Its 18 for cigarettes, and 21 for alcohol. I think if you can die for your country you can at least buy a beer...
We used to get the new guys in engineering on the ship, once a month we would have a 'hail and farwell' where we welcome the new guys and say good bye to the ones leaving. We always let the new guys drink, we were there, we took care of them (didn't let them drink and drive, or get into trouble, or get too terribly sloshed.) So what if I was breaking that law? when you are in the service half the laws of the Constitution don't apply to you anymore anyway, even though you swear an oath to protect it. The UCMJ is much stricter, but it has to be because of the demands and impact of Military Service.
Back on track, that truck is mucho trasho. Hope everyone over there in that hell makes it through ok. Even if they all return with their bodies intact their minds will be forever affected.