By Could this ever happen in the Army?
The Corps-wide drinking age has been lowered from 21 to 18 for Marines on liberty overseas and for leathernecks taking part in official on-base command functions — including the birthday ball.
The rule change was effective April 19, not long after Commandant Gen. James Conway and Sgt. Maj. John Estrada, then-sergeant major of the Marine Corps, returned from a visit to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Middle East.
[...]
“The minimum drinking age overseas will be based on the host nation’s drinking age … and on the local situation as determined by the local installation commander … but in no case shall it be below the age of 18,†the message states.
This decision only gets better, check this out:
But the commandant’s changes go further than any other service’s policy, decriminalizing welcome-home beer for underage Marines returning from deployment and giving commanders the authority to hold an 18-and-up kegger on base upon a unit’s return from a war zone.
And there’s no need to hide a flask in your sock before the birthday ball, because the commandant has you covered there, too. As long as your unit holds its celebration on base, commanders can drop the drinking age to 18 in the U.S. under “special circumstances,†and even authorize the possession and consumption of alcohol by underage Marines in the barracks.
The new policy defines these circumstances as “those infrequent, non-routine military occasions when an entire unit, as a group, marks at a military installation a uniquely military occasion, such as the conclusion of arduous military duty or the anniversary of the establishment of a military service or organization.â€
For those readers in the Army or USFK that are in shock right now, than you will be further shocked after reading this reply by the Marine Corps Sergeant Major behind this regulation when challenged for implementing it:
“I have some skeptics out there who say, ‘Oh no, you’re opening that can of worms,’†Estrada said. “I say that’s B.S. Marines are mature enough to know what’s legal here.â€
Can anyone imagine USFK Commander General Bell waking up one day and announcing the drop of the drinking age in Korea to match the host nation’s law of 20 years of age along with allowing on base functions like those mentioned in the above article to serve alcohol to soldiers 18 years of age and older? If I ever heard such words uttered by an Army general anywhere much less USFK I would feel like I was in some strange parallel universe.
So for all you junior soldiers out there you can harass your commanders now by asking them why a Marine the same age as them has the right to drink at an age as low as 18, but a US Army soldier can’t. You should get some interesting explanations.
HT: OP-FOR
7:07 pm on May 19th, 2007 1
[...] effective April 19, not long after Commandant Gen. James Conway and Sgt. Maj. John Estrada, [...] Read More… Last edited by mike : 05-19-2007 at 01:40 [...]
2:43 am on May 19th, 2007 2
But Marines in Korea still have to follow USFK regulations since it’s a COCOM equivalent and Bell is the commander, correct?
Guess I was lucky. Went to Germany at 19 and didn’t get back to the states until 22. The drinking age there was 16 – you learn to drink before leaning to drive, at 18.
3:46 am on May 19th, 2007 3
I love America! Every time I get down on the System, some good and decent men come along and remind me why America should rule the world.
Ahhh… and other thing, GI, please don't help USFK spread lies and propaganda.
The legal drinking age in Korea is NOT 20. This is a dirty little fib knowingly told by USFK, and their minions, and parroted by the hacks at Stars & Stripes.
The legal drinking age in Korea is 19. In actuality, it is 18 because the drinking age is legally defined as "from January 1 of the year the person becomes 19". This means if your 19th birthday is December 31, you get to drink for your whole 18th year. Woo hoo!
I wrote an e-mail to Stars & Stripes in Korea for several years every time they echoed USFK's fib that the drinking age was 20. Did they look into it to see if I was on the level or not? Not.
As evidence, I sited that EVERY BOTTLE OF ALCOHOL IN KOREA HAS A CIRCLED 19… can't get much more clear than that, can you? I even included a highlighted digital photo with a translation of each word… very, very clear.
One would think it would have generated enough curiosity to check out my story. One would think wrong.
It wasn't until I spammed every Stars & Stripes e-mail address in the world questioning their credibility that something finally got done.
On November 7, 2006, Stars & Stripes ran a tiny page 3 article correcting the drinking age. It seems to have vanished from their archives but I have posted it at the end.
It never asked any of the hard questions like, "Is USFK intentionally misrepresenting the drinking age?" or "Is USFK completely unaware of their host nation's laws?" or "Why does everyone look like an idiot now?" No. Just the fact, told in a mousy way.
So many reporters, so few journalists. I expect USFK to tell falsehoods if it suits their purpose but Stars & Stripes lost their credibility with me over this.
Don't lose yours, GI.
J!
