Child soldiers: The use of children in the army. Child soldiers play three different roles in armed conflicts. They can take part directly in hostilities or be used as support, as sex slaves, lookouts, messengers and spies. They can also be used in the political aspect of war. Given that many children have been physically or mentally damaged by their participation in armed conflict, children should not be involved in any armed conflict and should be removed from war indefinitely. Every child has the right to go to school without violence. Children have been used in the military for hundreds of years. Child soldiers are not a new phenomenon. Child soldiers have been used on battlefields throughout history. The first appearances of young children involved in wars date back to the Bronze Age. It was customary for children in the Mediterranean region to serve as charioteers, armor bearers, and aides to lords, knights, and other adult soldiers. This was mandatory for these children to succeed their adult mentors. Examples can be found in the oldest literature. In the Bible, David is the armor bearer of King Saul. Another example is the story, in Greek mythology, of Hercules and Hylas. Hylas learned to be a soldier when he served as Hercules' armor bearer. During the Children's Crusade in 1212, many children enlisted with the idea that only divine power would lead them to victory. Although none of the children actually saw combat, they were sold into slavery for the profit of the war. Perhaps one of the most notable examples is the Hitler Jugend, or Hitler Youth, in the final days of World War II; the Hitler Youth organization "prepared boys for military service" (Hitler Y...... middle of paper ......ben. "Child Soldiers Around the World." Council on Foreign Relations. December 2, 2005 . Web. December 10, 2011. .Machel, Grace. “Children in Conflict: Children in Conflict” Web. December 10, 2011. “Uganda: Child Soldiers at the Center of a growing humanitarian crisis." Welcome to the United Nations: It's your world. Web. December 10, 2011. "What's happening: Child soldiers in Sierra Leone " Welcome to the United Nations: It's. your world. December 10.. 2011. .