anyone join Navy/Army at "advanced" age

Has anyone here joined the Military (Navy more specifically) at an "advanced" age? I'm about to turn 31 and have been seriously contemplating joining. I'm 99% sure, assuming I pass the physical tests and I know I need to get some things off my credit report to make sure I can qualify for clearance.

I've worked 12 years in IT, Desktop/Server Administration. I've spent the last 6 years in school, but balancing full time work, full time school, wife, and kids has been troublesome. I started out with mechanical engineering, but Differential Equations and myself just can't get along. I made a detour in geology, and then decided to stick with IT, which I have an aptitude for.

But moving from College of Engineering/Science to College of Business hurt and I need a bunch of classes to finish, I'm done with my core but have alot of hours left since switching my major.

My plan is go in 4 years, do what education and certifications I can get while in, get out and use Post 9/11 GI Bill to finish last two years (or whatever I have left after the courses I take while in the service) full time w/out working full time. I'd expect to have a Secret (or maybe higher, I'm unsure) clearance which only increases my value as in employee, especially here in San Antonio (if we were to come back).

My wife is fully on board, my kids (9 & 7) haven't been told yet, and won't until after everything is cleared and ready to go.

Any advice? I know GRM is a diverse group. Thanks yall!

also curious. no kids or wife, tho...

I worked with several older fellas throughout my time in the Military. The biggest thing I saw holding guys around your age back, physical health. If you're in decent shape, and can pass they MEPS PT test you'll be fine. Also, if you are planning on going in, try to scrap the "Hey I'm older than you" attitude. A lot of guys have it, and it will only get you in trouble, especially in basic. Yes, you will be getting yelled at by people younger than you. Deal with it.

Aside from that, older guys are able to weather the storms better. Just don't be that guy, "I'm 32 years old, blah blah blah I'm to adult for this E36 M3".

So as long as you can hack it physically, you got a few things going for you by being older. Good luck!

Colonel Kurtz went through Airborne training when he was 38 yrs old. The next oldest cadet was 19.

I'm not bad physically, 5'11/180lbs, I figure I'll work on getting into shape for a few months and then be OK.

I've been pretty sedentary for the last decade, but I think I should shape up pretty quick.

Thanks for the reply.

I have a good friend that joined the Army 6 years ago at the age of 34. He is now a pathfinder in the 82nd Airborne Division. He has a masters degree and had to deal with a little bit of attitude from others at first. He enjoys the military life and had me nearly talked into signing up.

I was 18 when I went to boot camp in 1987. We had two guys in their 30's in my company. (Company 278 Color Company by the way)

The were treated just like everyone else. In the fleet the older guys get a little more respect an leeway when it comes to assignments. No big deal really.

I enjoyed my 7 years, I don't regret any of it.

I've considered the same thing as well- mostly because I'm bored with office life. However, there is no way in HELL I'd pass the physical test- I've blown too many joints for that.

In reply to mndsm:

Blown too many joints? My mind is racing back and forth between two possibilities that might keep you out of the military.

Your plans for what to do with your GI benefits sounds well thought out. Good use of them.

Now, go talk to a recruiter about what your personal prospects look like. Specifically, what rank you could go in as, and what strikers (Navy talk) that you can get a guarantee for. You'll likely need to take the aptitude test to get good answers to these questions.

Take no ones word for anything. The only thing that counts is what is written in your enlistment contract.

Take that to heart. I was guy the new recruits would report to on my ship. I saw lots of tears and broken hearts because of what was not in an enlistment contract. I'm sorry the recruiter told you that you would be coming in as a petty officer, but that contract says you're an E-1 recruit, with no A-school guarantee. Here's a mop, start swabbing the deck.

Equally, I saw some amazing things in some enlistment contracts. Custom lengths of service time, monetary awards, living arrangements, etc.

If you have something to offer that the military wants, they will negotiate the terms of an enlistment contract with you. The more they want you, the more they will negotiate. So negotiate the heck out of your enlistement contract. Get it right, because they won't re-negotiate once you're in.

I wish soooo bad that I could enlist...even at 30, I would love to serve. A 9 inch scar across my abdomen is really hard to hide though(believe me I tried), and the military usually wants you to have all the kidneys god gave you. That and a titanium femur insert and Uncle Sam says thanks but no thanks

Good luck and thanks to those who do or have served!

Otto_Maddox wrote: In reply to mndsm: Blown too many joints? My mind is racing back and forth between two possibilities that might keep you out of the military.

Never touched the green, if you know what I mean. I sometimes don't know any better when jumping on/off items, and break/strain/pop joints.

Never served(though looking back at 39 I wish I had), but my wife was in the Air Force for 7-years, got out then worked for the AF as a civilian for several more, then worked for the VA. Her experience was in HR, enlistments, assignments, etc. and I've heard a few constants from her:

If you don't yet have an associate degree, it sounds like you're close. Get it first. You'll start at a higher grade & have more options.

Keep in mind that with the Navy you'll be on the seas a fair amount. While you'll have assignments with any branch, I know the AF will often allow you to bring your family - if that's what you want.

Otto_Maddox wrote: In reply to mndsm: Blown too many joints? My mind is racing back and forth between two possibilities that might keep you out of the military.

Didn't you see the paper today? One of those is fine now.

It's never too late to get in shape. Especially at 31. I just turned the big 5-0, and I'm amazed at how quickly my body responds to exercise.

