Anyone here join the Military late in Life?

[ShadowX81]

Actually only 5% of the Air Force flys. The rest are just like any other branch. And my eyes are crap too. The only requirement is that you have glsses that make your problems correctable.

To be totally honest with you, at age 39 they probably are going to give you a desk job. The question is do you want to be making a ton of money with better benefits and be living in a nice pace while you do your job? If so, join the Air Force.

 

[Darth Snoopy]

When I was in the Marines, I had a fire team leader who joined when he was like 37, if memory serves, and he was a great Team Leader.

If your heart is in it, your body will follow. And I absolutely recommend that anyone with the desire should spend some time in the military. The experiences go far beyond getting in shape and learning new skills. The experience with different people from around the country and experiencing the world outside of the States can not be duplicated.
Just make sure you understand that you primary responsibility when you join the military is to stand in harms' way when the call comes in.

And one more thing...go Marines...you will not be sorry.

Good luck!

The Marines will definitely make you born again hardcore.

I went through boot with a guy who was 38 and even though it was tough for him at first, his life experience paid off for him as he helped us young bucks out with his knowledge.

Good Luck and Semper Fi!

 

[Matt S]

Thanks everyone for the encourgement and kind words!

 

[jonny88]

Only if he's planning on going to OCS school. Unless they changed it in the last 10 years they only require a high school or equivalent for enlistment.

you don't even need high school to be a basic soldier. l only had my grade 11 at the time l joined the Canadian infantry. my recruiter said that was fine as long as l finished school threw the army. never ended up going because in my medical l was denied because of a medication l was on at the time.

 

[NASEDO]

I thought there was an age limit, so I looked it up and found this:

Question: What is the maximum age to enlist in the Military?

Answer: The maximum age of non-prior service enlistment, under federal law used to be age 35. In 2006 the Army tried to convinced Congress to change this to age 44. Congress thought age 44 was too high, but raised the maximum enlistment age, under law, from 35 to age 42.

Regardless of federal law, the military services are allowed to impose more strict standards -- and many of them have. The maximum age for non-prior service enlistments for each of the services are:

•Active duty Army - 42
•Army Reserves - 42
•Army Natinal Guard - 42
•Active duty Air Force - 27
•Air Force Reserve - 34
•Air National guard - 34
•Active duty Navy - 34
•Navy Reserves - 39
•Active duty Marines - 28
•Marine Corps Reserves - 29
•Active duty Coast Guard - 27
•Coast Guard Reserves - 27

 

[carbo-fation]

you don't even need high school to be a basic soldier. l only had my grade 11 at the time l joined the Canadian infantry. my recruiter said that was fine as long as l finished school threw the army. never ended up going because in my medical l was denied because of a medication l was on at the time.

I had a feeling that you never finished High School. Not sure why.

 

[Vader AL]

Actually only 5% of the Air Force flys. The rest are just like any other branch. And my eyes are crap too. The only requirement is that you have glsses that make your problems correctable.

To be totally honest with you, at age 39 they probably are going to give you a desk job. The question is do you want to be making a ton of money with better benefits and be living in a nice pace while you do your job? If so, join the Air Force.

Ton of money and military do not go together, especially for the enlisted soldiers. Great benefits and a lot of expenses paid for though and of course honorable profession.

 

[jonny88]

I had a feeling that you never finished High School. Not sure why.

l finished after.

 

[nash]

I'd go air force if I had to choose.

 

[jonny88]

I'd go air force if I had to choose.

it all depends what you want to do. if you want a career and be as safe as possible there are many options with great pay and of course benefits, or the very dangerous not so great pay of a front line infantry soldier. all depends on why you want to join and what you want to experience. l remember after the entry exam there was a huge list of options you could choose from, so if someone is interested in the military there is something that will suits your likes.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

you don't even need high school to be a basic soldier. l only had my grade 11 at the time l joined the Canadian infantry. my recruiter said that was fine as long as l finished school threw the army. never ended up going because in my medical l was denied because of a medication l was on at the time.

The OP is located in Dallas so I was going by U.S. standards.

 

[nash]

it all depends what you want to do. if you want a career and be as safe as possible there are many options with great pay and of course benefits, or the very dangerous not so great pay of a front line infantry soldier. all depends on why you want to join and what you want to experience. l remember after the entry exam there was a huge list of options you could choose from, so if someone is interested in the military there is something that will suits your likes.

exactly...why would anyone want a lower paying infantry job unless they were trying to compensate for something small in their pants? I couldnt care less if you think you're so hardcore just because youre a grunt...the fact is, im a pilot and im making 10x more money than you while cruising the skies and backing your pompous ass up.

I just think that as an older person, having a more specialized field is what would be more important and the air force offers that.

 

[devilof76]

Grunts are pompous?

 

[BadMoon]

Pompous --->

exactly...why would anyone want a lower paying infantry job unless they were trying to compensate for something small in their pants? I couldnt care less if you think you're so hardcore just because youre a grunt...the fact is, im a pilot and im making 10x more money than you while cruising the skies and backing your pompous ass up.

Oh the irony.

 

[devilof76]

Humble--->

 

[hairlesswookiee]

Pompous --->

Oh the irony.

The douche alarm went off on that post.

 

[The Ween]

Hey all

I'm about to disclose my age....WARNING.......back up, people, cause it aint pretty

I'm

Spoiler

39

Yikes!!!! Anyway, I have no kids, no wife.....and have been seriously flirting with joining the military before I do get too old - I look younger than I am probably due to the way I act half of the time, but age is age....

Leaning toward Army, and am about to talk with a recruiter in the next week or so....of course, gotta get my out of shape butt going, but figured I would see if any here have done the same and their experieces

That's funny. I was actually just thinking about joining the National Guard yesterday to help me pay to finish my degree. I'm 25 years old.

Join the military because it's something that you really want to do, not because you're looking for a job or for the schooling. Too many of them do this and then complain because they get sent into a warzone. I can remember quite a few saying, "I didn't sign up for this" when they got called over into Iraq. Well, yes you did. You joined the army or whatever, that's what it's all about.

 

[NosferatuBill36]

Pompous --->

Oh the irony.

 

[jonny88]

exactly...why would anyone want a lower paying infantry job unless they were trying to compensate for something small in their pants? I couldnt care less if you think you're so hardcore just because youre a grunt..

l think the guys who take the most dangerous jobs for the smallest pay do have something big in their pants, they don't need to compensate for anything.

 

[Darth Snoopy]

Pompous --->

Oh the irony.

Indeed!

l think the guys who take the most dangerous jobs for the smallest pay do have something big in their pants, they don't need to compensate for anything.