So I was looking into enlistment today...

[Bulk Beef]

...and I registered on the Marine Corps website so I could get a little more info. This showed up in my inbox a few minutes later:

Thank you for your interest in the Marine Corps.

Our training is limited to qualified recruits between the ages of 17 and 28 and this requirement makes you ineligible to join the Marine Corps. However, please feel free to explore the "Registered User" section of our website using the following access codes:

Bummer. I'm old. So I check out the Army website and they have this chat thing with recruiters, and I jump in there and start asking questions. 34 is the max age for enlistment so I'm okay there, but I have this problem where I've only got eight toes (motorcycle accident), so Recruiter Clark says I'm probably out of luck but it's not his call. I say "OK, who do I talk to then", and he says "talk to your local recruiter". So I'm still thinking about it, but it's not looking too good.
Now the thing is while I'm dissappointed, I'm also a little relieved, not out of concern for my own safety or anything like that, but because enlistment would really complicate my life at this point. What about my career? What about my mortgage? What about my dog? What about my girlfriend who is looking like a pretty good candidate for a wife? Things like that.

Anybody have any input? Any alternatives? And am I jerk-off for being relieved (and I know I'm already a jerk-off, but I'm talking about this specific reason)?

 

[rommel]

LOL...get over it

 

[Descartes]

Umm, if you're so concerned about all those things, then why friggin enlist?

That doesn't make much sense.

 

[Mungla]

I may enlist in the Air Force or the Navy when I graduate from HS.

I have three reasons why I want to enlist:

1.) experience
2.) they pay up to something like $30k for college tuition
3.) to have a good time

 

[notfred]

<< Umm, if you're so concerned about all those things, then why friggin enlist?

That doesn't make much sense. >>



my sentiments exactly.

 

[Maetryx]

Hey! I'm 30 and I'm looking hard into enlisting in the Army. You've come to the right place. Call that recruiter. You don't want to turn 35 and THEN regret never serving. Check it out all the way before it is too late.

military.com
about.com

Loads of information on those two pages. I've read most of the links concerning joining the US Army. Don't quit on this idea until you've exhausted it. Pursue it until you're SURE it's not for you, or it is for you. Now, as for me, I've gotta lose some more weight. I started, and I've lost 12lbs or so, but I've got quite a ways to go. But I'm looking at enlisting next spring.

If you have a college degree, you may want to consider going in as an officer. I would consider that, but officers don't get to choose their own job like an enlisted, and they don't have signing bonuses either. Plus you can always go officer in a few years, which is what I'm planning on doing.

Anyway, PM me if you like. I'm all into this idea.

 

[Bulk Beef]

<< Umm, if you're so concerned about all those things, then why friggin enlist? >>


To serve. Period. The whole point is that I'm a little conflicted about it, in case you couldn't tell.

And Rommel is probably right. I'm old, already busted up, my knees hurt, and it's probably stupid for me to even consider it.

 

[boyRacer]

I always wanted to be a flyboy...

 

[Amused]

Hmmm, now where did I leave that flyswatter?

 

[Cyberian]

<< I may enlist in the Air Force or the Navy when I graduate from HS.

I have three reasons why I want to enlist:

1.) experience
2.) they pay up to something like $30k for college tuition
3.) to have a good time >>


As a fringe benefit you might even get to serve your country.