I'm 43 awaiting waivers. By the looks of it I will be 44 by the time I can get it. I only need 10 years to retire. Question am I to old? Is any body else around my age going thru?

quote:

Originally posted by 21871656:
I'm 43 awaiting waivers. By the looks of it I will be 44 by the time I can get it. I only need 10 years to retire. Question am I to old? Is any body else around my age going thru?

No your not as long as your in shape. You can pass Infantry OSUT to age 45 safely and others before you have done that recently. Over 45, it depends on the individual. I would not attempt it nearing 50 or above age 50, though. Once guy on this website did it at 47-48.

i am 43 and i get my re waiver today or monday and then i go to meps next week to finish processing
i hope that all goes well and good luck to you

I am 44 and will be 45 in January when I ship to WTC. I work out three days a week and run 3 miles on my off days. I can do 100 situps and 100 pushups each in under 2 minutes. I just started pavement running and just got my 2 mile run under 16 minutes. I hope to have it under 14 when I ship. At our age you need to workout and eat calcium to maintain your bone density. I have worked out on and off since I was 20 in the Marines. You need to eat at least 1,500 mg of calcium per day (per fitness experts) to maintain bone density at our age. If you are just starting to work out, go with light wieght and high repetitions. If you are just starting to run, I recommend you start on a treadmill to get your running muscles in shape before you start pavement running. Pavement running is a whole different world than treadmill running. The impact on your body is alot harder on your body because there is no cushioned treadmill under you to absorb the impact. Go to Running World.com to help you determine what type of running shoes you need. Once you get into a good workout routine you definately need to watch your diet. You need to watch your daily fat intake, I keep mine under 100 grams a day. I hope this info helps you in your preperation to become a soldier and remember "old" is just a state of mind. Good luck and good training.

Thanks. I needed that just having one of those days (feeling old). Getting the cardio back is tuffer than I remember. Thanks for the advise I will use it. Good luck

You can do it-I went through WTC when I was 44 and I was not the oldest. I'm getting ready to turn 47

old hell I just completed WTC in JUNE of this year . I'm 49 was out for 22 years, just be able to run in formation @ 8.5 minute mile for three miles. PT is nothing up at 0430 pt at 0530 till approximate 0645. running every other day and time to run on your own at nite. stay focus its only six weeks. It's just like a mini bootcamp but now the cadre can not lay hands on you. Like they did in the 70's Good luck

quote:

Originally posted by BIGTALIKILLER:
You need to eat at least 1,500 mg of calcium per day (per fitness experts) to maintain bone density at our age.

This had me concerned because I thought initially I was way under the dosage...

It's 1,000 mg, age 19 to 50. Not all Men need to take Calcium suppliments before age 50. I've read this a lot on this website.

I know Mad Matt takes them but his Doctor recommended them (my guess is he doesn't drink skim milk and might be lactose intolerant). Depends on what your Doctor says. Mine said I was fine where I was.

PipeDreamsandBabies is a MD (ret-Major) and a Moderator. Dr_Font (LTC - USAR) is a MD as well. They both visit the Army Medics Forum there is also a Active Duty Army Special Forces Medical Officer that visits there as well. CiderAlpha (Army LTC - RN), IronErik (USAR 1st LT - RN), etc.

CMTaMedic is a NR-EMT as well as a Army SGT.

Vast wealth of knowledge that visits the Army Medics Forum, don't be shy about posting a Medical related question there. Remember though on diagnosis, they cannot go very far over the Internet with detailed diagnosis obviously without seeing you in person, really you need to see a Doctor in person (it's cheap $100-200).

They can however give you vitamin / suppliment input like on this topic....or a second opinion on something.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ErichG2,

For you "old" guys, what type of reaction did you get from the Cadre? I am curious about how you were recieved at your units also. I am currently working on getting back in also at 48. anyone retired from civilian career and going back in?

treated with respect. as long as you treat them the same. Just remember to be fit. Don't fall out in PT.

quote:

Originally posted by BenReyna:
For you "old" guys, what type of reaction did you get from the Cadre? I am curious about how you were recieved at your units also. I am currently working on getting back in also at 48. anyone retired from civilian career and going back in?

I wasn't the oldest in my platoon, but at 43 I was in the top 5.
I was running pretty well and was placed in the Bravo group during PT, I wasn't fast enough really to keep up with that group, but I was faster than the charlie group. near the end of the three mile run, I would fall back between the 2 groups. (I never stopped, nor walked!) one of the cadre started running from charlie group to catch up to me and was yelling at me to move it! and to Hurry up to get with my group...it was dusk, overcast so, it was still pretty dark, when he caught up to me, saw what I looked like, he shut up, turned around and went back to his group....
I got a chuckle outta that...
That's the only time I felt treated different.
But age has no bearing... but the cadre expected more. Remember, you will be most of their father's age

i can pretty much agree with all that has been said here. I went thru WTC back summer of 2007. i was 45 then, turned 46 at WTC. I was always in Charlie run group. No aspirations to be a PT stud, or even get into bravo group. I did fine.

Its just a very minor observation, so dont take it the wrong way. If you are over 40 and E4 and below, just try to fall in with everyone else. your age will actually be a hindrance to you. I was an E6 and PLT SGT, so my age, rank and grey hair came off well with the men. Again, its just a minor thing. I had other older guys who were E4 and below try to buddy up to me, but that is not a good thing for a squad leader or plt sgt to do. It looks bad to the younger men. They see a grey brigade thing going and your credibility is shot.

We had lots of men half my age running behind me and failing the APFT. I would always say when we ran, "if you are under 42, you need to be ahead of me..."

We had a DS who was at least 55. 11B type and pretty cool. he came across as a hard*** sometimes but in the end he was cool. He was out there running with us too. We also had an E7 student who was 53 and ran the 2 mile in under 14 minutes. So i dooubt age really matters when looking at PT scores. It just takes us longer to recover...

i went thru AIT last year doing 50 at Ft Sill,like it is said,it is the recovering that is the hardest after a PT test.Good motivation for the younger soldiers when they see a senior citizen doing PT.

I went through Airborne at 43 and just finished Rigger School. Old is just a state of mind and you will be surprised what you can make your body accomplish.

As has been said, recovering does get harder -but you do recover. I have one word for you - MOTRIN!

Go with a good attitude and remember all of us in the Grey Brigade have your back!!

One last thing... I've just finished a year in TRADOC. Without exception, I had nothing but positive responses from both the Cadre and my fellow students. Both respect your life experience - even if you haven't been in uniform in a while. The students will look to you for mentoring and the Cadre expect you to be more even-keeled than the young ones. Give 110% to everything you do. Play by the established rules and always set the example. Do these things and you won't have any problems, regardless of your age.

Semper Fi!
AIRBORNE!!
I WILL BE SURE ALWAYS!!!