06-08-2009, 07:26
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#1
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Asset
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Missouri
Posts: 0
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An old guy would like your opinion
All,
I know this discussion board is full of eager new hopefuls (I am one of them), so I decided to ask a few more experienced folks before I posted, and they said go for it.
I am a 29 year old prior service dude, Combat Engineer was my enlisted trade. I then decided to go to college, and will commission at the end of this year. I decided to branch IN in the National Guard. I understand that you must be 1Lt(p) to go to SFAS. By the time I reach this milestone, I will be in my early to mid thirties.
So now comes my question. I would like to hear from some of the "been there, done that" guys who have served with some guys with a few more years under their belts than the new X'rays coming in (nothing against the X'rays). I am not requesting a pep talk, or asking you whether I should do it or not, because I have already made up my mind that I am. What I am asking is for your perspective. I deeply respect the knowledge of the NCO's and officers of your brotherhood, and I am asking for a little nugget of that knowledge with respect to my situation. If you have anything to share, I am all ears. Thanks in advance!!
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jd575 is offline
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06-08-2009, 07:39
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#2
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Clarksville, TN
Posts: 1,164
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Spend your 2LT time learning how to be a good Infantryman. Then research what Special Forces is all about and decide if that is the career path you want to take. Age should not be a problem, if you are physically fit. Wisdom and maturity are important.
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CSB is offline
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06-08-2009, 07:40
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#3
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: charlotte, nc
Posts: 63
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I was 26 when i went through the course (1980). Hardly a spring chicken but neither an old goat. Being a bit older you are automatically looked to as the unofficial leader of the young ones. It can be an awesome experience and your character will show through for all to see. You will be expected to work harder than anyone else and when you come through the rewards are great. You may not realize it at the time but when a team mate comes to you later in his career and tells you that your determination and drive is what motivated him to complete the ordeal it is not only the highest compliment but very uplifting.
At the time I did not truely appreciate my position but now that I look back I am even more impressed with me than I was back then  . Keep your motivation high and be the example gramps. They have changed CMc to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs in the showers so you will feel right at home.
__________________
if you are not in the lead you are probably looking up someone else's backside
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froglegz is offline
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06-08-2009, 08:21
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#4
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: NorCal
Posts: 15,370
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I saw guys of all age groups attempt and either succeed or fail - it's an individual thing and you must be honest with yourself about it when the time comes.
CSB gave good advice.
FWIW - our Group CSM was in his mid-40s when he left to attend Ranger School enroute to be the CSM for the 2nd Ranger Battalion - he asked for nothing and they gave him nothing - he was the Distinguised Grad of his class.
Richard's $.02 
__________________
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.” - To Kill A Mockingbird (Atticus Finch)
“Almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.” - Robert Heinlein
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Richard is offline
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06-08-2009, 15:15
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 51
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I know several guys in the Q course with me who are 35+. Been through SUT, SERE, Language and in the Delta course now.
They would say don't use your age as an excuse.
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Priest is offline
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06-08-2009, 19:10
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#6
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Lower Alabama
Posts: 657
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SFAS age 34, graduated Q age 36. My two best buds are a month or so younger & a little over a year older than me. We all went to SFAS & the Q within months of each other. None of us had any problems related to age.
x/S
__________________
If not us, than who?
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exsquid is offline
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06-08-2009, 19:40
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#7
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
Posts: 24,821
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jd575
All,
I know this discussion board is full of eager new hopefuls (I am one of them), so I decided to ask a few more experienced folks before I posted, and they said go for it.
I am a 29 year old prior service dude, Combat Engineer was my enlisted trade. I then decided to go to college, and will commission at the end of this year. I decided to branch IN in the National Guard. I understand that you must be 1Lt(p) to go to SFAS. By the time I reach this milestone, I will be in my early to mid thirties.
So now comes my question. I would like to hear from some of the "been there, done that" guys who have served with some guys with a few more years under their belts than the new X'rays coming in (nothing against the X'rays). I am not requesting a pep talk, or asking you whether I should do it or not, because I have already made up my mind that I am. What I am asking is for your perspective. I deeply respect the knowledge of the NCO's and officers of your brotherhood, and I am asking for a little nugget of that knowledge with respect to my situation. If you have anything to share, I am all ears. Thanks in advance!!
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This age thing gets asked at least every 2-3 months.
How about you use the Search function and tell me what the advice is before posting any more questions?
TR
__________________
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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06-09-2009, 07:45
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#8
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Asset
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Missouri
Posts: 0
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Thanks everyone for the info. Reaper, you are correct, thanks.
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jd575 is offline
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06-28-2009, 18:40
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#9
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Asset
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by exsquid
SFAS age 34, graduated Q age 36. My two best buds are a month or so younger & a little over a year older than me. We all went to SFAS & the Q within months of each other. None of us had any problems related to age.
x/S
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Agreed. Age is nothing but a number. At 36 I can still run circles around some younger Soldiers. My mistake was waiting to long. Promotions came quickly for me. Before I knew it I was an E-7 with too much TIG, and every SF recruiter I talked to told me that there were no waivers for guys like me. I understood the thought process, laced up my boots and moved on. I've decided to take a different path out of conventional forces, but if I could do it all over again things would be much different. My advice to anyone considering going to selection is to not sit there and ponder, but start preparing yourself mentally and physically, jump on the first opportunity and just get it done. Otherwise you'll always wonder what could've been.
__________________
Think. Adapt. Anticipate.
Last edited by Blu Falcon; 06-28-2009 at 18:43.
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Blu Falcon is offline
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06-28-2009, 22:05
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#10
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Sneaking back and forth across the Border
Posts: 6,689
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blu Falcon
Agreed. Age is nothing but a number. At 36 I can still run circles around some younger Soldiers. My mistake was waiting to long. Promotions came quickly for me. Before I knew it I was an E-7 with too much TIG, and every SF recruiter I talked to told me that there were no waivers for guys like me. I understood the thought process, laced up my boots and moved on. I've decided to take a different path out of conventional forces, but if I could do it all over again things would be much different. My advice to anyone considering going to selection is to not sit there and ponder, but start preparing yourself mentally and physically, jump on the first opportunity and just get it done. Otherwise you'll always wonder what could've been.
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BF..... Please read this and all other Forum Stickies......
The person that ask the question should be the only non-QP to post there...
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ad.php?t=22758
Read more and Post less for a while.......
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SF_BHT is offline
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