Gap Year for All High School Graduates and Drop-Outs

In some countries, a gap year is required before students start college or after they exit high school. Normally, the year is spent in a low-pay community service. The Mormon Church has a similar concept in which students spend two years in missionary work.

During the Gap Year, "Gappers" should learn skills that can be called upon later if needed during an emergency. This would be akin to when active duty military personnel go into the Reserves or are subject to call-up in an emergency. The skills should be organized on the internet with skill level testing.

All should address the Primary Moral Imperative of saving life on Planet Earth from Climate Hell. First and foremost would be forest fire stopping. Forest fires generate massive plums of CO2 that cause downwind flooding that destroys infrastructure. While fires destroy a few million dollars in local property damage, downwind damage is in the billions.

Like firehouses in a city, firehouses need to be placed in forest areas. Cargo containers can be standardized with living and equipment modules. Included in the equipment would ATVs. Gappers would rotate in for two- to four-week tours. During their tour they would create paths for quick travel to fire hotspots to stop the fire. After their Gap year, they would be on call. Payment would be lifehour credits for paying healthcare, loans, and taxes.

Other Gapper activities could be storm clean-up after hurricanes or tornados. This could be part of the reborn Civilian Conservation Corps within the National Universal Service Act for one receiving healthcare for community service.

For students out of school, which is better? Watching TV or learning to save life on Planet Earth?

I support the idea of requiring a Gap Year for high school graduates or drop-outs.