Anti-war judge rejects foster teen's bid to join military

[GaryC 7]

Anti-war judge rejects foster teen's bid to join military

By Dana Bartholomew, Staff Writer

Article Last Updated: 03/07/2008 07:16:45 AM PST

SIMI VALLEY - Shawn Sage long dreamed of joining the military, and watching "Full Metal Jacket" last year really sold him on becoming a Marine.

But last fall, a Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner dashed the foster teen's hopes of early enlistment for Marine sniper duty, plus a potential $10,000 signing bonus.

In denying the Royal High School student delayed entry into the Marine Corps, Children's Court Commissioner Marilyn Mackel reportedly told Sage and a recruiter that she didn't approve of the Iraq war, didn't trust recruiters and didn't support the military.

"The judge said she didn't support the Iraq war for any reason why we're over there," said Marine recruiter Sgt. Guillermo Medrano of the Simi Valley USMC recruiting office.

"She just said all recruiters were the same - that they `all tap dance and tell me what I want to hear.' She said she didn't want him to fight in it."

Sage, 17, said he begged for Mackel's permission.

"Foster children shouldn't be denied (an) ability to enlist in the service just because they're foster kids," he said. "Foster kids shouldn't have to go to court to gain approval to serve one's country."

Mackel, a juvenile dependency commissioner at the Children's Court in Monterey Park, declined through a clerk to speak about any court case or comments she may have made in court.

Transcripts of juvenile court hearings require a special release from a judge. Court officials said a transcript of the Sage hearing, if released, would not be available for a week or more.

After Sage submitted a winning entry to the lawmaker's Write a Bill Challenge, Assemblyman Cameron Smyth introduced legislation last month that would allow foster teens to enlist in the service without express permission from a judge.

Instead, AB2238 would allow foster children 17 or older to sign up with the consent of a foster parent or social worker.

"Here is one impressive young man who somehow made it through the challenge of the foster system, had a clear sense of a career path and was denied that opportunity by a judge basically because of her personal bias," said Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, who will honor Sage today at a Royal High assembly.

"I find that to be a horrific abuse of her power."

It was Oct. 12 when Medrano, in crisp dress blues, appeared with Sage before the commissioner to petition for his early enlistment.

The USMC Delayed Entry Program, like those in other services, allows high school seniors to enlist in the service up to a year before starting boot camp.

Recruiters encourage students to hone their study skills, learn to eat right and become fit enough to don a uniform.

By "DEPing in," students can enlist at 17, get their high school diploma, then lock in a military job such as Force Recon - or scout snipers. They also qualify for a signing bonus.

"We just gave out the last one for recon today to another kid for $10,000," USMC Master Sgt. Edgar Carpenter of the Marine Recruiting Office in Simi Valley said Wednesday.

"The Delayed Entry Program supports everything a parent would try to do: We make them stay out of trouble; get them in physical condition; and get them indoctrinated into the Marine Corps culture."

Only Mackel - and it appears a court bailiff as well - objected to the program, despite pleas from Sage and Medrano.

"I tried. I said, `Please.' I begged. He tried, he said, `Please' and begged," Sage said. "But she refused."

Mackel said she denied delayed enlistment to an eager Navy recruit as well, Medrano said.

She expressed concern that recruiters treat recruits "like another warm body," he said. "She said, `All you care about is your numbers."'

At this point, the 10-year Marine said the court bailiff raised his hand and addressed the young Sage.

"My son's in the Army," he said. "He did the Delayed Entry Program. They don't care about you. They're just there for the numbers.

"I said, `No, I'm not them," Medrano said. "I care about Shawn (and) about every single person I put into the Marine Corps. I follow them. I take care of my kids. I treat them like my Marines.

"It just felt like, wow. I even told Shawn, I said, `Dude, it feels like we've been burned at the stake at the Salem witch trial.' She just had some kind of animosity toward military personnel."

