JACK ARMY, scanning my sector!
41.5 year old Privates ... wow!
How demeaning! You must be in a pretty rough spot to be 41 and enlisting, only to be pushed around by a 24 or 25 year old drill sergeant.
The types of people that will enlist at 41 may not be worth the trouble. As one commentator said, these folks will make Charles Graner and Lyndie England look like they belong on the NY Times Society Pages.
I am greatly troubled by the "scalp" bonus for enlistments. It puts a premium on referrals and may motivate many to encourage enlistments solely for money. This is neither in the best interests of the Army or the applicant.
Let me say one thing ... the cupboard is bare if these proposals make it. The Army will have no more rabbits to pull out of the hat after these ones.
I am 36 so unable to re-join the Army...if the recruitment age would go up to 42 as suggested here, I'd re-enlist in a heart beat...I am in the medical field and I know I would be needed!
I'm 29, and would like to join, but i can't The Us Military PDQed me for some as stuipd as having a genetic DNA medical condition. I am healthy, but to the Us Military, i ain't so i guess i am out for the count. Though i would join if they let me in the medical feild only and work in the hospitals or feild hospitals.
I'm a 30 yo professional thinking about joining for a combat specialty, and everybody thinks I'm out of my mind. I looked at commissioned programs in Army, and wasn't real impressed w/the options (choosing a "branch" instead of a specific MOS), and the JAG Corps (will have law degree in about 5 months) - but they just don't appeal. I'm tired of sitting on my ass for 10 hours a day reading over cases and statutes, and I want to do something physical. I loves the PT.
Considering the 18x enlistment option (that's how I ran across this weblog). Took the ASVAB and DLAB a few weeks ago to see how I'd place, and scored well enough for 18x. Also did medical, passed w/all 1s.
Now I've just got to decide ...
Best of luck to everyone considering the Army, and thanks to Jack Army for creating this informative resource and colorful commentary on a range of issues ...
Quinotto,
If you have active duty time, you can subtract one year from your age for each duty year you spent to determine if you can re-enlist.
Last I heard it was only a four week refresher at Ft. Knox after re-enlisting this way.
Tom,
Enlisting is a silly decision. The Army NEEDS officers right now and you are qualified.
Tell me how becoming an Infantry officer via OCS isn't impressive? Yeah, OCS, BOLC, IOBC, Ranger and Airborne are all joke schools ... sure!
In any case, you can go where you are truly needed - NOW or enlist on a crusade for yourself.
You have the opportunity to lead, teach, coach and mentor 40 of your fellow Americans as a 2LT. Again, this isn't impressive? Big words coming from a guy going through a "quarterlife crisis."
BTW, w/ your JD you will be in good stead as an officer ... in any branch.
www.armyocs.com
Tom, IRR Soldier's advice is good if you consider the officer corps to be the best place in the Army to be. Your credentials certainly qualify you to be an officer... and an officer in JAG. However qualified you may be, if you don't have the desire be an officer, why do it?
Ultimately, I believe the Army suffers when Soldiers don't like what they do. Those Soldiers that love thier jobs tend to reenlist thereby serving longer. What is better for the Army? A JAG officer that serves his minimum and then gets out of the Army, or a SF enlisted Soldier that serves two or more terms of enlistment?
IRR Soldier sees, maybe even focuses, on the Officer side because he is one, and I don't blame him for that. What I disagree with is the insinuation that you would be better off as an officer in a branch you don't like instead of an enlisted Soldier doing something you enjoy. I readily admit that I focus more on enlistment opportunities, I have sent people to OCS and even recommended OCS/ROTC over enlistment options. What I ultimately recommended as a recruiter depended on what the individual really wanted to do, not what their education credentials said they could.
BTW, you'll be in good stead on an SF ODA... in any specialty.
Thank you both for your responses. I truly appreciate them.
IRR Soldier, I think being an infantry officer would be satisfying on many levels. It would certainly be an honor to lead, teach, coach and mentor other soldiers. I think that I would have something to contribute to other soldiers in terms of experience and drive. It would also lead to professional growth within the Army, as I'm considering making it a career. I wouldn't demean the 2LT infantry officer position in any way.
On the other hand, I've set my sights on SF. I'm interested in the lifestyle of lifetime learning, the discipline, frequent deployments, physical and intellectual development, brotherhood, and the respect that's given to SF soldiers. I believe that I have the physical ability to successfully complete the training, although I've never undertaken such intense training. Most I've done is intensive four months of Border Patrol training, where I finished the academy first in class in Physical Techniques, nearly first in firearms, driving and law (found the job unchallenging after academy - resigned & went to law school). I think I have the mental mettle succeed, but have yet to prove it.
While officers can attend SFQC and SFAS, my research has shown that very few do. Enlisting under 18x appears to be my best shot.
Again, thank you both very much for responding to my earlier comment.
The Reserve and Guard have both upped their maximum age to 40,and it's been that way for a few months now. If you're 36 and want to serve with no PS you're able to do so now.
I'm currently processing a 37 y/o CPA with his masters. He's actually interested in being an 88M since the unit is right down the road from his house.
Great Going there SSG B! (sarcasm)
Nothing like looking out for the needs of the Army (more sarcasm).
