Don't you think 42 is just a bit to old to become a soldier?

I mean come on, Whats it say about your training when some one's Grandmother can graduate from it? I mean no direspect to you Army guy's my Father is retired Army and my Brother is serving in Iraq right now for the Army but dont you feel a little betrayed by the top Brass's decisions to soften the Army up.To make it easier to get in as well as make the training easier to accomidate all the new over the hill/dumb recruits and whats with all the commercials that make serving the millitary seem just like any other job that people can do for money/bennefits wheres the pride? Whats the deal with giving every one barets patches and metals just for showing up and I read the other day that they were going to stop yelling at the recruits in basic training and that the Drill Sergants were going to take on a more "Mentoring role" dosent that just hack you off. Its just sad to me how pathetic it has gotten offering everyone huge bonuses and lowering asvab scores/physical requirements.
Additional Details
they do all this to bring # up but arent they the wrong kind of #? I really wanted to join the Army but with all this I have decided to join the Marines instead.

FALLENMALAK

HI JOSH,
YOU ARE RIGHT, GO FOR THE MARINES AS THEY ARE THE WELL BEST TRAINED IN OUR MILITARY, I WAS IN
THE NAVY DURING THE VIETMAN ERA, BUT I ALWAYS FELT
THAT THE MARINE CORP GIVES THE BEST PHYSICAL AND
INFANTRY TRAINING TO IT'S NEW RECRUITS. LETS FACE IT
THE MARINES ARE NOT OUT ON A PICNIC, THEY MEAN WAR
AND WAR IS THEIR BUSINESS!!! GO FOR IT!!! HOORAH!!!

thepenismightier

So they turned you down, did they? My sympathies. But don't go hating others who want to serve their country.

I personally feel that if they can pass the physical and carry their own weight, there should be no maximum age for volunteer service.

RLP

My husband and I are both 45 and in better shape than "kids" half our age - PLUS we have the wisdom of our years.
If someone is 42 and WANTS to join the Army - God Bless them and I would tell them Thanks for serving this country and protecting it's citizens.

Lonnie P

It's not the training that should be commented on, but rather the continued fitness of the individual in their 40's that is remarkable. Kudos to them; and YOU should be celebrating their victory as well, ingrate!

Crazybird

I think it depends on the person. There's some pretty fit and strong 41 yr. olds with alot to offer. They've dummied down alot of the system to even be able to recruit some of the young ones so don't blame it on the older guys.

dark reality

As to the age. In the American Civil War...men as old as 78 were enlisted into an Iowa Regiment made entirely of old men between the ages of 40 and 78 I believe it was. They marched, they paraded, went through training, guarded prisoners, and although they never really saw action. Nobody can deny that 800 old men marching against a similar number of men half of their age or younger would have been a story recorded forever in the annals of military history.

As to the rest, our military is in a bind for numbers and needs as much leverage as it can get. If it helps retain troop levels...I do believe a draft will be necessary. So I don't care as long as they can do the job.

Roadkill

Too old. If you joined at age 17 you'd be retired before you were 42.

I joined when I was 21, there was only one guy in our basic training company older than me. A guy that was 30. He was in better shape than me, ran faster, climb better and all that.

But day after day, march after march, and just the continuous grind of training he wore down. He'd start out fine but by the end of the day he was struggling. There's a difference, the older you are the more time it takes you to recover from the stress. Bones don't grow back if they're broken. Too Old

Nice Guy

During WW2 they drafted up to 45,My Uncle was drarted at 43 He was killed during the Normandy Invasion.So it's nothing new.

slabsidebass

if you can step up, i don't see why you would object to an age limitation.and what?,you're joining the Marines to get yelled at in boot camp?times have changed my friend-better get your head on straight or your sophomoric attitude will cost you getting your @ss handed to ya.
p.s.,i'm 50 and can still qualify at 17 year old physical requirement level-my age kept me from joining the Guard.

ijc333

With that attitude I would be very surprised if the USMC took you

special_edd_yay

42 is to old unless your prior service with the ability to retire by age 55. 31 is max age for enlistment last I knew.

Ok I see some didn't understand. I am not being mean I am a former Army recruiter, just like poice, border patrol ext, the military has a maximum age limit to join as a NEW recruit. LAST i knew it was 31 for the ARMY. If you are PRIOR SERVICE and you can retire (20yrs of active service) before age 55, you can rejoin. If you have been out 6 years (LAST I KNEW) you have to re-basic.

mcspic63

i'm 43 in the army reserve right now with 8 years active duty army and air force-----in the process of going back to active army right now-----bite me
rather have someone older in good shape than some kid with a crappy attitude serving with me

petrel

With the war in Iraq they can't recruit enough people so they are softening the process.

Bright

Yes, I think a bit too old.

world's greatest hero

as long as he's not brainwashed by that monkey"bush"

Studbolt Slickrock

PC armies will get us killed!! Old people should be set loose on ice floes, not allowed to fight for our country.

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