I don't know of any teens and 20-somethings that steal millions from the Fed by way of R&D grants (well... we've hardly been given the opportunity) yet the government doesn't think it can trust us over esteemed academics who are convicted of defrauding the US government by the dozens every year (look at any OIG report like this one: https://www.oig.doc.gov/Pages/Investigations.aspx.)
They don't see how young people interested in a federal grant are usually too idealistic to swindle the funds.
We're self-selecting - the type of young person that would spend the time to prepare and submit a research grant proposal.
...and we haven't historically failed our government like older academics have.
The military ships many barely legal, high school grads off to wars but won't let us obtain federal dollars in order to help protect and provide for war-fighters.
An 18-25 year old with a high school education qualifies one to be a soldier (and wield weaponry that could destroy entire populations) but not to help a soldier (and create weaponry that could destroy entire populations.)
Even with new Army modernization initiatives and competitions like xTechSearch, the people who get large sums of money are typically older people with university support/education.
That same demographic has stolen Billions in government funding for the past several decades.
Instead of everyone judging young people by our lack of experience and education, we should be judged by our WORKS.
After all, you trust our demographic with the safety of our country.
You can trust us with federal dollars.
We are capable of saving lives ON the battlefield ...and OFF the battlefield in research labs.
So, fund us!
...and fund actual groundbreaking tech, not iterations!
We shouldn't have to worry about you not liking/funding us for disrupting your favorite contractors!
We shouldn't have to schmooze up to you and academia in order to perform the research you need!