Army takes older recruits (up to 42)

[Barrett808]

Army takes older recruits
By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army, aiming to make its recruiting goals amid the Iraq war, raised its maximum enlistment age by another two years on Wednesday, while the Army Reserve predicted it will miss its recruiting target for a second straight year.

People can now volunteer to serve in the active-duty Army or the part-time Army Reserve and National Guard up to their 42nd birthday after the move aimed at increasing the number of people eligible to sign up, officials said.

It marked the second time this year the Army has boosted the maximum age for new volunteers, raising the ceiling from age 35 to 40 in January before now adding two more years.

More than three years into the war, the Army continues to provide the bulk of U.S. ground forces in Iraq. Army officials have acknowledged the war has made some recruits and their families wary about volunteering.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060621/ts_nm/iraq_usa_recruiting_dc

[leftchick]

1. cool! More room for keyboard patiots to enlist!

I can see them lining up now!

[saigon68]

24. Maybe they have other priorities though

Like the Cheney ScumBag Draft Dodger

[leftchick]

25. and the aviator chimp!

coke and jack were much more important than service to the country.

[saigon68]

27. Yes he did get a little Coked up every now and then

didn't he

[UpInArms]

2. why aren't all those "young republicans" signing up????

They are so happy about the war and think it is such a good thing - why are they not crowding those recruiters' offices?

[Tom_Foolery]

4. I've wanted to have a bumper sticker made that says...

If you're a young republican, why isn't your ass in Iraq?

[MikeNearMcChord]

7. Here is a site that asks that question.

http://www.operationyellowelephant.blogspot.com/
Operation Yellow Elephant

[DiverDave]

36. Interesting site, thanks for the heads up!

I got it on my fave's now.

[mike_c]

3. if they keep raising the rate like this...

...I'll be able to enlist before my 52nd birthday!

Oh, wait....

[aquart]

5. Line up here to be disemboweled and beheaded!

[3waygeek]

10. How do you disembowel

a chickenhawk -- they have no guts :D

[aquart]

23. LOL!

But they do have flaming brass balls.

[LanternWaste]

6. Well, well, well...

Well, well, well...

I still have a few die-hard, gung-ho, ditto-headed, sub-literate, knuckle-dragging friends that have told me that the age ceiling was the *only* thing stopping them from being "over there". Looks like I have a few phone calls to make this eveing...

[saigon68]

29. Age 42 and going through basic

That sounds like fun

NOT

[Posteritatis]

41. I've heard here and there

that older soldiers like that tend to do well in NCO roles compared to younger soldiers in that rank, or older ones in most other ranks (with the obvious exception of officer ranks further up the chain, where they'd damned well better have some experience).

Is there some truth to that, or is it a case of cliche turning into "fact?"

[Immad2]

8. Isn't ann coulter 42? HEY ANN time to sign up!!

[Bosso 63]

13. Ann has got to be older than 42.

But of course, coke will age a person.

[KamaAina]

15. That depends. Are we talking about her DC age or her Conn. age?

:evilgrin:

[LiberalFighter]

19. Let's use her DC age... her CT age makes her 44.6

I'm sure her DC age is not more than 39

[UncleSepp]

30. Or how old she is in dog years?

:evilgrin:

[leveymg]

9. They'll be recruiting at the nursing homes soon.

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. I've got ten more years to decide

about whether I want to join the Army.

:rofl:

[Bosso 63]

12. Damn, and I just turned 43 in May.

I could have got in shape caught some rays and become a lean mean fighting machine.

[epjd2000]

14. Older Soldiers

The fact that the Army has upped its recruitment age is of considerably less concern than other accommodations the Army may be making. When I enlisted (1992), the Army was turning people away for the slightest irregularity, whether it was a criminal record, or a torn ACL from playing high school football. In fact, you had to have special waiver if you had a GED, as opposed to a traditional high school diploma.

I am not going to try to say that I served with nothing but the most professional of soldiers, because that would be inaccurate, but I am very concerned that in addition to raising recruiting age, the Army is lowering certain standards, such as moral character. The lower the moral character of the people the U.S. sends into the world as its representatives, the more likely incidents like Haditha and Abu Graib will be in the news.

[teknomanzer]

17. I enlisted in 1991...

Right at the time of Desert Shield... getting a waiver was just a formality at that time. They thought they were going to need bodies for canon fodder. Apparently flat feet were not a problem either. Even though my ASVAB score was off the charts they pushed combat arms on me. Even told me I wouldn't qualify for the college fund if I didn't go into combat arms (a damn lie.) I ended up driving the Abrams tank most of the time... fuel, and cargo trucks for support platoon some of the time while I was in Germany.

Alas, a youthful indiscretion (I'm such a bad seed) led to my getting barred to re-enlistment, still got my Honorable Discharge though. I would bet you dimes to dollars that they would overlook all that and sign me up for another 4 year stint with an 8 year obligation. I should go down to the recruiters station with my DD214 and see what they say just for laughs. They sure as hell wouldn't get me to sign a goddamn thing though. Theres not enough mammon in all of Babylon The Great to tempt me to go that hell hole in Mesopotamia.

On second thought I don't think I will try that. I rather enjoy my civilian existence. I fear they might try some underhanded kind of BS to get me back in.

[NYC]

32. That's an excellent point.

Thanks for the information, and welcome to DU. :hi:

[saigon68]

33. They have what they recruit

Thugs, Hoodlums and criminals.

And then the Freepers complain when one of their Serial Killers ventilates a few children and old Islamic women in the head with his M-16.

[splat@14]

16. Keep bumping the age, Social Security won't be a problem anymore.

[slater71]

18. And how old is Hannity?

[LiberalFighter]

20. Hannity is 44.5

How is it that all the war rabble rousers are not young enough?

[Up2Late]

21. Damn, good thing I became a Buddhist a few years ago...

...'cuse they just hit my number.

Yeah, Right! I can barely run a mile right now, they really are getting desperate.:crazy:

[oasis]

22. How old is Bill O'Reilly? (n/t)

[nolabels]

39. I flushed one this morning that was even better than bill

Age has nothing to do with the need to pull the handle :hurts:

[leftyladyfrommo]

26. Pretty soon I will be able to go.

I saw where a 75 year old went to Afghanistan last week.

[BigDDem]

28. Go Log Cabin!!

Here's your chance, go fight for our freedom!!!

[Ilsa]

31. Up to age 46 if you're a nurse and willing to go into the Nursing Corp. nt

[Vinca]

34. Let me know when they get to 57. I need the health care. nt

[JohnyCanuck]

40. And you'll likely be needing it

after you breath in a few lungfuls of depleted uranium dust.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1489246

[Joe Bacon]

35. So when are they taking George P Bush?

;-)

[Supersedeas]

37. will this also reflect the draft age???

[treestar]

38. Great, now even more freepers are eligible to defend their country

by fighting them over there instead of over here!

Expecting all 35-42 year old freepers to be at their local draft board today!!!!