BETTY UDESEN / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Jeff Lizotte, 36, intends to take advantage of the Army's new maximum age for enlistment, raised in January from 34 to 39. He sees it as a new opportunity, even though there's a good chance he'll be sent to Iraq.
so over the past 3 years we are averging 75,030 new recruits nationally.
They should raise the age limit even higher. I know a people in their 40`s who would put a 20 year old to shame, but I guess the military isn`t looking for people just in great shape.
The SEATTLE recruiting station had trouble meeting numbers after we actually went to war...
...why am I not surprised?
So,
Since I'm 40, with 20 years of prior active service. I wonder, could I get a commision this time, only as an Ensign instead of an E-1, and do 20 as an officer.
Oh, wait a minute. I'm a former Chief. I don't think I could stomach being an Ensign. I'd rather be a boot seaman and clean toilets for a few years (I'd be smiling all the way through it...this time)
Anyway, I think this guy is heading in the exact right direction. He may get a little weary after 10 years or so, but I've seen 60 yr old reservists doing just fine in the field. Good luck to him.
It sort of reminds me of that section of the Alice's Restaurant song when you think about it:
Came to talk about the draft.They got a building down New York City, it's called Whitehall Street, where you walk in, you get injected, inspected, detected, infected, neglected and selected. I went down to get my physical examination one day, and I walked in, I sat down, got good and drunk the night before, so I looked and felt my best when I went in that morning. `Cause I wanted to look like the all-American kid from New York City, man I wanted, I wanted to feel like the all-, I wanted to be the all American kid from New York, and I walked in, sat down, I was hung down, brung down, hung up, and all kinds o' mean nasty ugly things. And I waked in and sat down and they gave me a piece of paper, said, "Kid, see the phsychiatrist, room 604."
And I went up there, I said, "Shrink, I want to kill. I mean, I wanna, I wanna kill. Kill. I wanna, I wanna see, I wanna see blood and gore and guts and veins in my teeth. Eat dead burnt bodies. I mean kill, Kill, KILL, KILL." And I started jumpin up and down yelling, "KILL, KILL," and he started jumpin up and down with me and we was both jumping up and down yelling, "KILL, KILL." And the sergeant came over, pinned a medal on me, sent me down the hall, said, "You're our boy."
My hat is off to this proud and patriotic man. He looks fairly buff as it is, so I don't think there is going to be a problem losing that single pound. He could consult some friends who wrestled in high school to learn some quick weight-loss tricks if it's really necessary. Too bad he can't use the signing bonus to eliminate those pesky fines. Godspeed Jeff Lizotte, we're rooting for you!
~ Blue Jays ~
There weight scale isn't that bad.
I'm 20 pounds over weight and I make it for a male over 40.
please raise the max age for enlistment to 59
I'm 36. Missed my window to serve (family obligations, etc...) but I want to give back.
I already give money, but now I also have time. What volunteer groups exist to help vets & their families?
Can someone please point me in a good direction? I'd love to get more involved.
thanks!
Won't be long till he loses that attitude I hope...
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That seems kind of dumb because people have different body types. I'm 5'10" and build solidly, my perfect weight for my body type is about 205 lbs. At 189 lbs I'd probably be too weak to even lift a rifle. Even when I was 17-20 years old and in awesome shape I couldn't hit that weight.
I think they could be losing good people with that requirement.
Is he?
Colonel: Marine, what is that button on your body armor?
Joker: A peace symbol, sir.
Colonel: Where'd you get it?
Joker: I don't remember, sir.
Colonel: What is that you've got written on your helmet?
Joker: "Born to Kill", sir.
Colonel: You write "Born to Kill" on your helmet and you wear a peace button. What's that supposed to be, some kind of sick joke?
Joker: No, sir.
Colonel: You'd better get your head and your ass wired together, or I will take a giant shit on you.
Joker: Yes, sir.
Colonel: Now answer my question or you'll be standing tall before the man.
Joker: I think I was trying to suggest something about the duality of man, sir.
Colonel: The what?
Joker: The duality of man. The Jungian thing, sir.
Colonel: Whose side are you on, son?
Joker: Our side, sir.
Colonel: Don't you love your country?
Joker: Yes, sir.
Colonel: Then how about getting with the program? Why don't you jump on the team and come on in for the big win?
Joker: Yes, sir.
Colonel: Son, all I've ever asked of my marines is that they obey my orders as they would the word of God. We are here to help the Vietnamese, because inside every gook there is an American trying to get out. It's a hardball world, son. We've gotta keep our heads until this peace craze blows over.
Joker: Aye-aye, sir.
Hmm