Early this year, Berkeley city officials drew national fire for calling Marine Corps recruiters "uninvited and unwelcome intruders" while granting free parking for anti-war protesters. Lawmakers in Sacramento and Washington pushed bills to deny millions in funds to city coffers.

Sage, who lives in Simi Valley but is originally from Florida, was abandoned by both parents when he was 2 and now lives in a foster home with his brother.

He had wanted to join the military ever since he'd met a service rep at school at age 7 - first the Air Force, then the Navy, finally the Marines.

His foster parents, as well as his social worker, supported his decision to enlist early. Despite being denied, he still shows up for USMC physical training.

"Did they ever kick my butt," he said proudly. "They still do."

When he graduates and turns 18 in June, it'll be all Semper Fi, bonus or no signing bonus, whether he's allowed early deployment or not.

As winner of Smyth's "there oughta be a law" contest, he will be flown to Sacramento to testify before the Assembly.

"I didn't do it for the signing bonus, because I'm a motivated kid," he said. "I am hoping to join the military before I graduate. I want to serve my country."

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8...17?source=email

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't see the controversy. The judge acted on good faith as the foster child is the responsibility of the court. The kid can join up when he's an adult.

[GaryC 7]

I don't see the controversy. The judge acted on good faith as the foster child is the responsibility of the court. The kid can join up when he's an adult.

The point is that the judge interjected his personal opinions in his decision. That isn't his job.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't see the controversy. The judge acted on good faith as the foster child is the responsibility of the court. The kid can join up when he's an adult.

The point is that the judge interjected his personal opinions in his decision. That isn't his job.

Of course it is...at least when it comes to domestic issues like family law. How do you suppose a judge decides on custodianship?

[GaryC 7]

I don't see the controversy. The judge acted on good faith as the foster child is the responsibility of the court. The kid can join up when he's an adult.

The point is that the judge interjected his personal opinions in his decision. That isn't his job.

Of course it is...at least when it comes to domestic issues like family law. How do you suppose a judge decides on custodianship?

The facts and the law. I joined when I was 17, why shouldn't this guy have the same right?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't see the controversy. The judge acted on good faith as the foster child is the responsibility of the court. The kid can join up when he's an adult.

The point is that the judge interjected his personal opinions in his decision. That isn't his job.

Of course it is...at least when it comes to domestic issues like family law. How do you suppose a judge decides on custodianship?

The facts and the law. I joined when I was 17, why shouldn't this guy have the same right?

In the eyes of the law, he doesn't have that right until he's 18. If I were the judge, I would have a difficult time NOT letting him join, but again, the decision is up to discretion of the judge, for better or worse.

[yogib37 3]

I don't see the controversy. The judge acted on good faith as the foster child is the responsibility of the court. The kid can join up when he's an adult.

The point is that the judge interjected his personal opinions in his decision. That isn't his job.

Of course it is...at least when it comes to domestic issues like family law. How do you suppose a judge decides on custodianship?

The facts and the law. I joined when I was 17, why shouldn't this guy have the same right?

In the eyes of the law, he doesn't have that right until he's 18. If I were the judge, I would have a difficult time NOT letting him join, but again, the decision is up to discretion of the judge, for better or worse.

I dont agree with you Steve. I think the Judge was out of line to base her deciesion on her own bias.

It was for a delay entry. he would finish his high school and then maybe already be 18. So, she is refusing him to join the militry where he can get good life skills and lead and live a good life instead of going into the streets.

I think that Judge should be removed or have a unbiased judge re hear the case again. He wants to make a good citezin.

Yogi

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't see the controversy. The judge acted on good faith as the foster child is the responsibility of the court. The kid can join up when he's an adult.

The point is that the judge interjected his personal opinions in his decision. That isn't his job.

Of course it is...at least when it comes to domestic issues like family law. How do you suppose a judge decides on custodianship?

The facts and the law. I joined when I was 17, why shouldn't this guy have the same right?

