Pubdate: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 Source: Pensacola News Journal (FL) Copyright: 2003 The Pensacola News Journal Contact: http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1675 Author: Norman Hughes NOT FOR MILITARY In "Military an option to prison" (Letters, Oct. 23), Clark Tugwell suggests that young people charged with drug, alcohol and other offenses be offered an option of entering military service instead of jail. The military services have a minimum age requirement of 18. If an 18-year-old (an adult) is facing jail time, it is most likely not for a first-time youthful offense. Drug and alcohol problems generally begin at a much earlier age. At any rate, the military does not want them, and if their offenses are a matter of public record, will not accept them. Today's military is a promising career option for young people, not a dumping ground for troubled youth. The military has a zero-tolerance policy coupled with random testing that eventually identifies these people and sends them packing, hopefully before their inappropriate behavior has endangered the lives of others. While jail may not be the best place for some of these youth, the military, where responsibility and leadership are the name of the game, is one of the worst places to send them. The answer continues to lie in early detection of problem behavior, and rehabilitation prior to adulthood. Once the problem child becomes an adult, they must accept responsibility for their own actions. - - Norman Hughes, Pensacola - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom