(US) Army Challenges Older Recruits

[5parta]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/us/18recruit.html?hpw
Army Challenges Older Recruits
By JAMES DAO
Published: June 17, 2009
FORT SILL, Okla. — Pfc. Shane Dixon is known as Old Dix. Specialist Jason Ness goes by Gramps. Pfc. Christopher Batson’s nom de boot camp is Pops. None of them are over 40, but to the 18-year-old soldiers in basic training here, they are as ancient as a first generation Xbox.
Yet in the three years since the Army raised its age limit for enlisting to 42, from 35, a steady stream of older recruits has joined the ranks, pushing creaky muscles through road training, learning to appreciate — or at least endure — Army chow and in some cases deploying to combat zones......

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/06/18/us/18recruit_subspan.jpg

 

[dustinm]

First generation X-Box? I still play my Nintendo 64 ;D

On a serious note, why was the enlistment age-limit set at 35 anyway? Eligibility for a pension aside, if you can pass BCT and contribute manpower I don't see why an (arbitrary?) limit should be in place.

 

[Flap Jack]

Man I love N-64

I remember The Globe and Mail published an article a while back about older recruits joining the CF and how they had different skills to bring to the table

 

[agenteagle]

You wonder about for the US having the cut off at 35? That is nothing the USMC and Air Force the cut off is 29 years of age as a new recruit. The average age of a Marine is 20 years old or less. I not sure why but they have a different culture in their military and they like getting them young but most don't last. You don't find to many gray breads. If you look at the Canada we are like the British in the sense we have many older members. We also have better retention rates then the US. I live in Louisville, KY close to Fort Knox and I have many friends in the US Army or Air Force. Even all my friends who no longer serve but are around 30 or so have served for 3 to 4 years and then got out. I start BMQ July 6th and am happy I will not be concidered an old man by CF standards if I joined the US Army I am sure my fellow recruits would ride me about my age even at 30.

I like to think Canada and the British have more life experienced military which is a benefit to the military and also the younger members. Those of us with children seem to look at authority differently then those who don't just my  :2c:

 

[PMedMoe]

Actually, it wasn't all that long ago (it changed just prior to my BMQ in '86, IIRC) that the CF had an age limit of 25.