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April 28, 2004

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Rae has a letter from a Marine Major that counts as important reading for all of us.

The idea of joining up is becoming a thought that I'm having a hard time getting out of my head.

Posted by zombyboy at April 28, 2004 12:10 AM | TrackBack
Comments

Me too, but aren't we too old?

Posted by: Patrick at April 28, 2004 09:55 AM

I'm not positive. If not, we're getting awfully close to that line.

Posted by: zombyboy at April 28, 2004 10:18 AM

I believe that the cutoff is 35. This might be for finishing boot camp, however, and not for enlisting. If this is the case, then you, Z, still have a little more time.

Posted by: StumpJumper at April 28, 2004 10:24 AM

R seriously considered re-enlisting a few years ago, and I think that was when he was 33 or 34 (he's a delicious 40 this year)? I think the services may have different age cut-offs. R commented on that post and he is so honest in it- since he has experienced the brotherhood of the Corps and the unity it brings when you are taking bullets together, it really does pain him that he isn't part of what is going on right now.

Posted by: Rae at April 28, 2004 11:22 AM

SJ is right, as far as I know, and at least for the Navy.

If I could have stayed in or gone back in, I would have in half a heartbeat.

Posted by: Deb at April 28, 2004 11:58 AM

There are different cut-off points for the different services, and different cut-off points for whether you want to enlist or be commissioned. Then there are different requirements whether you want to be active duty or reserves (with the reserves being a little less stringent in requirement). Finally, nearly every cut-off is waiverable to age 35. I know for a fact that the Air Force will let you be commissioned up to (but not including) age 35...but that they usually only allow that for people with prior military service, the normal cut-off without a waiver being age 30 or 31.
But it never hurts to ask.
Heck, go talk to some recruiters. Nearly every decent-sized city has one officer recruiter, which is what I'd recommend.
The problem is, even if you signed up (or turned in an application for commissioning) today, you probably wouldn't be serving with an actual military unit for nearly 2 years. First, you have the delay from your acceptance until your initial training course. Then you have the initial training course (boot camp/basic training/officer school) that can last up to 3 months. Then you have your technical/job/specialty training, which can be up to a year in length. More if you are an enlisted linguist. This could all be over by the time you'd be ready to go.
But it's worth considering if you want to make a change in life...particularly the reserves, because then you don't have to leave your civilian life unless we really need you. Citizen Smash demonstrates the high quality of our reserve officers, and we could always use more.

Go for it! Email me offline if you (or anyone contemplating making that move) have any specific questions or concerns. I was enlisted in the Army, worked for the Navy, had Marine co-workers, and am an Air Force officer now, so I can answer most "what's it like?" questions with some good info.

Posted by: nathan at April 28, 2004 12:30 PM

Maybe this will push ZB over the edge. Dunno if there's a Denver chapter, though.

Posted by: jed at April 29, 2004 06:36 PM
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