underaged--- NOW!

Do the right thing.

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Mabeline

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Tue Nov-30-04 09:15 PM
Response to Original message

15. My FIL lied

to get into the army back in the fifties after his brother was killed in Korea, jumped onto a grenade to save the others in his foxhole, and he wanted revenge.

He got in and served like 8 years (2 terms I think) and was discharged...he didn't have any problems until he went to sign up for his social security, they had his birth date wrong and didn't want to let him have it. He had to get his mom (she was in her 80's by then) to attest to his correct birthdate as he was born at home in the 1930's.

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