Posted on 03/22/2005 3:56:04 AM PST by Flavius
Missed it by seven years!
MY GOODNESS! They raised the age!
It's not like people are living longer, healthier lives these days. Nothing has changed since they instituted the age!
The only way to really fix this is to attract the right kind of soldiers, and to do the right things to keep them in. We don't do either anymore.
No?
OK then ....
I was born February 29, 1948. That makes me 14 and a quarter.
If I pre-enlist now, can I get my pick of MOS?
C'mon, Sarge ... gimme a friggin' weapon and send me over !
(What a drag it is getting ollllld.)[er]
I'm 37. Could lose a few pounds, but otherwise in good health.
Considering I fully support the President and his policies, seems like I have a duty to at least consider serving. With a 3-year enlistment, I could be back out if the Dems retake the Presidency or Congress, worse case.
Any FReepers currently in the Guard that could describe what its like? I've read the "glossy brochures" on the web site, but am interested in the reality from someone who is there or has been there recently. Dad was in just before the Vietnam war, but I suspect there have been a few changes in the intervening 40 years.
BTW, I have about a dozen years of general PC/Network/database/application administration experience, for whatever that's worth.
I agree. I retired at 38 after 20 years and I can't imagine a 39 year old in basic training keeping up with an 18 year old. Not to mention taking orders from someone young enough to be your son. There are exceptions but on the whole I think this is a bad idea. Old bones don't heal as fast as young ones.
I think the age has more to do with attaining 20 years of federal service before your 55th birthday than physical considerations. But I could be way off.
That's worthless, believe me I know. If they raise the age 4 more years than I'll enlist with you. With any luck we'll invade India and China and we can shoot the sunavabitches who replaced us. :-P
I haven't been replaced (yet). Although most of my experience is in smaller companies where one has to have a broader base of knowledge to be successful, as opposed to larger companies where depth of knowledge is more important, but also makes you more replaceable (although I'm under no illusions that I'm somehow immune to being outsourced).
The downside is I don't have the management opportunities a larger company would have because I typically run a very small shop augmented by occassional third-party assistance.
The complexity and specialization of the jobs have changed. The sky is not falling.
I think that would be the tougher part of it. Theres a percentage of 40 year olds that can perform like they were 20, but everyone of them will have to seriously psych themselves into working for 20 year old authoritarians.
Imagine a young troop putting a 40 year old at attention and screaming at him when his barracks doesn't pass inspection.
If I understand the purpose of that correctly, its to tear down the identity of recruits so that it can be rebuilt as part of the team. If its possible to do to a 40yo, it wont be done through screaming. I dont think it would be hard to tear down a 40y/o with other forms of belittlement, but like someone else said, 40yo bones dont heal as quick. I dont know if many would spring back.
40yos won't get any special treatment because of their age. They will be treated like others of their rank.
Most 40 year olds will be laughing inside when screamed at. A smart DI will find other ways to rip him down.
We need to raise the mininum age to 21 since 18 yearolds can't be trusted to drink.
As long as that doesnt mean I dont have to stop cheating on my wife with teeny boppers.
"It's a shame that the military didn't fix retention at the right end, and instead is just looking to pull more people off the streets "
They should have treated us better. Now they know. During the RIFs many vets were treated like garbage while at the same time many were kept in just to keep the rainbow pretty. Go find the REFers and make them patrol!
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