Full question:
My nephew, who is 17 years old and still in high school, was approached by a marine recruiter. The recruiter was able to get him to sign and agreement to enlist by telling him he would be able to get him a job that would insure him that he would not have to go to a war zone. His parents were told the same thing and told to sign a waiver. Many other lies were told to them by the recruiter. Two to three months have passed and the recruiter is backing down on everything. My nephew wants out. The recruiter is telling him and his parents NO. My friend has told us the same thing happened to them and his son, but they were able to get him release by filing some type of forms. The marine recruiter will not help. Is there legal grounds? Remember, he is 17 and still in high school.
- Category: Military
- Date:
- State: Kansas
Answer:
To enlist in the U.S. military, individuals must be at least 17 years old with parental consent, or 18 without it. Recruits are legally bound by the contract they sign. However, if a recruit is found to be grossly incompatible during basic training, they may receive an administrative discharge for the convenience of the service.
It's important to review the consent signed by the parents to see what they agreed to, as it may have included waivers for age or educational requirements. If the minor and their parents did not fully understand the enlistment implications, they could petition the recruiter's supervisor for a review of the situation.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.