Anonymous
09/02/2015 17:25
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Is he going reserves?
Anonymous
09/02/2015 15:35
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Anonymous wrote:This was almost twenty years ago but there were older recruits that went through basic training when I went through. Probably 30ish and up range.
In terms of basic training, the physical requirements are based off of age groups. So a forty year old doesn't have to meet the same standard as a twenty year old to pass a physical fitness test.
What the previous poster saying about getting pass intake is true though. Where I think it took some of the older people a while to pass the initial test to get into basic so were stuck at the inprocessing station for a while. If I recall correctly it was the push up requirement and maybe weight.
Then physical things aside, it's if your friend will be willing to put up with all the things that you have to in basic and afterwards as well. ie always having people shouting at you, telling you what to do, etc. Also if they're going enlisted they'll probably be surrounded by 18 year olds, who are easily impressionable, first time away from home, etc.
Things are different nowadays but there was also the stigma of why some people joined the military back then (this was before 9/11 and all of the patriotism that followed). And I remember one of the drill sergeants got into it with one of the older guys in front of everyone saying how he must have really been a screw up to be joining the military that late in life.
There were some older people when I went through basic as well although most of them were reserve/national guard. I went through basic training several years ago and while it is true that the physical fitness standards decrease as you get older the training regimen is geared towards getting the majority (i.e. the 18-21 year olds) to pass the fitness test. OP's friend could probably run with the Delta group which is mostly overweight people and do fine there. There's still battalion runs where everyone runs together as well as non-running workouts although I guess OP's friend could just half step that and maybe catch some flack from the drill sergeant.
Also, not all basic training programs are equal. Fort Benning was far more rigorous than ol' Relaxin Jackson back then. The rigorousness of the physical training in AIT will also vary based upon MOS.
OP didn't mention whether the friend was enlisting or commissioning (do they still offer direct commissions?) and there's a huge difference in both the rigor and the bullshit factor between being enlisted and commissioned.
Anonymous
09/02/2015 12:01
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
This was almost twenty years ago but there were older recruits that went through basic training when I went through. Probably 30ish and up range.
In terms of basic training, the physical requirements are based off of age groups. So a forty year old doesn't have to meet the same standard as a twenty year old to pass a physical fitness test.
What the previous poster saying about getting pass intake is true though. Where I think it took some of the older people a while to pass the initial test to get into basic so were stuck at the inprocessing station for a while. If I recall correctly it was the push up requirement and maybe weight.
Then physical things aside, it's if your friend will be willing to put up with all the things that you have to in basic and afterwards as well. ie always having people shouting at you, telling you what to do, etc. Also if they're going enlisted they'll probably be surrounded by 18 year olds, who are easily impressionable, first time away from home, etc.
Things are different nowadays but there was also the stigma of why some people joined the military back then (this was before 9/11 and all of the patriotism that followed). And I remember one of the drill sergeants got into it with one of the older guys in front of everyone saying how he must have really been a screw up to be joining the military that late in life.
In terms of basic training, the physical requirements are based off of age groups. So a forty year old doesn't have to meet the same standard as a twenty year old to pass a physical fitness test.
What the previous poster saying about getting pass intake is true though. Where I think it took some of the older people a while to pass the initial test to get into basic so were stuck at the inprocessing station for a while. If I recall correctly it was the push up requirement and maybe weight.
Then physical things aside, it's if your friend will be willing to put up with all the things that you have to in basic and afterwards as well. ie always having people shouting at you, telling you what to do, etc. Also if they're going enlisted they'll probably be surrounded by 18 year olds, who are easily impressionable, first time away from home, etc.
Things are different nowadays but there was also the stigma of why some people joined the military back then (this was before 9/11 and all of the patriotism that followed). And I remember one of the drill sergeants got into it with one of the older guys in front of everyone saying how he must have really been a screw up to be joining the military that late in life.
Anonymous
09/02/2015 11:29
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Oops, I misread!
Even if he tries to join, I bet he doesn't make it past the initial processing center.
Even if he tries to join, I bet he doesn't make it past the initial processing center.
Anonymous
09/02/2015 11:16
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is he joining a unique (for lack of a better word) job? A friend became a navy chaplain later in life, after doing Yeats of civilian ministry. He went through OCS I believe.
