re: **Update** Enlisting if older than 28

I enlisted @ 26, turned 27 during boot camp. I'm glad I experienced it, and don't regret it, but got out after 6 years. I did 2 years active and 4 years reserve. My advice, is to do it if you think it's something you're gonna regret not doing at an older age, that was my driving force...

...but, if you're not a person who is accustomed to a structured environment, and everything being micromanaged, it's gonna be a huge culture shock at your age. I don't care for a structured/micromanaged environment, I'm more of an independent type, and that became very apparent in my time serving, and that's why I got out. But, I am glad I experienced it, if that makes sense.

Officer is the way at your age and education
13L is the officer version of a TACP

Officer vs Enlisted shouldn't be that much of a dilemma for you. Just look at your current profession. Would you rather be one of the guys that has a shovel in his hand, turning the wrench, finishing the concrete, or would you rather be the project manager? What about 10 years from now?

If you would rather be in a leadership role and be challenged with managing/planning larger projects then you should choose the officer route. If you would rather be the guy doing the actual construction and eventually be a foreman then go enlisted and become a NCO.

Don't be disillusioned in thinking officers don't go to the field and only ride a desk all day. When your soldiers are in the field you will be right there with them. The only difference is your responsibilities in successfully completing the mission.

If you truly have a dilemma and want to ensure you do something cool then sign up to be an aviator. A warrant officer is a hybrid between enlisted and officer. You will fly more than officers in your unit and you won't have to put up with the "politics" per say.

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do something cool then sign up to be an aviator. A warrant officer is a hybrid between enlisted and officer. You will fly more than officers in your unit and you won't have to put up with the "politics" per say.

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This is exactly what I'm trying to do when my service with the Marine Corps ends.

Thanks for the insight. Being an aviator does sound cool and have always thought about it. My concern about that would be age waivers and age restrictions on that. Would love to do something "cool", but serving is first and foremost.

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My concern about that would be age waivers and age restrictions on that. Would love to do something "cool", but serving is first and foremost

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So join the French foreign legion or some other international group and go make a difference.

Im always put off by how rigid the military is.. slow, dumb, unable to adapt.. maybe that's going to change under the current admin but the world is dynamic and our military isn't

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That sounds like a good idea. Just looked up age limits for pilots, it looks like you have to be under the age of 28 by board convening date. I turn 28 in September so that seems like a slim shot. So how common are age waivers for pilots?

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Take the SIFT, get a Class 1 army flight physical and head to the active duty recruiters office. Either enter as a street to seat Warrant.

Well aren't you just a bundle of joy.

First, I have no wife, and if I did she would have to fricking deal with it.


Second, I have no kids. I would be there dad, and would do everything I could for them. I moved around a bunch as a kid, it's not bad, you deal with it and adapt.

Last, "thou shalt not kill"...frick those motherfrickers. They wanna fly planes into our buildings, set bombs off in Paris, and rape kids in their own country? Nah, you can play the moral high ground all you want. But frick that, I'm willing to go do some bad shite to some bad motherfrickers. I really have a hard time standing by and quoting the fricking bible knowing good god damn well it can be stopped and I'm capable of contributing.

10-4 think I'm gna take everyone's advice who's been around the block and go officer route.

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Tell your future kids you cant take anything heavy to next duty station because the weight of your stuff uncle sam will move for you to country x is limited by your rank. Explain again to 10 yr old why he has to move in middle of school year and be the only kid in class not from wherever you are headed.

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I think you're overplaying it a bit. I moved a family of four and a large semi-trailer worth of stuff all over the world and never paid out of pocket for shipping. Yeah, you'll have a problem if you're a hoarder but most normal military-aged families won't have a problem with the weight requirements. My last move was something like 13,000 pounds (as enlisted, not sure what the officer weights are but they'll obviously be more), not including vehicle (only one vehicle though). Most people won't have a problem staying under that as long as they're not carting around a bunch of extra junk. And it gives you a reason to toss out useless shite every few years which I saw as a benefit.

As far as PCSing in the middle of the school year, they try to PCS families during the summer. Not saying it always happens, sometimes your PCS might be delayed due to whatever reason, but my kids did 5 PCS's and every one of them was in June-August. And as far as "having to tell a 10 yr old he has to move in the middle of the school year", most kids adapt quickly to dependent life and many credit it with giving them the ability to make friends easily and adapt to new situations. Not all, of course, but there are plenty of "brat" groups online and most seem to enjoy the experience of living around the country and places like Germany and Japan. My kids grew up like that their whole lives, so it never even occurred to them to get upset about a PCS.