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[Snoopy47]

The military is for those who haven't planned their lives out better through high school or want to develop special skills like learning aircraft skills and certain trade skills.

Or those who never want to say to themselves:
Should've
Could've
Would've

I enlisted as a Hail Mary maneuver, and I pulled it off. I went in blindly not expecting anything of it other than a weekend warrior with the minimal pride of saying "at least I signed the contract" regardless of how little or insignificant my participation would turn out to be.

I got to deploy in support of special forces in Military Intel, and now I'll get a chance to put in 20 years and finish out as a Logistical LT. Col.

[glug]

I'm in the same boat. Always wanted to serve when I was younger, never did.

I just recently found out my company has a pretty sweet military leave benefit, so I am looking at ways to make use of it and pursue my dream. Biggest blockers for me are my age (36) and the fact that I have 3 kids.

Seems like being over 35 totally rules out the officer path, which would have been optimal, and rules out active duty for all but Air Force. So I'm mostly looking at AF, Army or Navy enlisted reserve.

[ChuckDizzle]

Yep, I was 39 when I hit BCT, and was the 3rd oldest. The other two broke down. One got discharged medically, and the other one recycled, and I crossed her path at AIT when I was graduating, and she was just getting to AIT.

I got really sick, and had to force myself through the BS. The breakdown of the other two clearly indicated to me I just need to jump through the hoops and get MOS qualified. Nothing matters. I have a MBA and CFA, who gives a crap if I finish top in my class at BCT against teenagers. All that matters is just getting GO's on all needed training tests.


Drill SGT's yell and freak out, and you never do enough push ups for them. So it's basically "ehhhhh, whatever, I pass APFT just fine so nothing they say means anything".

I'm glad you made it through. I turned 32 this weekend and I couldn't imagine doing it at this age. My best friend who stayed in just got promoted to 1SG of the company we were first permanent party at. Crazy to think that we are now the crusty old guys who seemed so ancient at 19.

[Sunday]

Or those who never want to say to themselves:
Should've
Could've
Would've

I enlisted as a Hail Mary maneuver, and I pulled it off. I went in blindly not expecting anything of it other than a weekend warrior with the minimal pride of saying "at least I signed the contract" regardless of how little or insignificant my participation would turn out to be.

I got to deploy in support of special forces in Military Intel, and now I'll get a chance to put in 20 years and finish out as a Logistical LT. Col.

I don't like who yo have to serve.

[Snoopy47]

I don't like who yo have to serve.

By "who" what do you mean?

The United States?
The US Army?
The President of the US?

CEO's of companies come and go. Companies that are good companies turned into bad companies by bad CEO's, and different CEO's come in and make bad companies better companies. Or they can just stay bad or good under different CEO's.

The point is, they come and go.

If one wants to be in a position to take advantage of all the good things a company does or changes it does to make it better one has to simply be IN THE SYSTEM before things start to happen.

For example. Had I just bit the bullet and ate my pride when I was younger (mid 90s) and enlisted, or even enlisted at 9/11 I would have more than 10 years behind me and a Major by now.

Hell, I could have enlisted at 28 when it was too late to be an officer at the time, and I could have still be a Lt Col by now. Things changed and 9/11 opened the door wide open. The age was opened up to 42, and waivers a plenty for officers and the like. I would have been given plenty of chances to be an officer at the time over the last decade had I just ate my pride and enlisted like I did anyway when I was 38.

But you have to BE IN THE SYSTEM at the time. So yea, one has to take their chances and risk being in a dead end system. If you're in at the right place and the right time amazing opportunities open up.

My favorite historic example is Eisenhower started WWII as a Lt. Col, and finished as a 5 star general.

[John03]

Why would you want to join the services? You should have better cognitive abilities developed by now. The military is for those who haven't planned their lives out better through high school or want to develop special skills like learning aircraft skills and certain trade skills.

So people who join the military are just stupid or disorganized?

Is it possible that they may just have a desire to serve or a family history of service?

The military is for people who want to fight the enemies of our country. I didn't learn any skills that translated into a civilian job and I didn't join for that purpose, neither did anyone who I served with.

Maybe you're just a COWARD?

[geoint]

So people who join the military are just stupid or disorganized?

Is it possible that they may just have a desire to serve or a family history of service?

The military is for people who want to fight the enemies of our country. I didn't learn any skills that translated into a civilian job and I didn't join for that purpose, neither did anyone who I served with.

Maybe you're just a COWARD?

Dude I am proud to say I was in the Army. But get real, nothing we have done in Iraq or Afghanistan made one bit of difference to anyone EXCEPT to our fellow servicemembers (AKA helping each other get back home alive).

