Report: Anti-War Judge Rejects Foster Teen's Bid to Join Marines

[-Cp]

WHAT THE HELL?!?!?

A California judge rejected a foster teen's request for early enlistment with the Marine Corps — and a $10,000 signing bonus — reportedly on the grounds that the judge didn't approve of the Iraq war.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336008,00.html

[Kathianne]

He'll do fine, the judge though is another issue:

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnew...7?source=email

...After Sage submitted a winning entry to the lawmaker's Write a Bill Challenge, Assemblyman Cameron Smyth introduced legislation last month that would allow foster teens to enlist in the service without express permission from a judge.

Instead, AB2238 would allow foster children 17 or older to sign up with the consent of a foster parent or social worker.

"Here is one impressive young man who somehow made it through the challenge of the foster system, had a clear sense of a career path and was denied that opportunity by a judge basically because of her personal bias," said Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, who will honor Sage today at a Royal High assembly.

"I find that to be a horrific abuse of her power."

It was Oct. 12 when Medrano, in crisp dress blues, appeared with Sage before the commissioner to petition for his early enlistment.

The USMC Delayed Entry Program, like those in other services, allows high school seniors to enlist in the service up to a year before starting boot camp.

Recruiters encourage students to hone their study skills, learn to eat right and become fit enough to don a uniform.

By "DEPing in," students can enlist at 17, get their high school diploma, then lock in a military job such as Force Recon - or scout snipers. They also qualify for a signing bonus.

"We just gave out the last one for recon today to another kid for $10,000," USMC Master Sgt. Edgar Carpenter of the Marine Recruiting Office in Simi Valley said Wednesday.

"The Delayed Entry Program supports everything a parent would try to do: We make them stay out of trouble; get them in physical condition; and get them indoctrinated into the Marine Corps culture."

Only Mackel - and it appears a court bailiff as well - objected to the program, despite pleas from Sage and Medrano.

"I tried. I said, `Please.' I begged. He tried, he said, `Please' and begged," Sage said. "But she refused."

Mackel said she denied delayed enlistment to an eager Navy recruit as well, Medrano said.

She expressed concern that recruiters treat recruits "like another warm body," he said. "She said, `All you care about is your numbers."'

At this point, the 10-year Marine said the court bailiff raised his hand and addressed the young Sage.

"My son's in the Army," he said. "He did the Delayed Entry Program. They don't care about you. They're just there for the numbers.

"I said, `No, I'm not them," Medrano said. "I care about Shawn (and) about every single person I put into the Marine Corps. I follow them. I take care of my kids. I treat them like my Marines.

"It just felt like, wow. I even told Shawn, I said, `Dude, it feels like we've been burned at the stake at the Salem witch trial.' She just had some kind of animosity toward military personnel."

Early this year, Berkeley city officials drew national fire for calling Marine Corps recruiters "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" while granting free parking for anti-war protesters. Lawmakers in Sacramento and Washington pushed bills to deny millions in funds to city coffers.

Sage, who lives in Simi Valley but is originally from Florida, was abandoned by both parents when he was 2 and now lives in a foster home with his brother.

He had wanted to join the military ever since he'd met a service rep at school at age 7 - first the Air Force, then the Navy, finally the Marines.

His foster parents, as well as his social worker, supported his decision to enlist early. Despite being denied, he still shows up for USMC physical training.

"Did they ever kick my butt," he said proudly. "They still do."

When he graduates and turns 18 in June, it'll be all Semper Fi, bonus or no signing bonus, whether he's allowed early deployment or not.

As winner of Smyth's "there oughta be a law" contest, he will be flown to Sacramento to testify before the Assembly.

"I didn't do it for the signing bonus, because I'm a motivated kid," he said. "I am hoping to join the military before I graduate. I want to serve my country."

[hjmick]

I want to know what the fuck the Los Angeles Superior Court is doing with this case. Simi Valley not only has it's own courts, it's in Ventura county to boot.