The USAR is currently 5,000 CPTs and 3,700 LTs short - as in- these officers as required by MTOE - do not exist ANYWHERE in the current inventory. Futrthermore, the ARNG is short around 6,000 Company grade officers.
This leadership crisis/vacuum is growing worse the day and by enlisting a CPA, a leader in the community, as a fucking E-4 compounds the problem.
Heve you even bothered to discuss the USAR/ARNG OCS enlistment option? Does the applicant know that he can enlist for guaranteed OCS with GUARANTEED branch (transportation) and assignment (unit near his house) IN WRITING before enlisting?
I'm really getting tired of this "forest from the trees" outlook among recruiters.
I mean, if this war is protracted and requires the talents, skills and abilities of all our citizens, why are we encouraging a 37 year old CPA to become an E-4?
Don't you think this adult, that wants to serve, would be a better asset to our Army as a Company XO or Platoon Leader. He has proven himself as a working adult - something the majority of 22/23/24 year old 2LTs have not.
The fact that you would enlist this man as an 88M without discussing OCS or the ability to fill an officer vacancy in that unit tells me all I need to know about you... YOU ARE ALL ABOUT THE NUMBERS. YOU DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE APPLICANT OR THE ARMY!!
Wow, you managed to KNOW from the few short sentences SSG B wrote that he did not discuss OCS with his applicant? Dayam, you are good! With your psychic abilities... well, enough sarcasm.
Why do you let yourself get worked up into a lather over comments on a blog? You have no idea what was discussed. Perhaps, SSG B said, "hey, with your degree I can guarantee you OCS and you'll be an officer in this unit next to your house!" and applicant said, "sounds great, but I don't want to go to OCS. Can I just enlist instead?"
So, should SSG B say, "hell no! You have a degree, dammit, and the Army needs officers. Get out!" or perhaps he decided, "hmmmm... the Army needs officers but this guy isn't interested. He will enlist, though, and the Army needs enlisted Soldiers, too. I know! I'll give the guy what he wants and the Army wins either way! Yeah!"
Now, I could be wrong, too, but I'm not going to judge based on a few short sentences in the comments of a blog. There has to be more to the story. It could be just as you say, but we don't know that based on what we read here. So, before we hop on our high horses, perhaps we should find out more about the situation.
How is the Army served by keeping qualified, or even OVER-qualified applicants from doing what they want?
RTO, I have 3 years of active duty so it still leaves me short of 1 year .... I took your advice and contacted my local recruiting station, they confirmed your tip and have me in their database JUST in case the age limit does go up!
IRR Soldier of course I discussed AR OCS with him (I didn't discuss ARNG OCS w/ him since I'm an AR recruiter; let the state find their own people). Not just because I know that the AR needs junior officers but also because an OCS contract counts as two GAs and is worth a TON of recruiter points (half of that was sarcasm, I'll leave it to the reader to decide which half).
All that Mr. CPA wants to do is serve. He'd prefer if he could be assigned to the facility near where he lives. He doesn't want to have to be away from his family and work for the 6 months that BT and OCS would require (plus the time for OBC to boot). He knows that if he's mobilized he could be gone for longer, but it's HIS choice to not be away for training for that long. And lastly, the AR offers him a 3 year commitment to a TPU where he could receive a $10,000 bonus and $20,000 is SLRP (although he only owes like 2k now, but still, it's 2k less out of his pocket). It's his choice, I am just here to do the packet.
I'm a recruiter. I'm here to find people who wish to volunteer, and then help those that are qualified through the process. I don't get to pick and choose who I process for what. I find them, help them forward if they are qualified, and then congradulate them after the swear-in and welcome them to the team. Regardless of the capacity in which they choose to serve.
All that anyone needs to know about me can be found in the Warrior Ethos, the Soldier's Creed, and the NCO Creed.
No one is more professional than I.
I realize that I am a member of a time-honored corps, which is known as the backbone of the Army.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army values.
I will always place my mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I kinda put that cut-and-paste personal creed together as a way to psyche myself up for yet another day being being told "no" 300 times for every "yes". It does wear on you after a while.
Anyway, APFT in the morning. Must end my screed.
SSG B, don't worry about boobs like IRR who are just perrots repeating rethoric, that's the extent of their knowledge. You have a mission and you are accomplishing it in an honorable way!
I find this interesting. IRR, can't the CPA change his mind after entering the Army? He might decide, after taking so many orders and having his ideas overlooked because he is an enlisted person that being an officer is a pretty good idea. With any corporation, sometimes you have to get inside before you realize where you belong.
I'm 41 yrs 9mths old. Female. No kids. No housepayment and the bills are all paid off. I'm divorced. Have a Ph.D and my boss in corporate world is 28yrs old. I work out at the gym 5x a week and can run circles around some 20somethings. I'm tired of living in the fear of being laid off. And yeah, I'm thinking of joining. Maybe I'm crazy for considering enlistment, maybe I'm not. I haven't reconciled an answer with myself yet. In my gut, I'd join in a heartbeat - but from reading various articles on the web that question the integrity of proposed age limit and insist that a 42 yr old is just plain too old - I'll probably end up buying bifocals/a rocking chair and take up knitting instead. lol. thanks for your informative article - at least it was objective and more open minded than most and did not make me feel embarrassed about considering enlisting.
Commenting by HaloScan