—–
South Korea's drinking age is 19, not 20
SEOUL— The legal drinking age for South Koreans is currently 19,
though with a slight catch, according to Korean National Police.
The age restriction isn't tied to the person's birthday, but rather
against the first day of the year of the person's 19th birthday.
For example, anyone born in 1987 will turn 19 this year. Instead of
waiting for their birthdays, they've been able to drink alcohol since
the first day of the year.
Next year, all South Koreans born in 1988 will be able to drink
alcohol in the country from Jan. 1 forward, according to the law.
Readers of Stars and Stripes brought the local application of the
drinking law to paper's attention after it had reported on several
occasions that the South Korean drinking age was 20.
U.S. Forces Korea, however, enforces a general order requiring all
U.S. servicemembers in South Korea to wait until their 21st birthday
to drink. Those servicemembers caught drinking underage off base can
face disciplinary action.
6:04 am on May 19th, 2007 4
Whatever the age.
Voting age, drinking age and minimum enlistment age should be the same.
8:01 am on May 19th, 2007 5
"But Marines in Korea still have to follow USFK regulations since it’s a COCOM equivalent and Bell is the commander, correct?"
Incorrect as far as USFK being a the COCOM equivalent. USFK is not a COCOM equivalent. It is a sub-unified command under PACOM.
As UNC/CFC/USFK commander, GEN Bell can however, make any service regulation more, not less restrictive than the parent service here in his AO.
So, you will continue to see stupidity reign supreme on the Korean penninsula brought to you courtesy of the US Army.
1:44 am on May 20th, 2007 6
[...] Drop: Marine Corps Drops Drinking AgePosted 17 hours agoCould this ever happen in the Army? The Corps-wide drinking age has been lowered [...]
1:44 pm on May 19th, 2007 7
The Army is concerned with ciya.. cover your own ass.
1:56 pm on May 19th, 2007 8
cya* or cyoa
2:15 pm on May 19th, 2007 9
Will this help USMC recruiting? Maybe. but in Iraq, there is no alcohol allowed. So what is the point? You will have more drunks in Okinawa causing more problems. Besides, Okinawa, is there any other place where heavy concentration of USMC presence? All embassy guards are all E-4 and above and they are usually on their second reenlistment.
Will this help USMC retention? Not. By the time when these Marines' reenlistment comes around, they are all over 21.
4:05 pm on May 19th, 2007 10
"but in Iraq, there is no alcohol allowed."
No alcohol allowed for DOD (soldiers and civilians). State department sure gets to drink as do many of the "mercs"/blackwater types.
Near the Embassy pool there is a sign that says "Drinking while armed prohibited".
But to stay on topic:
I think it would be a good idea to "re-open" enlisted clubs in the states for the soldiers and have that be the place to imbibe if they wish. If they screw up, give them UCMJ action plus take away the privelidge of drinking legaly on post until they reach the age of 21.
At least then, they would be in a controlled environment.
10:50 am on May 20th, 2007 11
[...] Good News from the Military Reported on by envious soldier “GI Korea”─Marine Corps Drops Drinking Age. The idea that someone might be mature enough to die for his country but not have a drink is the [...]
1:08 am on May 20th, 2007 12
Chickenhead,
I figured you would get a kick out of this decision. Thanks for S&S article, I learn something new every day.
1:17 am on May 20th, 2007 13
Good on em I say. If they can serve, fight and die for their country – they sure as hell should be able to enjoy a cold one.
1:17 am on May 20th, 2007 14
I have seen the Marines during UFL and if any one group needs to wait until they are 29 to drink, its the Marines
9:31 am on May 20th, 2007 15
I agree with Leon. I turned 21 in basic, and I didn't vote until AIT. One up on the system by not joining until I was 21?
9:48 pm on May 21st, 2007 16
So far of the if they can die in Combat they can enjoy a cold one type comment…..
I think the point has always been to GET the young Soldier or Marine to combat by keeping him from drinking himself into a telephone pole
3:52 am on May 23rd, 2007 17
[...] Marine Corps Drops Drinking Age — [GI Korea] Could this ever happen in the Army? The Corps-wide drinking age has been lowered from 21 to 18 for Marines on liberty overseas and for leathernecks taking part in official on-base command functions — including the birthday ball. [...]
3:03 am on November 30th, 2007 18
[...] Results) < Prev 1|2|3 Are you looking for? Do Opposites Attract 41. Marine Corps Drops Drinking Age at ROK Drop The Corps-wide drinking age has been lowered from 21 to 18 … Whatever the age. Voting age, [...]