Guard, Reserve raise recruiting age

[Farslayer]

Hmmm...maybe I'm really not too old:

Guard, Reserve raise recruiting age
By Tom Squitieri, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Battered by an unusually tough recruiting season, the Army has raised the maximum age for recruits for the National Guard and the Army Reserve by five years, from the current 34 years old to 39. The change, which went into effect Friday, gives the Army access to another 22.6 million potential enlistees.
The change for the Army Guard and Reserve does not affect recruits for the active-duty Army, the Marines, the Navy or the Air Force, all of whom must still be no older than 34. Recruits for all branches must be at least 17 to sign up.

The Army and the Marines have both encountered setbacks in the current recruiting year, but the Army's two "part-time" branches have suffered the worst shortfalls. As of the end of February, five months into the October-September recruiting year, the Army Reserve was more than 10% behind its 2005 recruiting target, and the National Guard was 24% behind its target, Pentagon figures show.

Recruiting has been depressed by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and by yearlong combat call-ups for part-time Guard members and reservists, who usually drill one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer in peacetime.

"We anticipate that recruiting challenges will continue in 2005," Charles Abell, deputy undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, told Congress recently.

"Experience has shown that older recruits who can meet the physical demands of military service generally make excellent soldiers based on their maturity, motivation, loyalty and patriotism," an Army statement said.

The change applies to men and women with no prior military service who want to enlist in the Army Guard or Reserve. The military accepts older recruits with prior service, and the Army has recalled some former troops in their 50s and 60s for certain specialty jobs.

Loren Thompson, a defense analyst at the Lexington Institute, an Arlington, Va., think tank, says the change is "long overdue" because the military has been so thinly stretched by major deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Warfare has become more suitable for middle-age troops, he says. "Hand-to-hand combat is not a common thing today."

About 45% of the 149,000 U.S. forces in Iraq are part-time troops, Pentagon figures show.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington ... uits_x.htm[/quote]

I'm still pretty good at Airsoft "hand to hand" combat!!

[delta_echo]

Well, in the seven-day war, Israel successfully deployed men in their 60's to do various jobs. 39 can be pushing it for some guys, but I think it was a good move on the military's part.

[Reaver]

Well, in the seven-day war, Israel successfully deployed men in their 60's to do various jobs. 39 can be pushing it for some guys, but I think it was a good move on the military's part.

  Even the Navy has been known to make exceptions.  They've taken ex-hospital corpsman back in up to age 36-40 depending on the need.  It's not suprising that the Army made this move.

[RickEJ6]

The is a 69 year old Soldier in Iraq right now.  Hes an eye surgeon, but hes a sworn in US Army Soldier.

[-Wraith-]

I remeber reading an article in Time magazine about a man who died over in Iraq, he was in his 50s and getting ready to retire, when the convoy he was leading was attacked by a roadside bomb.

Just putting the idea out there, he was a driver so I guess they make exceptions for those who aren't doing exactly frontline work.

[busta_cap]

There are 50 year old men that could kick your ass and mine in just about any physical and mental activity. That said, most retired officers go into some security line of duty if they were with a specialized group. They make more money after getting out of the service than when they were serving with the knowledge they gained while they were in

[-Wraith-]

I was in no way disrespecting the older recruits, I was just sharing a story. And you don't join the military for the pay = /

[gixser13]

Let me ask you a Question, Would you rather have 17-18 year kids who have no direction join the servise cause they are pretty much loosers(Not talking about any of you guys but 75% of the younger guys join up just to get away from home)
Or a middle aged man Who tasted life and made a decision to give up his life stye to defend our great counrty

I know theres exceptions  to both sides


I would rather Enlist then have my son go!


oops typos :roll:

[azsarge]

Let me ask you a Question, Would you rather have 17-18 year kids who have no direction join the servise cause they are pretty much loosers(Not talking about any of you guys but 75% of the younger guys join up just to get away from home)
Or a middle aged man Who tasted life and made a decision to give up his life stye to defend our great counrty

I know there excepts to both sides


I would rather Enlist then have my son go!

Good point, Dave!  It's easier to go, then to send someone else, especially if it's your child.  

I will say that in Basic and AIT I ran into alot of the kind of guys you talk about.  Late 20's and thirty-somethings with a wife and kids that watch the war on TV and decide to do something about it.  I applaud them!  While alot of guys DO join up to get away, the percentage is not as high as 75%.  In fact, I'd say it's more like 10% from what I've seen.  Some guys get in trouble, and go from job to job so they join up as a means to straighten up and serve their country.  I see nothing wrong with that, and they are by no means any less of a soldier than someone like me who has planned on joining since I was a kid.

After all, that's what makes this all-volunteer military so great - guys from every walk of life working together to defend what they love.  I for one would love nothing more than to simply take my freedom for granted.  What these older guys are doing, however, is just the opposite - fighting to keep what they know and love!

[delta_echo]

Let me ask you a Question, Would you rather have 17-18 year kids who have no direction join the servise cause they are pretty much loosers(Not talking about any of you guys but 75% of the younger guys join up just to get away from home)
Or a middle aged man Who tasted life and made a decision to give up his life stye to defend our great counrty

While I agree with your statement in principle, it is definitely not the case for everyone. I've seen both sides: the 18-year old kid who was sick of school so he joined the military as well as a friend of the same age who joined out of not only tradition, but a deep feeling that it was his time to give back something to his country. I've also seen a 34 year old guy who joined the military after he lost his job and his wife divorced him in a desperate attempt to find someplace emotionally "safe". I'd agree that your post is MOSTLY true, but there are definitely many exceptions.

[RickEJ6]

SFC Hooten our NCOIC up here at Embry Riddle was told by a judge that he could either join the Army or go to jail.  Needless to say he has become one of the coolest men I have ever met in my life.  He was with the 82nd in Desert Storm and in Panama, and is now retiring next year after a successful career.  So just cause they go in on bad terms, doesnt mean its gonna stay that way.

[Airsofter1]

...
I will say that in Basic and AIT I ran into alot of the kind of guys you talk about.  Late 20's and thirty-somethings with a wife and kids that watch the war on TV and decide to do something about it.  I applaud them!  While alot of guys DO join up to get away, the percentage is not as high as 75%.  In fact, I'd say it's more like 10% from what I've seen...

If you went to Ft. Benning you would see that 75% that Dave speaks of.  Remember, when you score really low on the initial test the only MOS you can pick is infantry.  And Ft. Benning is home of the ITB so thats where they all go for training.  When I was there, I saw a big gap in intelligence between the dumbest smart guy and the smartest idiot.  And there was quite a few more of the latter and most of them were young, around 18yo, without much direction or motivation in life.

[azsarge]

Then I guess the required GT score of 110 or higher for aviation is for a reason .  It's hard for me to imagine guys dumber than some of what I saw in VA, but I'll take your word for it.  

[Firehead]

Well, I joined the service for various reasons. Here are a few: 1.) Both of my parents have served(one still serving) 2.) I believe it is every citizens duty to give a few years to their country 3.) Its something I have always been interested in(the military lifestyle that is).

I enlisted as an 11B, so I will be going to Ft. Benning for Basic and AIT. I don't know what you guys really know about the modern "kid" soldier, but I've had the chance to work with em. They really aren't that bad. I think the "kid" soldier has changed alot over the years. Most of them aren't stupid(just a few).

[Airsofter1]

It's hard for me to imagine guys dumber than some of what I saw in VA, but I'll take your word for it.

Oh, their out there... we even have some in our own backyard...