I joined to learn skills that would translate to the civilian side and because I was told point blank by Riverside Sheriffs Dept in 2010 that I would best distinguish myself (if I wanted to become a LEO) by having a clean military background, a security clearance and not having PTSD. Am I less of a soldier because I didn't sign up specifically to kill enemies of our country?

Im no pacifist. I personally believe we should just ethnically cleanse any country or organization that messes with us and their kids, long lost cousins, their dogs and goats...etc. Its the only way to make sure theres nobody left to seek vengeance against us. But I didn't join the Army because of this belief. I developed this belief during deployment

[John03]

Dude I am proud to say I was in the Army. But get real, nothing we have done in Iraq or Afghanistan made one bit of difference to anyone EXCEPT to our fellow servicemembers (AKA helping each other get back home alive).

I joined to learn skills that would translate to the civilian side and because I was told point blank by Riverside Sheriffs Dept in 2010 that I would best distinguish myself (if I wanted to become a LEO) by having a clean military background, a security clearance and not having PTSD. Am I less of a soldier because I didn't sign up specifically to kill enemies of our country?

Im no pacifist. I personally believe we should just ethnically cleanse any country or organization that messes with us and their kids, long lost cousins, their dogs and goats...etc. Its the only way to make sure theres nobody left to seek vengeance against us. But I didn't join the Army because of this belief. I developed this belief during deployment

I didn't mention Iraq or Afghanistan and neither did Sunday, I said what I did because he made a broad generalization about the military and wanted to offer an alternative example of why people join, obviously there are many reasons.

Sunday is still a POS who thinks you're an idiot for joining the military.

[anthonyca]

Unless you are a crossfit athlete, martial arts competitor, or some other person who is beyond even "good shape" by civilian standards leave it to the young guys. It isn't necessarily a drive or will thing it is simply that boot camp tends ti be a beat down on your body and at 33 your body will not recover as fast. Your feet probably aren't ready for marching, exercising, and training in combat boots all day. You will likely get some kind of major cold or flu while living in close quarters of the barracks. All these things are tough to deal with at over 30 compared to 20. We had several cops/fire fighter and prior 30+ guys in our BCT company, all left with broken backs and knees despite being very motivated and good soldiers.

Basic Training is not hard at all. There are girls in the same training companies they almost all pass. Anyone in average shape can make it and the standards are adjusted to your age.

The hardest part of basic training was realizing that out military has been dumbed down to the level where any idiot can make it through and the social experiment has ruined the quality.

[ChuckDizzle]

Basic Training is not hard at all. There are girls in the same training companies they almost all pass. Anyone in average shape can make it and the standards are adjusted to your age.

The hardest part of basic training was realizing that out military has been dumbed down to the level where any idiot can make it through and the social experiment has ruined the quality.

I guess things might be different now than 15 years ago, however I didn't think it was that hard, certainly not for someone in the 18-25 range. As I mentioned it isn't very difficult, however it is hard on one's body.

He said he wanted to be some kind of door kicker, which means he's going to be OSUT 11X. No matter how many push ups he does or miles he runs he can't prepare his body for getting a serious upper respiratory infection or the many hours spent in ****ty boots after a lifetime of comfy shoes.

[Snoopy47]

...... or the many hours spent in ****ty boots after a lifetime of comfy shoes.

It took me more than a year to lose the numbness in my toes after the two months in those boots.

I even bought a pair of Danners once I hit AIT.

[AregularGuy]

Why would you want to join the services? You should have better cognitive abilities developed by now. The military is for those who haven't planned their lives out better through high school or want to develop special skills like learning aircraft skills and certain trade skills.

Ha, ha, ha! I have a baccalaureate, doctorate, fellowship training, and specialty certifications. I'm 40+ and on the cusp of being accepted into the Army reserves. I was the most fit person in my group at our physical. When we stood in our skivvies, the doctor called me out in front of the group of young men to berate them for being out of shape. My sole reason for applying/joining is to serve.

[Snoopy47]

..... the doctor called me out in front of the group of young men to berate them for being out of shape. ..........

Yea, similar for me. I participated in an APFT at my recruiter's station prior to shipping (I didn't have to, but it helped his participation numbers), and I recall doing the most push ups (a 38 at the time)

Then two things while at MEPS one kid started arguing with the doctor about how he got some scars he had, and it resulted in him being black listed for all services.

Then another kid I was standing right behind in the check in line complained to the Master SGT at the desk that he was tired because it was so early. The MSG then proceeded to flip out on him. Fun morning.