Posted on 04/19/2005 3:22:05 AM PDT by ResistorSister
At 39, Jon Alvarez was tired of being told he was too old for military service.
A strident supporter of the war in Iraq, Alvarez said he first tried to join the Army Reserve more than a year ago, only to be rejected because of his age. Even his congressman couldnt get him an age waiver.
So when the Army increased the age limit to 39 in March, Alvarez went back to the recruiting office and enlisted. If he passes his physical examinations, he should be headed to Fort Bragg, N.C., for basic training before the end of the month, he said.
Army Reserve spokeswoman Julia Bobick said there have been 60 enlistees nationally older than age 35 since the policy changed March 23.
The Army expects the new age limit will increase recruitment in the Reserve and National Guard, and plans to study the rule changes impact on the next three years, she said. The maximum age for new recruits to the active-duty Army, the Marines, the Navy and the Air Force remains 34.
Alvarez is driven by a mix of duty and a sense of history. The United States has a chance to change the Middle East the way the World War II generation changed Europe, he said.
George Bush is going to go down as one of the greatest presidents, Alvarez said. I want to be a part of that.
From pundit to private
Alvarez grew up in Canton and graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1984. These days, he lives in a suburb of Syracuse, N.Y., with his wife and stepdaughter.
He has no experience in the military or law enforcement. Until now, hes worked as a teacher and a salesman I took care of the daily grind, he said since graduating from the University of Texas.
Alvarez is also a political activist. He founded the group Patriotic Americans Boycotting Anti-American Hollywood to protest movies featuring actors who hold anti-American opinions. Movies from Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events to Sin City to Oceans Twelve have made the boycott list.
Alvarez also writes columns for a Web site affiliated with Republican politician Alan Keyes. Many of his columns deal with topics related to the war on terrorism. Among his positions: Fahrenheit 9/11 filmmaker Michael Moore should be charged with treason and Army Spc. Charles Graner should be pardoned for abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib.
But Alvarez said he wants to do more than talk. When he visited recruiters, he told them he wanted to serve in Afghanistan or Iraq.
Im someone who feels that its important to walk the talk, Alvarez said.
He is slated to become a civil affairs soldier. Civil affairs soldiers shoulder the bulk of reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Laura Alvarez credits the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, with awakening her husbands political spirit.
Before the attacks, Jon and I were very much about going to work, paying bills, taking care of our family, she said. Wed go to the movies and had favorite television shows, but we were pretty much homebodies.
They didnt follow political issues very closely and reading a newspaper didnt usually go beyond the sports pages, Jon said.
Laura said her husband took Bushs call for greater volunteerism literally. He volunteered at a Veterans Administration hospital in Syracuse, working with veterans from past conflicts.
Some of the veterans lived with the physical and psychological scars of battle, but Jon would remark on how they still believed their sacrifices had been worth it, Laura said.
Planning ahead
Jons decision to enlist just a couple weeks ago, meant the Alvarezes had to start planning right away.
There were long talks about life insurance, financial planning and wills, Laura said.
For her, Jons deployment would also mean being a single parent again for the first time in a decade.
Laura said shes not afraid of Jon joining the military or even serving in a combat area. But combat can lead to serious injury, even death, she acknowledged.
I would be lying if I said it was not something I think about, she said. I love and support him in what hes doing.
Jon reasons that if other families are going through tough times because of the war, then why should his family be any different?
At a minimum, he said he is looking at an 8-year stint in the Reserve. He said he would like to serve for 20 years and build a pension.
I dont want to look back when Im 60, he said, and regret not doing what I needed to do.
You can reach Repository writer Shane Hoover at (330) 580-8338 or e-mail:
Yes he does. God bless him.
Wow! And WHAT a walk. Prayers for him and his family!
Prayers and proud ...
Hooah!
You're gonna love this....
Jon is a wonderful guy. I hear him on the local talk radio program in the morning with Bill on WFBL. A real hero. May God be with him.
Jon Alvarez - Freeper hero
Congrats to the guy...
This is funny: "He said he would like to serve for 20 years and build a pension."
Early nomination for FREEPER OF THE YEAR : )
I didn't know there was a Freeper of the Year, but he gets my vote (if I get to vote)!
Bravo!
And may God Bless him and keep him safe, and may his family stay strong and welcome him back safely!
What a guy!
susie
Thank you John Alvarez!!
Is that blowhard Sean Hannity listening?
Not saying that Sean should enlist, but he sure makes a nice living exercising the rights others bought for him.
John I live about 30 miles away from Ft Bragg. I didn't know they had started BCT there again but this article says that's where you'll go. If that is correct I'd love to attend your graduation ceremony. Freepmail me.
You going somewhere else for AIT or did you get OSUT?
God bless him, when they get to 53, I'm back in.
Neat story, bump
It works like this:
If your age minus your previous active duty time is less than 39 you should be qualified.
However there are minor things like going back in as a PFC and earning your rank back, grade determination waivers, Basic Training, etc.
Dammit! You're not supposed to get me thinking about such things! Good for me I'm 'disabled' and cannot go back in.
btt
Words cannot express how grateful I am to have people like Jon Alvarez as citizens of this country. Go Jon!!! God bless!
Yeah, EE, I know. My brother and I both tried to reenlist after 9/11. He was close but I'm an old fart with less time in.
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.