Drewsifer wrote: The biggest thing I saw holding guys around your age back, physical health. If you're in decent shape, and can pass they MEPS PT test you'll be fine. So as long as you can hack it physically, you got a few things going for you by being older. Good luck!

things may (odds are they have) changed since I joined (1968) but the PT in boot camp and later in the fleet was a joke... I was BK ball player and a long distance track athlete in HS ... my level of conditioning when down during boot camp..

I never served but my wife's family is mostly career Air Force. Have you considered the AF? It seems like the cushiest of the bunch. I jokingly refer to it as the Chair Force since all of them seem to be assigned to a desk. It seems to be the most family friendly of the branches.

I have been in the Army for a total of about 13 years split between Active Duty and the Ohio National Guard, just so you know where I am coming from. I too have been doing IT for the last 11 years or so and just within the last year got a job in the Army doing IT stuff.

At your age you meet the hight and weight requirements, that right there is a big plus for you. When I went through Basic there were a couple of guys that were 30 or older and they both made it. Drew made some good points, keep what he said in mind and you should be good to go.

As a 25B (that is the MOS you want, don't let the recruiter talk you into something else) you will get a Secret clearance which will go a long way on the outside, you will also get Military preference when applying for Gov jobs, a very good thing.

Your plan sounds good as long as your wife is on board, the school for 25B is like 5 months at Ft. Gordon. Another thing to consider is getting in the National Guard when you get off Active Duty. Quite a few states, not sure about Texas, pay 100% tution to a state school and you can still get your GI Bill. That is what I did, it was noce to not have to have a job in addition to going to school. Go for it, you will not regret it.

If you have any other questions let us know.

What's the age limit? I'm 33 and wish I had joined earlier in life, but it's hard to even think about now with a wife and decent career.

Army - 42 (must ship to basic training prior to 42nd birthday)

Air Force - 27

Navy - 34

Marines - 28

Coast Guard - Age 27. Note: up to age 32 for those selected to attend A-school directly upon enlistment (this is mostly for prior service).

Couple of guys I went through boot camp with were 30+, not a big deal if you drop the attitude and remember it's all a game to get you to play together as a team.

Even 15 years later if I bumped into a recruiter from Houston named Eric Taylor I'd kick him in the junk for all the lies he told me either due to not bothering to educate himself or on purpose. Don't believe anything if it's not on paper. And you don't even need the associates degree, just enough credits and you'll guarantee an advanced rank right after boot camp. Take some stock in your finances, though, because after you buy uniforms and everything your first couple of months pay will be almost nothing. I wasn't prepared for that and it took me a while to get caught back up.

Remember too that any military commitment is for 8 years, and includes inactive reserve time after your initial term 'til the end of that 8 years. For the Army/Marine/AF guys that turns into extensions you can't refuse. Pretty sure the canoe club isn't doing it yet. If you are smarter than average you should test for the nuclear field too; sure it's a 6-year stint but the first two years are school and there are pay incentives. Also no shortage of work when you are done, and while it may not mean anything to you now being surrounded by the "smartest" squids is appreciably different than being surrounded by any moron who got in instead of going to jail somewhere.

^^What he said^^
Be prepared for the pay starting out and it will take some time to work up to a decent grade. There are many good careers that can be obtained. How are you with electrics? BioMedical Equipment Technician is a hard field to get into because of the opportunities when you get out. And it's duty in a hospital. And be prepared that most jobs and most services (except maybe the Coast Guard) deploys to parts of the world you might not enjoy. I joined young for the same reason as why you want to - the GI Bill, and ended up staying 20 years and retiring. Did use the GI Bill though when I finally got out. I've known some that joined in their 30's, some were retreads going back in after several years out. It's all attitude. Just remember that they can only do so much and there is always a time limit then it's over. Basic is a mind game where they throw as much as they can on you to stress you out to show you that you can handle it. Have a friend that just went back in as a retread in his middle 40's as a chaplain.

wbjones wrote:

Drewsifer wrote: The biggest thing I saw holding guys around your age back, physical health. If you're in decent shape, and can pass they MEPS PT test you'll be fine. So as long as you can hack it physically, you got a few things going for you by being older. Good luck!

things may (odds are they have) changed since I joined (1968) but the PT in boot camp and later in the fleet was a joke... I was BK ball player and a long distance track athlete in HS ... my level of conditioning when down during boot camp..

Gotta remember though, most people who are 30ish, have been an "adult" for more than a decade which means not as much physical activity for most. Plus kids these days are weenies

Also, be prepared for two situations. Situation One: Being given a task WAY above your pay grade because you've got experience. Situation Two: Getting yelled at for over stepping your bounds because of your experience. It just always seems to happen to older guys.

Beware the promises. Especially Nuke school. Seemed like every deck-scrubber I knew had been promised nuclear program and didn't make it for one reason or another.

As others have said, if it ain't in writing, it don't count. And even if it is in writing, it may not count.

They asked me if I wanted to be a Navy Seal. At the time I was maybe 120 pounds soaking wet. Not exactly a tough guy. They just wanted to own my ass for six years instead of two.

Good luck.

Weight kept me from enlisting when I finished high school. I'm 26 now and have considered if I could drop the weight I'd sign up, but SWMBO REALLY doesn't like that idea, as her brother came back from Iraq in a box.

But if I did, I have 2 A.S.s at around 100 credit hours. Not enough to get me a commision, but enough for a pay rate or 2.