I think it's abnormal (to say the least) that we don't allow our service members the privilege of having a beer if they are under 21. I am firmly against this policy. I served in the Marines from 1982 to 1986. I went to the E-club and drank whenever I felt like it. Nothing bad happened.
I understand the argument: 18 year olds are not equipped with the necessary maturity level to drink. If this is the assertion, I think it should cut both ways. I think that we should raise the minimum service age to 21. This would eliminate the debate altogether, and the military would get recruits who are much more mature.
Of course, the military would argue against this. 18 yearolds fresh out of high school are much easier to train because they don't think laterally. The small minority that have critical thinking skills go to college, and if they do serve, it's usually as officers.
But the crux is this: we got no problems handing out crisply folded flags to the mothers and fathers of the fallen regardless of their age. So, we should not be allowed to have it both ways. Either we allow the kids to have a beer, or we tell them to wait til they're 21 before they get to serve their country.
