age limit to serve

[servemycountry2]

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I am 44 years young, hold a Bachelors degree, and a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. I am aware of the shortage in the Military. Trying to enlist is not an option because of the age limit. I just want to serve my country, and greatly feel that I am being held back due to my age. The military should raise the age.

[g-head]

I agree. If an idividual is in superior physical condition with high ambitions it should be up to the recruiter to allow any age. I know some guys in their 50's that can run circles around me. :o

[andrew.tischner]

ok Coast Guard Auxiliary? is that a part of the coast guard like reserves? did you enlist into it? Again the age was just increased to 41, 364 days, an increase of 2 years. Im sorry you feel that way but the army cannot just enlist a whole bunch of Non prior service that are over 40, it does not make sense in the whole realm of things.
Sorry I do not think the army or the army national guard will increase the age any higher anytime soon.

[servemycountry2]

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a civilian volunteer, non-police, and non-paid part of the Coast Guard.

When you mentioned that it doesn't make sense to let people in their 40's enlist, are you saying that we are not fit nor intelligent enough to learn how to fight or to serve our country? That is crazy! Stength comes in numbers, not age. I heard that there is not enough young ones who want to enlist. So the troops are getting smaller and smaller. One day you will be under attack and out numbered, then what will you do? :confused:

[Lwolfnky]

I am 31 years old and am looking at the possibility of joining the guard. My current boss is in the Army Reserves and is pushing that I look there for an opportunity. He is a full bird Col. What benefits are there in the Guard as opposed to the Reserves??

How can I help convince my wife that this is a good choice for me??

Thanks again!!

[g-head]

[QUOTE=servemycountry2].

When you mentioned that it doesn't make sense to let people in their 40's enlist, are you saying that we are not fit nor intelligent enough to learn how to fight or to serve our country? That is crazy! Stength comes in numbers, not age. I heard that there is not enough young ones who want to enlist. So the troops are getting smaller and smaller. One day you will be under attack and out numbered, then what will you do? :confused:[/QUOTE]


I don't think he was trying to be offensive. I think he meant that it wouldn't make sense because if you enlist a 40 something year old then they would have to pass up a younger recruit to make room.

[andrew.tischner]

The "sense" part is this, or how i think, lets just say they push the age to 45, now you enlist into the ARNG, lets just say you dont have college now you are a 45 year old private E-1. To get a full 20 years you would have to serve to 65... hold up though see you cannot stay in the military to age 65. 62 is the max age. So to get a full pension you wouldnt be able to stay. Thats why I personaly think its unpratacle. As a recruiter do i wish it was raised ? Sure there are plenty of older men and woman that want to serve now at 40 plus. But all in all the age limit is 41 and 364 days, and i have learned from my short stint in the military, it does not matter how much you might want something the army just does not like change.

[servemycountry2]

[QUOTE=Lwolfnky]I am 31 years old and am looking at the possibility of joining the guard. My current boss is in the Army Reserves and is pushing that I look there for an opportunity. He is a full bird Col. What benefits are there in the Guard as opposed to the Reserves??

How can I help convince my wife that this is a good choice for me??

Thanks again!![/QUOTE]

Since my position is volunteer, I do not receive pay nor benefits. I suggest that you call a recruiter for the answers to your questions. Maybe you should ask your wife to take part in your meetings with the recruiter, and both go over the information. Just a suggestion.

[servemycountry2]

I can see everyones point. I also feel that a younger recruit should not be turned down, we should be used as back-up. For my understanding is that the recruitement centers are having a difficult time to get younger people to enlist. I also see that this war is getting larger, and we only have so many troops to go around.

[andrew.tischner]

Again the point is the age limit is not going to get raised again anytime soon. A 19 year old infantry soldier will on MOST cases out preform, out move, out run, out last a 45 year old. It is fact. The army cannot make a 1 by 1 judgement per person. I cannot talk for the army or what they think but that is what I think they think. If that makes any sense.

[old19D]

[QUOTE=servemycountry2][SIZE="4"][FONT="Arial"][/FONT][/SIZE]
I am 44 years young, hold a Bachelors degree, and a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. [/QUOTE]

Since no one has mentioned it, did you know that the
age limit goes up if you have previous military time? So
if you were in for at least 2 years when you were a lad,
you might still be able to serve.

Just throwing it out there ...

[servemycountry2]

I understand what you are telling me, though look at the tennis player Martina Navratilova. She is almost 50, and can out perform tennis players half her age or better on the court. How about the kids/teenagers that only know how to move their fingers on their video games and are overweight? It is too bad that our country's Government is against age discrimination only when it comes to civilian jobs, and it is different when it comes to the military. I think the Government needs to read its history books about how the US was started. Do you think that all the militia and minutemen where 40 and under [not]? The main thing is we won the war against the British and the United States was born. I feel that this is the main objective, and the age game is very petty.

[servemycountry2]

Just wanted to share an ecylopedia quote for age limit for militia:

The Militia Act of 1792 clarified whom the militia consists of; " Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, [B][U][I]who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted)[/I][/U][/B] shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, by the Captain or Commanding Officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside, and that within twelve months after the passing of this Act."(Wikipedia, pg1, 3).

Back in 1792, at least the Government had faith in a 44 year old.

