[Steel Wolf]

Young? The max initial recruitment age has been raised to what, 65? Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but standards are losening so we can have positive headlines like this. Let's not kid ourselves here.

[kristinn]

Young? The max initial recruitment age has been raised to what, 65? Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but standards are losening so we can have positive headlines like this. Let's not kid ourselves here.

Steel Wolf, when the Associated Press shows you're full of it, it might be time to take a break:

Before shipping off to basic training, recruits must meet physical standards and those 40 and older are given additional medical screenings.

They must undergo the same training exercises as younger recruits.

"A bullet and a bayonet don't discriminate," Shwedo said. "As a result, our training program has to ensure that every soldier is going to be able to outmaneuver, outfight and win on today's battlefield."

As if the grueling physical training is not taxing enough, the older recruits must also deal with barrack-mates whose average age is 21.

"They have the college-aged mind and the high school mind," said Pfc. Caroll Martinez, 42, of Kansas City, Mo. "I'm so beyond that."

Covington agrees -- especially after being called "Grandpa" by his military peers. But he had the last laugh, receiving the highest fitness score of his entire company in basic training.

[MrNatural]

..The max initial recruitment age has been raised to what, 65? ...

Don't get my hopes up like that ..

[MNJohnnie]

Let not kid ourselves, we are at war. It easy to demand perfect standards when you are not at war. Seems to me the people who scream loudest about "The American people need to realize we are at war and make sacrifices" should not also then turn around be the same people trash talking every single issue related to the war.