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.
Thanks. I'm just below that, but I wouldn't be rejoining.
thanks for the reply. Any help would be appreciated. College degree, commercial pilot's license, multi engine rated. Aviation officer route would be preferred, but willing to explore all options.
Thanks
There were news articles just in the last few days that say the USAR and NG will be adding some fixed-wing cargo planes in coming years. This might be the perfect time to look into that possibility also. (Or those planes might be decades away -- I don't know.)
They also need commissioned officers and warrant officers in lots of other field. Here's a website with WO information for the USAR. (NG information will be similar but slightly different.)
http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/WOgeninfo_mos.html
Basically, for anyone who can pass the physical and pass a PT test, there are tons of great opportunities these days.
I'll try again.
There's an article in the Army Times newspaper this week, on this topic. They say that if your age minus your prior service is less than 40 (or maybe it's less than or equal to 40) you meet the age requirement for Army Guard or Army Reserve service. I guess that's just another way of saying the Guard and Reserve want people who can complete 20 years of service by age 60.
thank you sooo much. Greatly appreciated.
Excellent!
I am glad I could be of help!
Good luck and thanks for wanting to serve our country!
Well my age 51, minus my service 4 active 2 inactive, is equal to 45. I have no interest in getting 20 to get retirement or any other benefits. (that is under control) I just want to serve again until I'm not needed. Today at lunch I plan to make a guest appearance at the local multi-service recruiting office and put my old butt up for bid.
I'm 6'2" 190lb. Can still run a 7 minute mile. Can shoot the eye of a gnat with any weapon. And I'm cranky at 4:30 when I climb out of bed. I'd go to Middle East or serve stateside, whereever they need a warm body.
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