Posted on 03/22/2005 3:56:04 AM PST by Flavius
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army, stung by recruiting shortfalls caused by the Iraq (news - web sites) war, has raised the maximum age for new recruits for the part-time Army Reserve and National Guard by five years to 39, officials said on Monday.
The Army said the move, a three-year experiment, will add about 22 million people to the pool of those eligible to serve, from about 60 million now. Physical standards will not be relaxed for older recruits, who the Army said were valued for their maturity and patriotism.
The Pentagon (news - web sites) has relied heavily on part-time Army Reserve and Army National Guard soldiers summoned from civilian life to maintain troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan (news - web sites). Roughly 45 percent of U.S. troops currently deployed for those wars are reservists.
At home, the all-volunteer Army has labored to coax potential recruits to volunteer for the Guard and Reserve as well as for active-duty, and to persuade current soldiers to re-enlist when their volunteer commitment ends.
Maj. Elizabeth Robbins, an Army spokeswoman, said the maximum enlistment age for the regular Army will remain 34. While congressional action was not needed to raise the age for the Guard and Reserve, Robbins said, Congress must approve any change for the active-duty force.
"Raising the maximum age for non-prior service enlistment expands the recruiting pool, provides motivated individuals an opportunity to serve, and strengthens the readiness of Reserve units," the Army said in a statement.
Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said it was possible after the three-year test ends in September 2008 that the Pentagon may consider an enlistment age for Army reservists even older than 39.
RECRUITING GOALS
Recruiters say the Iraq war is making military service a harder sell, and the Army has added recruiters and financial incentives for enlistment.
The Army National Guard missed its recruiting goal for the 2004 fiscal year and trails its year-to-date 2005 targets. The Army Reserve missed January and February goals and is lagging its target for 2005. The regular Army missed its target for February and trails its annual goal.
"Obviously, this decision is being made partly in response to the personnel shortfalls caused by the war in Iraq," said defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute.
But he said U.S. life expectancy increased by 40 percent in the 20th century, adding, "The pressure of wartime has pushed the Army to make a change that may have been overdue anyway."
"Anecdotally, our recruiters have been telling us for years that we've had people who are otherwise qualified but over the age limit who have attempted to enlist," Robbins said. "There are physically fit, health-conscious individuals who can make a positive contribution to our national defense."
The Army said the policy applies to men and women, and older recruits must meet the same physical standards and pass the same medical examination as everyone else.
"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," the Army said.
Krenke said the change was first considered last fall and approved by the Pentagon last week. She said the Marines, Navy and Air Force had not requested a similar change.
The Army Reserve is made up of federal soldiers who can be mobilized from civilian life for active duty. National Guard soldiers also serve under the control of state governors for roles like disaster relief in their home states.
Ping me when they get to 59.
You should find all your answers here.
http://www.goarmy.com/flindex.jsp
There are jobs available for your skills.
It didn't quite come through as support for the raising of the age cap!
Sorry ,if I miss understood!
Thanks.
Mr Tiggywinkle would sign up in a heartbeat if they allowed almost 50yo men. :o)
Yes, tell your husband thankyou! Godbless both of you!
Thank you,LLB!
You're correct, we're in tough shape, especially the National Guard. Let's put aside arguements for now that the Guard is being misused (I think it is by the way). I'm a company commander in the Massachusetts National Guard. All the officers in the 79th Troop Command just had a meeting last Saturday. The first topic of discussion? - Recruiting and retention. We're so chronically short in Massachusetts that the whole state is going to be restructed to better match the 2000 soldier deficit. It seems we've given up on recruiting the 2,000 we need. I'm lucky to be in aviation, our numbers are pretty solid because of the extra pay, more exciting mission, and generally higher skilled MOS requirements. The infantry however, is getting slammed. I don't know thw answer, but the benefits the stae is giving for new recruits are substabtial. $15,000 sign-on bonus for starters. But hey, too many kids are lazy cowards these days, it's tough to reach them. Add in beligerent guidance councelors that hatwe the military and that's one tough nut to crack. I worry about old-fashioned Patriotism. I did my time on active duty, 8 years, all while ass-face Clinton was president. I left the military, feeling I had done my part for 8 years, more than most people anyway. The 9/11 happened, and I couldn't in good conscience stay away. The Army spent millions training me to fly Blackhawks. Even though I served 2 years beyond my 6-year obligation, I still felt guilty that I wasn't a part of the war on terror. So here I am with a wife a newborn son (3 months) and I'll probably get sent to Iraq. Don't want to go (because of my young family) but I will do my duty. I will alsi keep trying to steer young people into the military. Our future depends on it.
end of vanity.
(Check with a recruiter who knows what the heck they're talking about before taking my word for it, though.)
Abybody know if this also pertains to people wanting to become officers or pilots? Maybe the new 39 age limit applies only to certain occupations. Comments?
So very true in many cases. I would add that the media,the public schools and the universities have been quite effective in alienating todays youth from our Military.
Thanks for the heads up....now if the Seabee's can follow suit, or there is an Army equivalent, I'm there!
And the sound of metal taps hitting the tiled floor...
Time to bring back the draft. Seriously.
we need to petition my congressman to introduce legislation to exend the age for regular active enlistment to at least 39 or 40 years of age.
my pleasure. GREAT news :o)
:o)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.