Ok need feedback on this. Is it possible to join the Army active duty with the intent of getting an 18X/40 Option in your contract at 35 yrs old? Now lets assume you get it; are there 35 yr olds that have done it? I mean right now the Army is hard up and they are loosening the belt on letting people become SF but at 35. I mean I wouldnt even get to the unit till I was 37 or 38.

Absurd I know....

I believe I've read that cut off for 18x is before 30th birthday. I know I have read that there are 35 y/o's goin through the pipeline at 35+. The cut off for Airborne is 36. Thats all you need to apply for SF. Getting the clearance for some is the hard part. Of course I'm a fuggin civi that reads too much. So what do I know.

18X is for youngsters who (they hope) will grow up to be good soldiers. It would be counter intuitive to allow "Oldster" 18X's. OTOH, I once knew a 40 year old MAJ who did great in the SFQC. Ask your recruiter (in a reasonable way, try not to sound like a Hollywood dreamer) what the age limts are for attending SFAS, both 18X and for in service. You might find that you could enlist for the 82nd, 101st, 10th, etc... hit airborne and volunteer for SFAS all before you reach any (unknown) age limit.

OK, here is a helpful link for you....

AR 614-200


Airborne School Age requirement from AR 614-200 page 29 (referred to on the Ft. Benning Airborne school website as well):

(5) Be less than 36 years old on the date of application. Soldiers in the grade of SGT or above may obtain a waiver for age with favorable recommendation from a medical doctor.

Start reading from page 29, there is a section that follows on Ranger and on Special Forces.

If your 35 you should get to know this regulation. I'm not sure on the ins and outs of Army Schools or interpretation of this reg, the USASOC people here can tell you.

I have to tell you that I have seen 40+ year olds go through Air Assault School with no real problem and physically it is not any more or any less demanding then Airborne school.

The difference is Airborne school is a JOINT SERVICE school, so the Army has to listen to the snivelers from the Navy on medical requirements such as age, etc.

The Navy thinks there should be three genders in the world as well. I heard about that discussion at USAREC when they were designing the new Army Accession Computer system.

Let me amend my post above and with the caveat to see a Army Recruiter because they can waive the age requirements for any Army School including Airborne school.

Even if the regulations say the above.