Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Marilyn Mackel

Shawn Sage long dreamed of joining the military and the Royal High School student wished to sign up for the 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.”

“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.”

Sage, 17, said he begged for Mackel’s permission. 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.”

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.

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 didn’t do it for the signing bonus, because I’m a motivated kid,” Sage said.

“I am hoping to join the military before I graduate. I want to serve my country.”

Semper Fi, Ooh-Rah and Thank You for wanting to serve your country Shawn Sage.

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