[DragonStryk72]

This judge so be impeached of their position. That they would bar someone from joining the service, as is their will and right, just cause they don't like the current war is an absolute abuse of power.

[actsnoblemartin]

323-526-6402

[OCA]

323-526-6402

Yeah Archie Bunker, i'll get right on that lol.

Pull yer head out, just because you disagree with someone don't mean they are a commie..............you fucking pinko.

Alot of fucking people disagree with the Iraq War, about 70 percent of America to be exact and they include entities such as Starbucks and Target. In the last week i've enjoyed a few delicious white chocolate mochas and purchased some toiletries.

[Kathianne]

Yeah Archie Bunker, i'll get right on that lol.

Pull yer head out, just because you disagree with someone don't mean they are a commie..............you fucking pinko.

Alot of fucking people disagree with the Iraq War, about 70 percent of America to be exact and they include entities such as Starbucks and Target. In the last week i've enjoyed a few delicious white chocolate mochas and purchased some toiletries.

So, you think her ruling was correct, OCA?

[OCA]

So, you think her ruling was correct, OCA?

On the basis of him being underage...yes. Whether he's a foster kid or not has zero bearing on the case, its only a liberal ploy meant to pull at the heartstrings being now used by conservatives in this case.

I have never bought into the notion that at 18 you are old enough to kill and vote but not old enough to have a beer, I believe the age limit for entry into military service should be raised.

[Kathianne]

On the basis of him being underage...yes. Whether he's a foster kid or not has zero bearing on the case, its only a liberal ploy meant to pull at the heartstrings being now used by conservatives in this case.

I have never bought into the notion that at 18 you are old enough to kill and vote but not old enough to have a beer, I believe the age limit for entry into military service should be raised.

Seems to me that a senior in high school should be able to decide if they are applying for college, military, or job market. All voluntary.

[DragonStryk72]

On the basis of him being underage...yes. Whether he's a foster kid or not has zero bearing on the case, its only a liberal ploy meant to pull at the heartstrings being now used by conservatives in this case.

I have never bought into the notion that at 18 you are old enough to kill and vote but not old enough to have a beer, I believe the age limit for entry into military service should be raised.

I believe just the opposite, that the drinking age should be diminished. It is nothing more than an excuse for teens to drink irresponsibly. Our fear of the "demon alcohol" leads to alcohol being put onto a pedestal, and thus, overindulgence begins.

It was not based upon his age, the Judge said, in court, it was on their opinion of the war in Iraq. The military has a Delayed Entry Program, which is generally for people still in high school, who want to sign in, but have a ways to go. The thing about the DEP is that you can step back from at any time, up until you are actually sworn into the military. Up until then, you can just walk, no harm no foul.

It's interesting how long we seem to be willing to pass off having to make real decisions as an adult. it seems as though at 17, you are not old enough, but magically, at 18 or 21, you are ready. We pass the 21 as age of majority law, and guess what, 30-40 years down the road, we'll be bumping it again, this time til 24. Punish the people who commit the abuse, not everyone who ever possible, in some circumstance, might commit an abuse.

It is interesting to note that in countries without a drinking age, the occurrence of alcoholism is much lower than it is here, where we have all these "protections" against it. How much longer do you think we can put off teaching them to protect themselves?

[OCA]

I believe just the opposite, that the drinking age should be diminished. It is nothing more than an excuse for teens to drink irresponsibly. Our fear of the "demon alcohol" leads to alcohol being put onto a pedestal, and thus, overindulgence begins.

It was not based upon his age, the Judge said, in court, it was on their opinion of the war in Iraq. The military has a Delayed Entry Program, which is generally for people still in high school, who want to sign in, but have a ways to go. The thing about the DEP is that you can step back from at any time, up until you are actually sworn into the military. Up until then, you can just walk, no harm no foul.

