Young men in the U.S. military encounter daily challenges that could be mitigated by reconsideration for age of enlistment. While the minimum age for joining the military has been fixed at 18 for several decades, it is crucial to recognize this number was set at 21 for draft and voluntary enlistment. Legislative changes in November 1942 lowered the draft age to include 18 and 19-year-olds, aiming to address concerns about minors’ enlistment (McC 259). However, this adjustment has led to enlistment pressures and psychological consequences for young recruits, presenting diverse implications for these individuals due to the lowered age. This controversial issue, influenced by historical precedents and contemporary societal shifts, reflects evolving military needs and national policies. It highlights both short and long-term consequences for soldiers dedicating their lives to service in the United States.

HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF ENLISTMENT AGE

Despite attempted modifications, the U.S. minimum age of enlistment has remained unchanged for decades, supported by legal documents confirming its reliability. This consistency underscores the recognition of age maturity and readiness for military service. Proposed legislation in November 1942 aimed to lower the conscription age to individuals aged 18 and 19 (McC 259). R. W. McC, a reputable author who published, “Enlistment of Minors into Military Service”, writes how by making this age group eligible for draft and voluntary enlistment, recruits gain access to enlistment benefits without encountering legal barriers. Legislation aimed to include individuals aged 18-19 in the conscription pool to mobilize younger populations in service; however, it was anticipated this could produce contrary outcomes. Instead of alleviating the challenges that come with enlistment, they could escalate with this new legislation (McC 259). Nevertheless, research in 1950 confirmed legal documents and regulations supporting the age requirement for enlistment, ensuring individuals meet maturity levels for military life demands. Bernard D. Karpinos, a publisher from Wiley, an American multinational publishing company, states, “The liability of men for military service is fixed by Acts of Congress.” (Karpinos 214). The Extension Act of 1950 established military liability, mandating all male U.S. citizens aged 18 to 26 to register with their local board for enlistment. Additionally, the Act allowed 17-year-olds to enlist with parental consent. Before becoming official recruits, these men underwent moral and medical examinations to ensure their readiness. The National WWII Museum published a 2020 news article which reviewed events in 1942 surrounding the decreasing of the draft age for recruits: “Less than a year into US involvement in World War II, President Roosevelt, and his administration faced a dilemma: of the 20 million eligible men who registered for the draft, 50 percent were rejected either for health reasons or because they were deemed illiterate. No longer on the sidelines of the war, the need for troops meant the United States government needed to increase the draft numbers and move to expand the eligible ages” (The National WWII Museum). This abrupt decrease in enlistment age sparked protests and judgment of U.S. policies. The Vietnam War, following in the 1960s, further intensified these protests. The public started believing that if men could fight in foreign wars at 18, they deserved the right to vote at home (The National WWII Museum). President Nixon’s decision on enlistment age led to the demand for 18-year-olds’ right to vote, paving the way for the twenty-sixth amendment.

ENLISTMENT AGE AND SOCIAL DISPARITIES

A 2014 study conducted by the Naval Postgraduate School, examined the optimal enlistment age for U.S. recruits. The study suggests eighteen is considered optimal for conscription due to attributes including vigor, rapid reflexes, and learning capacity. The first model analyzing Army attrition over 45 months indicates enlistees aged 18 to 25 are more likely to leave compared to 17-year-olds, while those older than 26 show better retention rates. In the second model, older enlistees upon entry had lower attrition rates based on character disorders. For the Navy, attrition probabilities were generally lower than age 17, except ages 19, 20, and 23. In the Air Force, attrition rates were higher in the first six months but in subsequent periods had lower rates than the base age of 17, with similar rates based on character disorder as the Army and Navy (Seker, et al. 59).  Seker concludes that attrition rates are higher among younger recruits, particularly those aged 17 to 18. He emphasizes the advantage for having a larger pool of individuals 20 and older, who are less likely to attrite. Seker likely supports raising the U.S. enlistment age to mitigate high attrition rates.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON 

Enlistment age policies vary across nations, reflecting diverse strategic considerations that shape each country’s approach to military service. Each division of the military includes a commitment of at least 2 and up to 5 years of active duty (Military Age). Additionally, the American military has remained all-volunteer since 1973, but in a national emergency, an act of Congress can restore the draft (Seker et al. 1). A country similar to the U.S., Canada, also has a minimum voluntary enlistment age of 17 years for both sexes, without parental consent. The Military World Factbook, a reference resource produced by the Central Intelligence Agency with information about the countries of the world, notes how, out of all 195 countries, only 27 have their minimum enlistment age set to under 18. These nations encompass the United States, Austria, and the United Kingdom, alongside an additional 24 countries. In some cases, enlistment age can be as low as 16, with conditions including prior experience, parental consent, and gender differences (Military Age). 

