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Message
Enlisting in your early-mid 20's
Posted on 4/12/17 at 4:43 pm
Posted on 4/12/17 at 4:43 pm
Anyone here ever enlist in the Armed Forces in their early to mid twenties or know anyone that did?
I had an infatuation with enlisting USMC out of high school but didn't. Now, 5 years later, due to circumstances of life, I am considering it very seriously again.
TIA
I had an infatuation with enlisting USMC out of high school but didn't. Now, 5 years later, due to circumstances of life, I am considering it very seriously again.
TIA
20
Posted on 4/12/17 at 4:44 pm to 225bred
Doesn't seem like a problem, that's still young.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 4:44 pm to 225bred
A good friend of mine enlisted at around 25... he's an air traffic controller in the Air Force and plans to retire there
Posted on 4/12/17 at 4:45 pm to 225bred
I left for basic rifght after coming home from my senior class trip. But we did have a couple of older guys with us when I got there. Seems like the oldest was like in his mid-20s or maybe even late 20s. As long as you're in shape physically and mentally, you should be fine.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 4:48 pm to 225bred
I looked at becoming an officer. However, the AF wanted me to be a chemist instead of something more closely related to my education background.
Ended up deciding against it.
Ended up deciding against it.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 4:50 pm to Darth_Vader
I have no concern about the physical fitness required as I pride myself on being very fit. Nor am I worried about the mental rigors and following orders.
Is it possible to become an officer eventually, after enlisting?
Is it possible to become an officer eventually, after enlisting?
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:00 pm to 225bred
When I went through, we had a 32 year old teacher graduate with us. The cut off age is typically 35. I would say you're at an advantage to a lot of other recruits from a mental toughness/maturity stand point. Go for it. I miss the deployments and life style often. You won't regret it.
Yes. As an enlisted man you can qualify for an OCS program.
Yes. As an enlisted man you can qualify for an OCS program.
This post was edited on 4/12/17 at 5:01 pm
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:03 pm to 225bred
quote:
Anyone here ever enlist in the Armed Forces in their early to mid twenties or know anyone that did?
I didn't head to BCT prior to OCS until I was 27. It wasn't too bad, but the maturity difference can become annoying.
Just realize that your peers will be quite a bit younger than you. If you're fine with that, then go for it.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:03 pm to 225bred
quote:
Is it possible to become an officer eventually, after enlisting?
Definitely possible, but if you want a commission, then you'd be much wiser to try that first. If you have a degree, talk to an OSO. If not, get one.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:04 pm to 225bred
I had a 28 and 26 year old in my boot camp platoon at MCRD.
You'll be around the same age as your junior drill instructors and they'll mess with you about your age but you just have to keep the mindset it isn't personal. You can definitely do it though.
I would be more worried about making friends once you get to your unit. You'll be mid twenties and the Marines your age will be Sgt and SSgt's but you won't be able to be buddies with them because of fratnerzation. You'll have to hang out with the 18-20 year olds. You won't be the only "older" guy there though. You'll also have to take orders from a 20 year old Cpl etc. You'll be fine, lots of guys have done it before you.
You'll be around the same age as your junior drill instructors and they'll mess with you about your age but you just have to keep the mindset it isn't personal. You can definitely do it though.
I would be more worried about making friends once you get to your unit. You'll be mid twenties and the Marines your age will be Sgt and SSgt's but you won't be able to be buddies with them because of fratnerzation. You'll have to hang out with the 18-20 year olds. You won't be the only "older" guy there though. You'll also have to take orders from a 20 year old Cpl etc. You'll be fine, lots of guys have done it before you.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:08 pm to 225bred
Guy I graduated HS with just finished Air Force basic and he's 26. He's still in his job school.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:37 pm to 225bred
Enlisted at 26.....great call
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:38 pm to 225bred
Chris Kyle was 30. Do it.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:44 pm to 225bred
quote:
Now, 5 years later, due to circumstances of life, I am considering it very seriously again.
If you're stuck in a rut you might as well go for it.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:46 pm to 225bred
I did. I wanted to do USMC too out of high school but I got screwed on that. There were several guys with me in basic in their early 20s. Even had a guy there in his mid thirties but he was a loser. You will be stuck with some immature / crybaby 17-18 year olds but time flies.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:57 pm to 225bred
I enlisted in the Marine Corps at 20. Top two best decisions I ever made.
Go in as an officer. Being a twenty-five-year-old 2ndLt is a lot better than being a twenty-five-year-old PFC.
Also, go 02 or 06, preferably 06.
Go in as an officer. Being a twenty-five-year-old 2ndLt is a lot better than being a twenty-five-year-old PFC.
Also, go 02 or 06, preferably 06.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:57 pm to 225bred
I did after 3 years at lsu. Had no idea what I was doing at school, realized it was a waste.
Best decision I ever made even if it was 2004 in the middle of 2 wars.
Best decision I ever made even if it was 2004 in the middle of 2 wars.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 5:58 pm to 225bred
I enlisted in the Navy when I was 23.
I left a great job in the oil field because I was just bored. Even though I had traveled outside of the country a few time prior to the Navy, I wanted to continue traveling to new places. I wanted a new experience, where I wouldn't work in the same place for more than a few years. I wanted to get away from the city I'd lived in all my life and make new friends. So far, my experience has been about 25% of what I expected.
Joining at 23 with some some real world work experience put me far ahead of most of my peers. I have been in different leadership roles since the day I joined. However, I will warn you, expect to be surrounded by 18 year old kids who no nothing about anything.
I left a great job in the oil field because I was just bored. Even though I had traveled outside of the country a few time prior to the Navy, I wanted to continue traveling to new places. I wanted a new experience, where I wouldn't work in the same place for more than a few years. I wanted to get away from the city I'd lived in all my life and make new friends. So far, my experience has been about 25% of what I expected.
Joining at 23 with some some real world work experience put me far ahead of most of my peers. I have been in different leadership roles since the day I joined. However, I will warn you, expect to be surrounded by 18 year old kids who no nothing about anything.
This post was edited on 4/12/17 at 6:34 pm
Posted on 4/12/17 at 6:04 pm to 225bred
Just understand that age is just a number and that you'll have guys much younger than you telling you what to do. I've seen too many people with that issue.
If you can get past that, go for it.
If you can get past that, go for it.
Posted on 4/12/17 at 6:11 pm to 225bred
You'll be more mature than your other peers.
If you're college educated, look at OCS.
If you're college educated, look at OCS.
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