New poster here-I imagine it has to be something like this. The military is just not hard up enough right now to take in new recruits for "unskilled" (for lack of better term) MOS. If OPs friend has a particular needed skill--for example if he is fluent in a middle eastern language, or maybe a physician or chaplain in a specific religion, he may be able to enlist or get a commission at age 42...if he just wants to enlist and go into infantry or something...it's unlikely.
But the military isn't hard up for recruits, there have been major reductions in force, including non-renewal of contracts and options for early retirement.
Yes. That is why PP mentioned some very specific jobs/skill sets.
Anonymous
09/02/2015 11:12
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Anonymous wrote:Old friend just told me he's considering joining the military. Apparently the cut off is age 42. Do you know anyone that's joined so late? He's 41 now.
Have you ever seen th movie "Stripes"? (Bill Murray, Harold Ramis)
Anonymous
09/02/2015 11:09
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is he joining a unique (for lack of a better word) job? A friend became a navy chaplain later in life, after doing Yeats of civilian ministry. He went through OCS I believe.
New poster here-I imagine it has to be something like this. The military is just not hard up enough right now to take in new recruits for "unskilled" (for lack of better term) MOS. If OPs friend has a particular needed skill--for example if he is fluent in a middle eastern language, or maybe a physician or chaplain in a specific religion, he may be able to enlist or get a commission at age 42...if he just wants to enlist and go into infantry or something...it's unlikely.
But the military isn't hard up for recruits, there have been major reductions in force, including non-renewal of contracts and options for early retirement.
Anonymous
09/02/2015 11:03
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Anonymous wrote:Is he joining a unique (for lack of a better word) job? A friend became a navy chaplain later in life, after doing Yeats of civilian ministry. He went through OCS I believe.
New poster here-I imagine it has to be something like this. The military is just not hard up enough right now to take in new recruits for "unskilled" (for lack of better term) MOS. If OPs friend has a particular needed skill--for example if he is fluent in a middle eastern language, or maybe a physician or chaplain in a specific religion, he may be able to enlist or get a commission at age 42...if he just wants to enlist and go into infantry or something...it's unlikely.
Anonymous
09/02/2015 00:41
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Do you know why he wants to join? Is this something he's always wanted to do and now he's down to the final year? Or does he just find himself with career problems and he thinks in enlisting will make them go away?
If he has always want to do it, go for it. What's the worst that can happen--if he can't cut it during Boot Camp, they throw him out. And I may be mistaken but I think the Army is cutting the budget right now, so they are less lenient with recruits and with enlisted personnel than usual-they are looking for reasons to cut.
If he is doing it for some other reason besides a passion for joining the military, there's a chance he won't make it. And has he considered that if he does make it, he is then "stuck"? What does he say about that?
If he has always want to do it, go for it. What's the worst that can happen--if he can't cut it during Boot Camp, they throw him out. And I may be mistaken but I think the Army is cutting the budget right now, so they are less lenient with recruits and with enlisted personnel than usual-they are looking for reasons to cut.
If he is doing it for some other reason besides a passion for joining the military, there's a chance he won't make it. And has he considered that if he does make it, he is then "stuck"? What does he say about that?
Anonymous
09/02/2015 00:40
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Midlife crisis? Trying to escape something?
Anonymous
09/02/2015 00:39
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Ugh, years, not Yeats.
Anonymous
09/02/2015 00:38
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Is he joining a unique (for lack of a better word) job? A friend became a navy chaplain later in life, after doing Yeats of civilian ministry. He went through OCS I believe.
Anonymous
09/02/2015 00:37
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
OP again. I googled, and it looks like the official limit is age 42, but I'm not sure any branch actually allows enlistment that late. I don't know if he's really researched it well. Surprised me when he said he was considering.
Anonymous
09/02/2015 00:37
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Can he keep up with the 18-21 year olds to make it through bootcamp?
How is his health? Knees? Back?
How is his health? Knees? Back?
Anonymous
09/02/2015 00:34
Subject: 40 year old joining military?
Old friend just told me he's considering joining the military. Apparently the cut off is age 42. Do you know anyone that's joined so late? He's 41 now.