COGNITIVE AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

Considering the debate over the enlistment age, it’s crucial to weigh the cognitive and emotional maturity of young individuals against demands of military service. On December 5th, 1942, the U.S. president claimed men 18 to 37 years of age would be susceptible to the draft. (Perry 1). W. D. Perry, author of “College 18-Year-Olds and the Draft”, writes how, “On the whole, these younger men react with an amazing amount of maturity.” Psychologists and doctors may want to question whether this is sufficient evidence to justify maintaining the current enlistment age. A study conducted in 2001 by Rand Corporation, an American nonprofit global research institute, revealed that as of October 2001, 1.64 million U.S. troops served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Initial findings indicate combat stress during deployments have a greater mental impact than physical injuries. This report focused on PTSD, major depression, and TBI for higher prevalence compared to physical injuries, and their tendency to go untreated due to being undiagnosed (Karney 3). The Air Force Historical Foundation published an article emphasizing physical and cognitive damage in young recruits, stressing the critical impact of PTSD, depression, and TBI within a military context. These conditions compromise soldier well-being and effectiveness, leading to absenteeism and reduced productivity. These illnesses, including PTSD, can lead to other mental disorders as well. (Air Power History 1). 

ENLISTMENT AGE AND SOCIAL DISPARITIES

Enlisting young individuals intersects with broader social disparity concerns. A study was conducted analyzing the relation between military service and alcohol use in the U.S., from data taken from the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. It found a positive association between alcohol consumption and military service, regardless of current or veteran status (Teachman 17). However, this study has some limitations. A large portion of the research neglects direct comparisons between service members, veterans, and civilians, hindering the evaluation of the differing levels of alcohol consumption linked with military service (Teachman 2). Understanding these complexities underscores the importance of raising the enlistment age, especially concerning youths’ vulnerability to early alcohol consumption. Overall, enlistment age remains a topic of public debate, especially regarding societal and historical dynamics. More broadly, it’s crucial to comprehend how the decreased enlistment age affects young recruits in the U.S. military as well. 

Works Cited

Drury-Zemke, Lizbeth A., et al. Air Power History, vol. 56, no. 3, 2009, pp. 61–62. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/26275798. Accessed 8 Feb. 2024.

Karney, Benjamin R., et al. “Predicting the Immediate and Long-Term Consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.” Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery, edited by TERRI TANIELIAN and LISA H. JAYCOX, RAND Corporation, 2008, pp. 119–66. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/10.7249/mg720ccf.13. Accessed 11 Feb. 2024.

Karpinos, Bernard D. “Fitness of American Youth for Military Service.” The Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, vol. 38, no. 3, 1960, pp. 213–47. JSTOR, doi.org/10.2307/3348688. Accessed 22 Dec. 2023.

Kelty, Ryan, et al. “The Military and the Transition to Adulthood.” The Future of Children, vol. 20, no. 1, 2010, pp. 181–207. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/27795065. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

McC., R. W. “Enlistment of Minors into Military Service.” University of Pennsylvania Law Review and American Law Register, vol. 91, no. 3, 1942, pp. 255–59. JSTOR, doi.org/10.2307/3309308. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

“Military Service Age and Obligation – the World Factbook.” Www.cia.gov, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/military-service-age-and-obligation/. Accessed 1 January. 2024

“‘Old Enough to Fight, Old Enough to Vote’: The WWII Roots of the 26th Amendment.” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, 27 Oct. 2020, https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/voting-age-26th-amendment. Accessed 1 January. 2024. 

Perry, W. D. “College 18-Year-Olds and the Draft.” The High School Journal, vol. 26, no. 1/2, 1943, pp. 22–26. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40362155. Accessed 22 Dec. 2023.

Teachman, Jay, et al. “Military Service and Alcohol Use in the United States.” Armed Forces & Society, vol. 41, no. 3, 2015, pp. 460–76. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/48669878. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

 Seker, Erdal, et al. Naval Postgraduate School, Moneterey , California , 2014, pp. 1–89, The Effect of Different Enlistment Ages on First-Term Attrition Rate, apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA607915.pdf.  Accessed 3 January. 2024