In the eyes of the law, he doesn't have that right until he's 18. If I were the judge, I would have a difficult time NOT letting him join, but again, the decision is up to discretion of the judge, for better or worse.

I dont agree with you Steve. I think the Judge was out of line to base her deciesion on her own bias.

It was for a delay entry. he would finish his high school and then maybe already be 18. So, she is refusing him to join the militry where he can get good life skills and lead and live a good life instead of going into the streets.

I think that Judge should be removed or have a unbiased judge re hear the case again. He wants to make a good citezin.

Yogi

I'm just wary of coming down on judges for doing their job. Judges can make bad judgments all the time and in this case, it sounds like the wrong decision, however, I don't think judges should be removed simply because we don't agree with their decision.

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

I don't see the controversy. The judge acted on good faith as the foster child is the responsibility of the court. The kid can join up when he's an adult.

The point is that the judge interjected his personal opinions in his decision. That isn't his job.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I have to wonder how anyone who has just watched Full Metal Jacket can claim to be be "sold" by it on joining the military.

It shows:

1) Institutional bullying in the boot camp resulting in a murder-suicide.

2) An extended battle scene resulting in the surviving soldiers standing awkwardly as a teenage girl (that they have shot) chokes to death on her own blood.

[William33 110]

Irrespective of other "similiar" personal opinions here, the Judge should have honored the wishes of a US citizen to serve his country. If any 17 year old can sign up for service, then all 17 year olds should be given the same rights.

There is far too much "governing" in this country, by people on a power trip.

[Peikko 1,575]

Not having been in the court and hearing all the testomony available, I can't make a comment as to the merits or otherwise of the judge's decision. I would be surprised if the decision was as portrayed in the article again but of course it might be.

My opinion is that delaying his entry into the armed forces for one more year isn't going to harm his career so I don't see why the delay is seen as so outrageous. Of course, he loses the signing bonus, but that shouldn't be the prime motivation for anyone to join while they are still technically children. If that is the reason behind this bonus, I think that is rather grotesque. However, if it's for other reasons entirely, then that is quite a different matter.

[Alex+R 0]

I have to wonder how anyone who has just watched Full Metal Jacket can claim to be be "sold" by it on joining the military.

It shows:

1) Institutional bullying in the boot camp resulting in a murder-suicide.

2) An extended battle scene resulting in the surviving soldiers standing awkwardly as a teenage girl (that they have shot) chokes to death on her own blood.

No kidding! When I read this, I thought, "hmm, maybe the judge has seen "Full Metal Jacket." Anyone inspired to join the military after that has to have a screw loose.

17-year-olds shouldn't be allowed to make life-threatening decisions, anyway. Someone who's finished high school isn't even ready to drink the military kool-aid.

And certainly anyone emotionally shallow enough and, well, dumb enough to look at "Full Metal Jacket" as a recruitment film isn't ready to make that commitment.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I have to wonder how anyone who has just watched Full Metal Jacket can claim to be be "sold" by it on joining the military.

It shows:

1) Institutional bullying in the boot camp resulting in a murder-suicide.

2) An extended battle scene resulting in the surviving soldiers standing awkwardly as a teenage girl (that they have shot) chokes to death on her own blood.

No kidding! When I read this, I thought, "hmm, maybe the judge has seen "Full Metal Jacket." Anyone inspired to join the military after that has to have a screw loose.

17-year-olds shouldn't be allowed to make life-threatening decisions, anyway. Someone who's finished high school isn't even ready to drink the military kool-aid.

And certainly anyone emotionally shallow enough and, well, dumb enough to look at "Full Metal Jacket" as a recruitment film isn't ready to make that commitment.

Perhaps there's more to it - but from the article it sounds as though the guy just wants to join up so he can fire guns and kill people.

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

17-year-olds shouldn't be allowed to make life-threatening decisions, anyway. Someone who's finished high school isn't even ready to drink the military kool-aid.

better take away their driver's license then.

and let's give someone who just finished high school more credit than that alex.