Military service late in life

[Bum8221]

I am late to the party on this, but I wanted to comment anyway I joined the military before September 11, 2001 because I wanted to join the military in my entire life. I served eight years in the Air Force very proudly did my time chose to get out for my own reasons and I have a lot of life experience and a couple of college degrees in a world’s worth of experience that I use in my private sector job. I was 17 years old when I enlisted and 25 when I got out. I did not go to basic training until after September 11 happened at that time. They had rolled back the age requirements as they were staffing up for a multiple front invasion in the Middle East following the terrorist attacks. In my basic training class we had more than a few people that were in their late 30s and even one guy who was 42 years old in my basic training class. His last name was Hardy, and he was a Postal Service worker from Maryland I really wish we would’ve kept in contact with each other over the years because he was one of the best people that I ever met in the military. I technically out ranked him but I looked at him like a mentor because of his life experience. I say if you are willing and able and have heard the calling to serve, and you fall within the age parameters of your chosen career field, and you can pass the physical standards then by all means go for it.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

At 49 it’s one of my biggest if not the biggest regret.
Told my wife a few years ago i would sign up if the age restriction wasn’t there.

 

[Fullfan]

At 37 you should be 3/4 of the way to retirement, not just starting.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

This thread is from 2023. Did the OP join?

 

[ddd-shooter]

This thread is from 2023. Did the OP join?

@HighUintas ???
Inquiring minds want to know

 

[Hnthrdr]

From a former army guy, if you really want to serve and protect the U.S. these days join ice, BP, dhs…

 

[Q_Sertorius]

At 49 it’s one of my biggest if not the biggest regret.
Told my wife a few years ago i would sign up if the age restriction wasn’t there.

Not picking on you in particular, Coopsdaddy. I am sure you are a good man, a good citizen, and probably the kind of guy I would share a beer with, but just about any statement that begins, “I would have served, but…” is going to sound pretty lame. “I would have served, but on the way to MEPS, I got in a car accident that crippled me for life. I’m still in a wheelchair today.” Fine.

Otherwise, you are saying, “I would have done a lot of things, but I didn’t.” No. The word “would” is an expression of willingness. The word you should have used is “could.”

It’s okay not to serve. We have an all-volunteer military. But if you didn’t serve, don’t try to convince someone who did serve that you “would have volunteered, but… [insert reason(s) you decided to do something else for almost twenty years].

The reality is that you *could* have served, but you decided to do something else instead. And, as mentioned, that’s okay.

You have to live your life with “No Ragrets.” I should not have married the woman I did. If I had a do over, I probably wouldn’t have made the same choices I made. But I have “No Ragrets” because I got a great daughter out of it.

My yearbook quote in high school was from Mark Twain, “I’m glad I did it, partly because it was worth it, but mostly because I’ll never have to do it again.” That’s my attitude towards all the things I chose not to keep doing or can’t do anymore.

There are days I get nostalgic about my service. There are nights when I have dreams - some bad, some good, but mostly weird - where I am back in the service. But the reality is that after fourteen years, eight months, thirteen days, three deployments, two terrible bosses, and one failing marriage, I left the service because my mind and body were “done training.”

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Not sure what you point is.
I’m stating a fact that I wish i would have served our country and regret not doing so.
I have the upmost respect to all that have.
Pretty simple statement.


Did an edit just now and after i reread that it’s kind a shit thing to say.
There’s nothing lame about it or me.
I live with my decisions every time I stand for the anthem or see my dads flag in my living room I but won’t listen to any guy,vet or not saying im lame for my decision and my regret.
Are you lame because of some of your decisions or failures,probably not.
I enjoy a lot of your content and information you post on here so maybe that just rubbed me wrong.

 

[HighUintas]

This thread is from 2023. Did the OP join?

@HighUintas ???
Inquiring minds want to know

No I didn't. I called a few folks to find out more about vision health requirements and I'd have been rejected, which is good because my eye health is a more ongoing issue than I realized. Currently can't see out of my right eye and am having surgery Thursday to have the vitreous sucked out!

It has changed my future career options drastically. I will be giving back to my community and country in other ways.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

No I didn't. I called a few folks to find out more about vision health requirements and I'd have been rejected, which is good because my eye health is a more ongoing issue than I realized. Currently can't see out of my right eye and am having surgery Thursday to have the vitreous sucked out!

It has changed my future career options drastically. I will be giving back to my community and country in other ways.

Dang. Best of luck.