The following is a point/counterpoint article examining whether young people should join the military.

The point portion is written by Sherri Nielson, a student at UCLA. The counterpoint, appearing as bold text, is written by Lance Corporal Jonathan Allston, a U.S. Marine currently serving 15 days of restriction awarded at company NJP.

Point: For many seniors about to graduate high school, the military seems like a great option instead of going straight into college. This couldn't be further from the truth. Our all-volunteer army is overflowing with uneducated knuckle-draggers desperately seeking employment but couldn't find a better job. Once you enlist you'll merely be a cog in the military industrial war machine. Joining the military could quite possibly be one of the worst decisions you could ever make.

Counterpoint: For many seniors about to graduate high school, the military seems like a great option vice going right into college. This is a bunch of bullshit. If you join up because you were tired of school, stand by to spend more hours in the classroom instead of training for combat. Joining the military could quite possibly be one of the worst decisions you could ever make.