It's interesting how long we seem to be willing to pass off having to make real decisions as an adult. it seems as though at 17, you are not old enough, but magically, at 18 or 21, you are ready. We pass the 21 as age of majority law, and guess what, 30-40 years down the road, we'll be bumping it again, this time til 24. Punish the people who commit the abuse, not everyone who ever possible, in some circumstance, might commit an abuse.

It is interesting to note that in countries without a drinking age, the occurrence of alcoholism is much lower than it is here, where we have all these "protections" against it. How much longer do you think we can put off teaching them to protect themselves?

Basically I agree with you, in America again we are old enough at 18 to kill but not have a beer, does that make sense? Seems to me that the decision to squeeze the trigger would profit from 3 more years of wisdom than the decision on whether to buy a bottle of cab or a fifth of patron. So I say since we aren't going to ever lower the drinking age then to make it more logical raise the military entry age.

Anyway really what I objected too in this case was the use of his foster status to make him seem more of an achiever, it should of had no bearing on the case. And i'm really sick of the constant bitching about every friggin court case that comes down the barrel from the likes of Bill O'Reilly etc. etc., its like the NFL, some calls go for ya and some go against ya, you just accept them and move on. In the case of queer marriage we've been getting alot of calls the last few years, in other cases we haven't been getting the, its life.

BTW in Greece, which is all I have direct knowledge of, there isn't an official drinking age and you rarely see street drunks or hell even publicly wasted people out partying even though everybody is drinking all the time. In America its an all too common occurence.

[DragonStryk72]

Basically I agree with you, in America again we are old enough at 18 to kill but not have a beer, does that make sense? Seems to me that the decision to squeeze the trigger would profit from 3 more years of wisdom than the decision on whether to buy a bottle of cab or a fifth of patron. So I say since we aren't going to ever lower the drinking age then to make it more logical raise the military entry age.

Anyway really what I objected too in this case was the use of his foster status to make him seem more of an achiever, it should of had no bearing on the case. And i'm really sick of the constant bitching about every friggin court case that comes down the barrel from the likes of Bill O'Reilly etc. etc., its like the NFL, some calls go for ya and some go against ya, you just accept them and move on. In the case of queer marriage we've been getting alot of calls the last few years, in other cases we haven't been getting the, its life.

BTW in Greece, which is all I have direct knowledge of, there isn't an official drinking age and you rarely see street drunks or hell even publicly wasted people out partying even though everybody is drinking all the time. In America its an all too common occurence.

But the course that you are suggesting OCA, is a large part of the problem. We put off the path to adulthood for far too long already. You have students who do 4 years of ROTC for just the purpose of going into the military after high school. Raising the age of "maturity" does not create more mature soldiers, it simply extends adolesence for another 3 years.

[OCA]

But the course that you are suggesting OCA, is a large part of the problem. We put off the path to adulthood for far too long already. You have students who do 4 years of ROTC for just the purpose of going into the military after high school. Raising the age of "maturity" does not create more mature soldiers, it simply extends adolesence for another 3 years.

Well you ain't gonna probably like this but I feel that Americans, pick your age group, aren't as mature as others in other countries and I refer mostly to Europe, the reason for that is varied, from education to culture and everything in between

[manu1959]

Well you ain't gonna probably like this but I feel that Americans, pick your age group, aren't as mature as others in other countries and I refer mostly to Europe, the reason for that is varied, from education to culture and everything in between

having gone to both "high" school and university in both america and europe i would say you are not correct....based on my experience....

[Kathianne]

Well you ain't gonna probably like this but I feel that Americans, pick your age group, aren't as mature as others in other countries and I refer mostly to Europe, the reason for that is varied, from education to culture and everything in between

Because so many are like the judge and you, saying those that are acting mature are 'not ready'. She way overstepped and it's wrong that foster kids cannot make an informed position like those with responsible parents. The judge's personal beliefs shouldn't be a consideration.