Joining the Army and have some?? Especially the aviation folks.

[lucky_double_d]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

You're 32? The physical part of the training is likely going to kick your ass, pick you back up and then kick your ass again. Really. You'll be training with people 10 years younger than you. I was 26/27 when I went through USN OCS and PriFly and it was physically...............challenging. Most of the folks in my class were 22/23 and although it doesn't seem like much I really noticed the difference.

Honestly it's much more about the person themselves than their age. I know men who have gone through selection (for Special Forces) in their 30s that have out-performed the guys in their early 20s going through, same with some of the older guys going through for Ranger. Hell some men I know are in the best shape of their lives in their 30s. I think it can somewhat come from these kids that are coming out of high school or college and joining the military after a few years of partying, drinking, and not taking care of their bodies as well as they could. Then compare that to some men who did the same thing in their early 20s then in their late 20s and even early 30s figured they needed to make a change and stopped drinking as much, started eating better, and hit the gym outside of just conventional PT that IMO doesn't do much for Soldiers in the first place and now they're physically out-performing people a decade or more younger than them. I'm not saying this is the norm overall but I am saying that if you put the effort in, there's no reason your age should make you have a harder time keeping up or even out-performing men in their early 20s.

[Army_Guy]

A few articles I've read mentioned that men don't physically peak until they're 34-35 so don't be worried about the physical part.

You can train up to meet the physical demands.

Can you handle the responsibility? That's something that can't be taught.

Do you have the desire? That's something that comes from within.

I think the older guys (to a certain point) have it easier than the younger guys. Some of the younger guys rely on their youth too much, they think they can eat anything, drink anything and train less because the youth makes up for it. The older guys tend to listen to their bodies more, they know their bodies better, know their limitations and make the most of what they've got.

I'll be 34 this year and I can out PT most Soldiers 10 years younger than me.

Never underestimate the mental side.

[Jean71]

Originally Posted by Army_Guy

A few articles I've read mentioned that men don't physically peak until they're 34-35 so don't be worried about the physical part.

You can train up to meet the physical demands.

Can you handle the responsibility? That's something that can't be taught.

Do you have the desire? That's something that comes from within.

I think the older guys (to a certain point) have it easier than the younger guys. Some of the younger guys rely on their youth too much, they think they can eat anything, drink anything and train less because the youth makes up for it. The older guys tend to listen to their bodies more, they know their bodies better, know their limitations and make the most of what they've got.

I'll be 34 this year and I can out PT most Soldiers 10 years younger than me.

Never underestimate the mental side.

Thanks Army_Guy.
I definitely think I can handle the responsibility and have the desire.

I am nervous/intimidated by Basic and the ASVAB though.