Join the National Guard...me?

[muskie]

I am a 35 y/o male in excellent physical health and I also have an associates degree in criminal justice. I am married and have a 9 y/o daughter. I am contemplating, or more or less, toying with the idea of joining the National Guard. Am I crazy? I know a lot about the military, basic training, weapons etc..but have a few questions. Am I too old to join? What, if anything, would my degree do if I did join? And again, am I crazy for thinking this? Thanks.

[Samber]

No, you are not too old. You have until you are 42.
No, you are not crazy.
As for the degree, I am not sure, but you might be able to come in at a higher rank because of the college credits.

[cspafford]

I am a 35 y/o male in excellent physical health and I also have an associates degree in criminal justice. I am married and have a 9 y/o daughter. I am contemplating, or more or less, toying with the idea of joining the National Guard. Am I crazy? I know a lot about the military, basic training, weapons etc..but have a few questions. Am I too old to join? What, if anything, would my degree do if I did join? And again, am I crazy for thinking this? Thanks.
Non-prior service can enlist with a college degree at up to an E-4 grade. It all depends on the number of credits you have with your degree, and if it's from an accredited college or university (sorry, the "life-experience" degrees don't cut it... :-)

I'm 38 y/o and enlisting at an E-3 grade, but I don't have any college under my belt.


Thanks,

Chuck Spafford
http://www.mdang.net

[Weist]

What will the Basic Training be like. IM currently in High School. Im working out everyday so that i will be fit for The guard. But also if the war is still going by the time i get out High School do u think i will see action. But also. I ahve another question. I want to see action but. I carry on the family name and blood although i have a brother he is not from my dad hes from a different person. can i see action because my uncle told me i would nvr.

[thissith]

GO FOR IT !!!

I will be 38 by the time I go to BCT in Feb. I have been going to RSP since June. I had smoked for 20yrs and had blown up to 236 lbs. before joining the National Guard, but now I can pass all the physical requirements (ie. push-ups sit-up, running). You can do it too. I had people tell me I was crazy but they were all non-service civillians. Everyone I talke dto that was prior service all had the same opinion, "It will be the bets thing to ever happen to you." Find whatever it was inside you that made you think about to begin with and hang on to and go.

Good Luck.

[cspafford]

GO FOR IT !!!

I will be 38 by the time I go to BCT in Feb. I have been going to RSP since June. I had smoked for 20yrs and had blown up to 236 lbs. before joining the National Guard, but now I can pass all the physical requirements (ie. push-ups sit-up, running). You can do it too. I had people tell me I was crazy but they were all non-service civillians. Everyone I talke dto that was prior service all had the same opinion, "It will be the bets thing to ever happen to you." Find whatever it was inside you that made you think about to begin with and hang on to and go.

Good Luck.


Where are you going to BCT? I'll get my ship date tomorrow for Ft. Leonard Wood. I'd like the first week of Feb., but who knows.

[RSP Instructor]

What will the Basic Training be like. IM currently in High School. Im working out everyday so that i will be fit for The guard. But also if the war is still going by the time i get out High School do u think i will see action. But also. I ahve another question. I want to see action but. I carry on the family name and blood although i have a brother he is not from my dad hes from a different person. can i see action because my uncle told me i would nvr.

Basic training, while you are there, is going to feel like it is never going to end. It may **** while you're there, but once you're out, you'll want to go back. It was fun and exciting, and one of the best experiences of my life.

If you want to go fight, you will have the opportunity to go. From what I have seen, being the last person to carry on the family name does not disqualify you from being deployable, it only let's you have the option of not going if you don't want to. Remember, you can do what you want with your army career.

[WIBecky74]

Thissith,

It looks like you will have had about eight-ten months of RSP drill? I enlisted on the 13th of this October, and choose to not go to bct until about 01 Sept '07. I had to pick an aprox. date beforehand, and at MEPS, got the 5th of Sept. That will give me ten RSP drills. Do you have any regrets of waiting so long? I've had alot of people since, question me about it. I also smoked a pack a day, for fourteen years. Began working out hard a few months before MEPS. I'm not overweight, but I will turn 33 during basic. I just really wanted to give myself the best chance. Be as prepared as I can be. I figure with learning so much in RSP, along with personal PT time, I am doing everything I can to prepare myself to succeed. Just curious of your experience so far. Good or bad. Any regrets for waiting so long?

Thank you,
Becky

[pritchard]

Associates will get you E3 and you are NOT to old as you can see by other postings. I've been Recruiting for the Guard about 8 years and I've seen allot of young and old come through. I find that my older applicants have different challenges of course, however you will probably not have the drama that comes with being young :)

This is a tangible way to show your child what service to country and community is. My 2 daughters don't know any different. The look at me like this is what all moms do and I like that. I don't want them to grow up thinking serving is something special, it is something we all should feel a calling to do. In whatever capacity we fit into.

[MaineLawyer]

Basic training, while you are there, is going to feel like it is never going to end. It may **** while you're there, but once you're out, you'll want to go back. It was fun and exciting, and one of the best experiences of my life.

If you want to go fight, you will have the opportunity to go. From what I have seen, being the last person to carry on the family name does not disqualify you from being deployable, it only let's you have the option of not going if you don't want to. Remember, you can do what you want with your army career.

Having been through BCT, PLDC, BNCOC and ANCOC, I can tell you that I have never wanted to repeat any of them. Once you learn what you need to learn, you will want to move on and learn the next thing. I think most will be looking for the next rung on the ladder and not to retrace their steps at the beginning.

As I remember Basic, it was long, hard and worth it. It is the first step on the path to becoming a soldier and a leader. Good luck

[happyrob]

You are not too old. If you want to join and serve then go for it man. You can do it. I plan on enlisting and I'am 34 and I will be 35 in April. I have been in PT classes at the community college where I work. It was not that bad at all to me. I was able to keep up with guys in that class that were 19-25. I have the confidence to do it and so do you. You just have to be committed to it all the way through. I know that I can do it and so can you. If you have to train for it then go for it it will only help you in the future. Go for it man.
HOOAH!:) :)

[cspafford]

You are not too old. If you want to join and serve then go for it man. You can do it. I plan on enlisting and I'am 34 and I will be 35 in April. I have been in PT classes at the community college where I work. It was not that bad at all to me. I was able to keep up with guys in that class that were 19-25. I have the confidence to do it and so do you. You just have to be committed to it all the way through. I know that I can do it and so can you. If you have to train for it then go for it it will only help you in the future. Go for it man.
HOOAH!:) :)


I enlisted at the age of 38 and love it. Some of the younger warriors look up to since I'm more mature and I know my stuff. I've helped quite a few of them at SRB drills with their general orders and core values. I know drill and ceremony, so I helped them with facing maneuvers, as well.

Bieng older has its advantages. You are more focused, more dedicated, and more motivated to do the best job you can. I've changed some attitudes of the younger warriors, as well. They didn't seem to get the concept of the National Guard, and once I explained it to them, they got it. Once they saw an "old guy" able to do more push-ups than the younger guys, they tried harder to be able to beat me. Most of them couldn't, but they tried harder. If it makes them do better on their PT test, then it's all worth it.

No matter your age, you are capable of serving your country. Being older will give you the advantage of maturity.

Drop me an e-mail at cspafford@marylandguard.net or give me a call at 1-800-464-1580 if you would like to talk more about your enlistment. Check out http://www.marylandguard.net for tons of information you need to know before you get to BCT.




-- PV1 Chuck Spafford
-- Maryland Army National Guard