Air Force Raises Age Limit for Recruits to 42

https://www.airandspaceforces.com ^ | Oct. 27, 2023 | By David Roza

[11th_VA]

The Department of the Air Force expects to add about 50 more recruits per year after lifting its maximum age limit for initial accession from 39 years old to 42 on Oct. 24, the latest in a long series of efforts to expand the talent pool in the midst of an ongoing recruiting shortage. The change applies to both officers and enlisted in both the Air Force and Space Force …

The new age limit is the latest in a series of changes made by the Air Force over the last few years to usher in new members. Giving qualified applicants an option to retest if they test positive for marijuana use allowed about 165 Airmen to join in fiscal year 2023, while allowing small hand and neck tattoos brought in another 150. Updating the service’s body fat composition rules brought in another 700 recruits, and streamlining the process for trainees to become citizens upon graduating Basic Military Training brought in 200 new Airmen.

Financial incentives have also played a role: reinstating the enlisted college loan repayment convinced more than 200 Airmen to join since March, while $32 million of enlistment bonuses brought in more than 3,800 Airmen in fiscal 2023…

[Paladin2]

Are we living in Ukraine?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yes, but only if they’re fags or trannies.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Close enough.

[Gritty]

42 ?

After 20 years, that used to be retirement age.

The military is for young people, not old. It can be a tough life for oldsters. You don't want geriatrics doing what needs to be done. Take it from "experience".

[entropy12]

I will join when they raise age to 84.

[Jean2]

What is next I wonder? Will they start recruiting the disabled?

[Nifster]

Not good. Says we’re going to war

[SnuffaBolshevik]

What a difference half a century makes.

When I enlisted in the Army in '74 the Air Force recruiters acted like they were doing you a favor by deigning to acknowledge that you were even in their office.

I think they had a several month waiting list to even apply.

[Mark17]

Good points - I was done at 37 - did my 20

Yup. I finished my 20 years at 39, and these clowns want to recruit 42 year olds?

[Mark17]

I think they had a several month waiting list to even apply.

USAF allowed me to apply at any time, but I didn’t go to boot camp, till almost a year later.

[jimfree]

I retired from Navy at 41.

[Wallace T.]

The Pentagon would have to run a combination of fat farms and detox centers and place draftees in there for six months before starting basic training. That pushes the lead time for rebuilding a large military longer than it was during the world wars. It took the U.S. a year after declaring war on Germany to be able to mount a large American Expeditionary Force. In 1917, most young men worked in factories, farms, and mines. Obesity was very low, and drug addiction minimal.

[Texas Fossil]

Well, the 42 sure leaves me out, but 92 would not prohibit me.

LMAO

[shadeaud]

Yankee Doodle Dandy,..... A timeless gem

[Alas Babylon!]

Damn! After 22 years service, I retired at 40! And I was considered an old man then...

[ansel12]

If the guys here think back to their late 30s, they will remember the countless times that guys would say “if I had stayed in I would be retired now” in various ways.

[ridesthemiles]

50 more per year?????????

That does not equal those who are reaching retirement age.

[Keyhopper]

I can’t go, these shoes don’t match my dress.😃