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Maximum age for joining the army

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I was told that unless you have prior service in the military, 33 is the maximum enlistment age. Go to goarmy.com and ask, that is what I did when I was curious!
 
32 Air Force. Even with prior experience. If they are in need of people then they will go to their waiting lists.

Army, Marines I don't know.

Right now the Army and the Navy (well, Navy could have brought up their numbers) are very much in need for people. Here's a little secret, if a arm of the military is playing many, many commercials on TV, they are in need and will bend the rules abit. Right now, it's the Army.


Wayne
 
When I was in basic in 2000 there was a 34 year old in my platoon. He was older than everyone by atleast 7 years but he could out run all but one person in our company.
 
I think if you are prior service you can still go guard/reserve even into your 40's. Thanks for at least trying to serve. :)
 
I think if you are prior service you can still go guard/reserve even into your 40's. Thanks for at least trying to serve.
Click to expand...

A friend of mine did that. He served years ago, and just recently joined the guard.
 
34......wife went through Navy basic at the ripe old age of 29. They made her the leader of her little group...I think they call it a boat....and the other girls in the group called her "Granny" :D
 
I've got 3 years, 5 months in the Active Army. Then 4 years and 7 months in the Active Army Reserves. So that's eight years as far as the Reserve or Guard is concerned. I'm 43. The Reserves say I'm too old to come back. But the Guard is much more willing to take us old farts. The local recruiter told me it basically comes down to "you have to be able to retire at 65 with 20 years." So 65 minus 20 equals 45. I already have 8 years so I could join the Guard as late as 52. As the guy said, "I would do it earlier rather than later. It's not going to be that much fun to 'soldier on' when you are in your 60's!"

I keep thinking about it but I haven't quite been able to get past all the horror stories lately about people in the Guard getting totally screwed. I'm a little reluctant to put my family in that situation. I left the Army as an E-5 and the Reserves as an E-6. The Guard guy said they could bring me back in as an E-6 so at least I wouldn't be starting at the bottom again!

Gregg
 
The age limits of the services are all by regulation not public law. Like everything in the military it's waiverable if they want you bad enough.
By DoDR, regulars have to retire by age 55, Guard 65, haven't got a clue about the preserves.

Medical SVS folks, docs and nurses can stay till 65.
Generals forever.

Sam
 
During WWII, I read some where the draft age limit was 45. In Vietnam the cut off for the draft was 26. A future age cut off is anybody's guess. :eek:
 
What skills do you have and how bad do you want to go?

With the right combo you can be 60+!

Even if you don't have hard skills it never hurts to ask and then tell the recruiter to keep you in mind if things change. (They will change!)

If you have any medical/legal/religous background it will be different since they are their own branches within the Army. Find a JAG/CHAP/AMEDD recruiter if that is your case.

Be careful what you ask for though.
 
Can anybody confirm the 45 YO Guard limit.

I tried to go reserve just before and just after the first Gulf War got rejected due to knee problems.

It's been fixed now but I thought I was to old at 42. Although my BIL did offer to help get me into LE

My Army career was left unfinished and I would like to close things out
 
There are no hard answers.

Depends on skills, past service, any other factors.

If you really want to do it don't take no for an answer. Call another recruiter, he may be harder up to fill his numbers. Also, the medical guys and others are on a different system, don't count them out if you have the skills, or if you meet the scores.

I served with a COL who had a birth defect in his right arm. He went back time and time again during Vietnam with the requirements in hand. In the end he was allowed to join and served a full 30 year career.

I went through basic years ago with a guy who had 11 years in, a Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars and a ton of other stuff from Vietnam. He was way past the age limit, but who was going to turn him away?!?!

It is not a lost hope. PM me is you want to.
 
As stated previously, if you have special skills, age limits can be waivered.

Currently the most needed skill is certain languages for the MOS 09L, Combat Translator. Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Kurdish, and various other languages from that part of the world.

I had a 41 y/o 09L gradaute from basic training in my company here at Ft Jackson a couple months ago.
 
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