[matthew.ritchie]

Don't take the age limit as a personal insult. There are several demographic reasons why the military has set age limits.

[servemycountry2]

I would be very interested in learning what those demographics are. I am not insulted about my age, I am just trying to represent to 40+ year olds that truly care and want to do something to protect our country and its citizens.

[matthew.ritchie]

These limits aren't about you personally, they are about population demographics. While you personally may be fit as a 20 year old, most over 40 folks aren't. As the average person ages, past age 40 a host of physical aliments and predispositions to ailments arise -- arthritis, macular degeneration, reduced cognitive speed, etc. From a strategic standpoint, it's a big risk to start someone in their military career at age 40+, when they face the most physically challenging part of their career. This sets up a host of medical and retirement liability issues, saddling future taxpayers with burdens to pay for the damage done to these older Soldiers. I'm vastly simplifying the situation, of course, but I hope you get the picture.

[servemycountry2]

I understand, though not all of us have those ailments. Besides most ailments do not arise till 50 or 60+. I guess when you become 40, then you better quit because you will become a very big burden to us tax payers (I am also one of those tax payers). Besides, some of those ailments can also arise in someone 20 and 30 years of age. Example: Arthritis can set into an area that has previously been injured at any age, and reduces cognitive speed as well.

Macular degeneration: "AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older." (National Eye Institute, pg1, p2)

[andrew.tischner]

OK
servemycountry2

It seems to me that you are failing to see the point that i stated before, Yes there are many medical and physical things that happen to 40 year + people. Larger risk for these medical conditions, Larger liability, and the army will never do it on a per person basis over the age of 42, and if they increase the age past 42, which i do not see ever happening, then they do. You are trying to make an argument with people here that have no say in the regulations. The highest person that responds here is a Major when the people that decide this kind of regulations are 2 star or 3 star generals.

And I stated before why i do not see the them raising the age is because of forced retirement. You cannot stay in the military as a Enlisted Personal after the age of 62. That is fact , and regulation. That is the reason you must enter basic training before your 42nd birthday, so if the person does so choose he/she can do 20 years up to 62. someone that is 42 and 1 day cannot.

This is not age discrimitation, but the quote that you put in is discrimatory.

That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States,

We as the United states has evolved, we do now accept female and all other races that are not white.

Please Understand that you getting angry and upset at this will not help any situation. Insulting the government will not help. The age limit is 41 and 364 days. That is regulation and that is final. I am sorry that you cannot join.

[servemycountry2]

The only person that is getting very insulting is you. I hold very high regard for the United States, its government and the military. My father is also a highly decorated officer of the army. You better consider quitting when you turn 40+ so that you are not a large burden on us tax payers too. Before you start practicing medicine, I suggest you becom an MD first.

I get the point, though I do not have to agree with your opinions, and they are just that. Remember all it takes is one signature by the commander and chief.

[Rhughes]

I can understand your frustration with wanting to serve but I also understand the military's position. I am in my early forties luckily I am prior service and I am in better shape than I was when I was in my twenties but I have some health issues which most 20 somethings don't have so as I try and come back to serve I have to get 2 waviers. If they do not have a cut off it opens up a whole can of worms. And to boot I don't know a whole lot of late 30's or early 40's who can handle combat like a younger person. I know there a a lot who can but these are the exception not the rule.

You want to get mad at the government for age discrimination at least the military is willing to bump the max age up the Fed's refuse to look at any over 37 for Law Enforcement so it is not just with the military.

[WIBecky74]

I think I saw a question back there. What is the age limit for re enlisting. I'm just about 32, female in Wisconsin. Havent signed yet, being very thorough and asking tons of questions. This may differ state to state, but my boyfriend went with me to check out drill last weekend. He is a Vet. Four years in. Is 37. My Recruiter said the Guards would consider him 33 years old, 37 minus his four years of service. Like I said, might be a local thing, not sure if its Nation wide.
-Becky

[jules]

Just a couple of days ago I was told the National Guard would take prior service people up to the age of 52 - this came from a recruiter.

If social security can raise the age to be allowed to collect benifits, the military can raise the retirement age. They really should match anyway.

By the way, it is a medical fact that as people age, they get stronger, maybe not faster, but who can out run a bullet. Muscles get tougher with age and so do people. Older people have more to fight for; children, grandchildren, freedom, etc - they know more about what it is all about.

I believe we need older people and their experience and wisdom to guide the youngsters. Lets get our numbers up and be able to defend ourselves!

[TRUEBLUE4LIFE]

[COLOR="Blue"]If it were up to me..your in. I think the age limit is 42.. but check with the recruiters here on the boards. They know for sure.[/COLOR]

[Amazon]

What are the criteria for age limit waivers? I am 42 (female and single), in perfect health and three months away from graduation with a Masters in Global Management. I was born and raised in Germany and speak Germany fluently still. 20 years of finance and business management experience.

Wonder - is there a place for me in ANY of the services?

Feel free to email me.

G

[Jeff Chambliss]

Some of us are too old to run, so I guess we'd have to stand and fight. Maybe the military could use more old fellows. My Dad always said the old folks would have to fight if we went back to war. Now looks like we've got to fight the whole world, you'd think our government would be glad to get all the help it can get.