Sound Off: Should America Lower the Drinking Age for Active Duty Military?

I turned 17 on April 15 1987, did MEPS on April 24 and hit Ft Benning on May 12. Did my full 3 year contract (3 years 3 months and 5 days due to be a COHORT unit) left Active Duty on August 17th 1990 with a CIB but could not buy a beer or handgun legally. The Army trusted me enough to let me carry M16, M9 and be on a Mortar team, not to mention having a Secret Clearance and go through the several schools (Stinger Missle, RTO) but as a civilian I was not responsible enough to drink or buy a pistol.

YES...my father had the same mentality...if you are old enough to walk into a recruiting office without parental consent and ultimately have the ability and responsibility to point a weapon at someone else and make the judgement to use deadly force to kill or to be responsible for others or multimillion dollars worth of equipment then you are old enough to drink. However, I do believe in accountability. You break the rules you pay the price.

CWO3 Dennis M. Agreed.