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At age 50 I went back into the Guard, I had 15 years active mostly with 7th and 10 more years with 20th but didn't retire because my ex-wife could have gotten half my retirement, so I was out for several years. With that said, I went back in but joined an Infantry unit down the road from me (Scouts with 3/116th INF 29th ID) with the idea I could help them build an effective Scout/Sniper section plus I didn't want to be the old guy on a 20th/19th SFG ODA that won't admit his best days are behind him.
Over half my Scouts could not pass the PT test...I don't mean like have a 270 or above, I mean pass at the lowest level. I then became an Infantry instructor where we were putting females through training, a place they do not belong but honestly, most were tougher than the men. Then I became a Warrant officer and was written up in training for calling several of my class mates out for being sissies (I would have been thrown out if I said pussies, plus I have too much respect for pussy to elevate my fellow WOC's). Now as a 131A in a unit filled with millennials I have found that the Army I joined in 84 is a fossil. It is the Guard, so, I take that into consideration, but combat has not changed at the most basic level, you have to walk with heavy shit on, take a dump in front of your friends, and accept being too hot or too cold. As an AWG advisor I found few units capable and the Guard is WAY behind them.
I told my son to go into the Marines, be part of something, train hard, get liquored up leave, chase pussy, be a warrior. That concept no longer exists in the Army
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