Thousands of boys and girls are used as soldiers, cooks, spies and more in armed conflicts around the world. Thousands of children are recruited and used in armed conflicts across the world.
In many conflicts children take direct part in combat. However, their role is not limited to fighting. Many girls and boys are also used in support functions that also entail great risk and hardship. Their tasks can vary, from combatants to cooks, spies, messengers and even sex slaves.
The youngest known soldier of World War I was Momčilo Gavrić, who joined the 6th Artillery Division of the Serbian Army at the age of 8, after Austro-Hungarian troops in August 1914 killed his parents, grandmother, and seven of his siblings.
Many children have family members who are kidnapped or killed while fighting--and others are taken from their families and forced to join armies. Others are separated from parents while fleeing conflict.
How many child soldiers are there? There are an estimated 250,000 child soldiers in the world today in at least 20 countries. About 40% of child soldiers are girls, who are often used as sex slaves and taken as “wives” by male fighters.
Each branch of the military has age limits to enlist in active duty: Air Force: 17 - 39. Army: 17 - 35. Coast Guard: 17 - 31.
What is the definition of a child soldier? The official term is “a child associated with an armed force or armed group.” It refers to any boy or girl under age 18 who is recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity.
NEW YORK, June 21 (Reuters) - More than 8,500 children were used as soldiers last year in various conflicts across the world and nearly 2,700 others were killed, the United Nations said on Monday.
Over 400 million children live in countries where there is war or other violent conflicts.
Third, child soldiers are cheaper for the respective group or organization than adult ones, because they receive fewer resources, including fewer and smaller weapons and equipment.
You can join the ADF at 17, but start your application earlier if you wish. There are no gender restrictions in the Navy, Army or Air Force.
America and the world went through a transformative period in the 1960s and 1970s. Pells points out that many of the people causing the changes were actually members of the War Baby generation (born between 1939 and 1945).
It is a commonly held belief that the majority of child soldiers are children who have been abducted or violently forced into armed conflict. While this can be true, it is more often circumstantial factors that leave a child with no choice but to join a militarized faction.
The psychological effects of war and war-related trauma may be severe. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may result as the effects on vulnerable and impressionable children can be worse than on adults. Many children cannot understand the cause of the conflict or why it is happening.
Enlisted Soldiers
Here are the requirements to become an enlisted Soldier: Age: Between 17-35 years old.
One general conclusion can however be drawn: men are more likely to die during conflicts, whereas women die more often of indirect causes after the conflict is over.
The absolute number of war deaths has declined since 1945
The absolute number of war deaths has been declining since 1946. In some years in the early post-war era, around half a million people died through direct violence in wars. In recent years, the annual death toll tends to be less than 100,000.
Countries such as Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria are all currently experiencing civil wars, resulting in significant casualties and displacement. Drug wars are another form of conflict that can result in significant violence and unrest.
Calvin Leon Graham (April 3, 1930 – November 6, 1992) was the youngest U.S. serviceman to serve and fight during World War II. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United States Navy from Houston, Texas on August 15, 1942, at the age of 12.
Not surprisingly, those who committed extreme acts of violence, or were its victims, tend to suffer the most persistent mental health problems and need the most intensive care. Frequently, these children have difficulty with community relationships after their release. They struggle with guilt and shame.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Currently, the DRC has one of the highest proportions of child soldiers in the world. The international court has passed judgment on these practices during the war.
Recruits must be 18 (or 17 with parental consent). The maximum age to join most services is 35.
To join the Military, your child must be a U.S. citizen who is 18 years old (or 17 with your signed permission). If your child wants to become an officer, he or she will need a four-year college degree.
You must be at least 16 years old to join the Army as a soldier.