Keep recruiters out of high schools

The drinking age in most states is 21 because it is assumed that a person is too young to drink alcohol responsibly; but a person only needs to be 18 to join the military. I believe 18 is too young for a person to make a choice to join the military. The U.S. must raise the minimum age to join the military to match the drinking age of 21.

In this manner, military recruiters would have to deal with potential soldiers that have a much wider and mature perspective. It would also keep military recruiters out of our high schools. Section 9528 of the No Child Left Behind Act forces high schools to give student information to military recruiters or face lost of federal funds. It could take years to raise the minimum age to 21, but there is something you can do today. The No Child Left Behind Act is up for reauthorization this month. Call you senator and House representative and ask them to have Section 9528 dropped from the act. When the government comes looking for new bodies for Iraq, I want my child to be left behind.

John D. Morgan

Arlington Heights