I graduated from high school halfway through my senior year (had all the credits I needed) in January 1983...ten days later I was in basic training at age 17...had my 18th birthday 9 days into basic...did a stint with the Ohio NG straight out of active duty and the Reserves in '94...now I'm pushing 40 and wish I could go back in...may even try to...

Just out of high school at the age of 17. Joined the Army NG and went to basic at FT. Leonard Wood MO. on 26 sep.79

i will be drafted at 18....can't wait! my dream is to be in the IAF but they will probably deploy me in a tank or the border guard because there is a massive need for fighting men in the territorys...:'(

I joined boys service, Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Engineers, at 16, retired after a full career at 40.
Mal

26, Just joined early this year as a midshipman in my country's Navy Reserve.

hi

joined the Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Engineers at 15, it was the last intake of that age and the biggest ever.

ossie

I left college at age 21 to be a maggot recruit in the USMC.

Two weeks after I turned 17, I was getting off the bus at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.

joined the army in 1987 at 17. was there for 3 years.
then i went to the home guard(ta). and i am still in.

Joined RNZAF at 20, still in 9 years later. Spent 6 as an armourer working mostly on jets and ejection seats, last three spent as a photographer.

I was thinking of joining the Navy because of 4 years of NJROTC. My navy recruiter went AWOL, so I joined the Army 2 weeks after graduating High School.

18 years old

8 years of funky good times

compulsory national service when u turn 18 here

I joined the Calif. Air National Guard at 24.

I was there for 16 years, 2 years active duty. I later joined the US Coast Guard Reserve when I was 34 and spent another 6 years on a motor lifeboat station.

All in all I spnt 20 years active, reserve and national guard.

18.I joined after High School.Went to Knox.Maxed out the ASVAB tests.Me and another guy were called into the CO's office in Basic and offered West Point .I figured 4 yrs,plus another 4 years,and drive a desk.Not.
I made the right choice.The only Great Officer I worked with was a battlefield commission from The Nam,he understood enlisted guys.All the west pointers we got were scary ,no sense.Good at book learning,but no mechanical apptitude.Not how to be in Armor. (++) (++)

I went to the recruiter about a week before I turned 18 and 3 weeks later I was in Basic training.That was all in 1980.

Joined High School Army JROTC at 14 (1959). Graduated at 16 and entered North Georgia Military College. Graduated as a brand new Second Lieutenant of Infantry at 20. Retired at 44. Taught high school ROTC for 3 years. Spent 3 years as Commandant of Cadets at a small military school. Took the uniform off for good in 1995. My son joined the USMC at 18 just this past year. He loves it and I sometimes miss it very much.

Lets see....joined the Cadets at 13, enlisted in the Militia at 15 (with parental consent under the condition that I turn 16 before finished basic and TQ3 infantry), direct entry a few years later during the total farce concept.

I joined at 18 was processed in a month later and was 19. I left the service at 29.

At 20 I joined the infantry reserves in my hometown and at 22 was "called up" to lovely Wainwright, Alberta. Four years in PPCLI (regular infantry, one of three regiments in Canada). Five years ago, I grew out of that and remustered to mechanic. 10 years down, only 25 to go! Whoo hoo!

Enlisted when I was 24, (needed some discipline and guidence), been in for 15 so far and they are going to have to make me retire!!!

sign my delayed entry papers for the United States Marine Corps this summer, so I will be 18 (3 days after my 18th bday) when I go to Parris Island.

-Shain

I was drafted in 1968, just after I turned 18. I struggled through basic , but loved it all after that! My only regret was they kept me in the states. US Army.

Joined at 18, retired at 39, just shy of 22 years after an extension to go to Iraq. "Q"

Joined the Army National Guard and Army ROTC at age 18. Discharged from the Guard to accept an active Army commission at age 22. Been on active duty for the last 18 years (22 yrs total military service). Will retire when the Army requires me to.

I joined up when i was 20,Phase 1 training for 10 weeks at Winchester, passed out after that then went to Bovington Camp to do my tank trade,11 years later still a tankie.

Pete