A military question for people who recall the 80's

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I am back and working on some ideas for Through the years and I was wondering a simple question. Does anyone recall the cut off age that someone had to be under to join the military in 1983-1984? Would be the reserves, but I just wondered what the age is. I know it is 42 now, but not sure about 30 years ago. Also would they take someone after that age if they had been in service just a decade earlier, even if they are over the age limit by say a year?

Comments

not sure of most

of the questions, but I think the cutoff was 35, as they wished you to be able to get 20 in. I know they did let you re-up after leaving, but not sure on the cut off there.

it's gone up?

Sadarsa's picture

I didnt realize they upped it to 42. But yeah it was around 35 (i was thinking 36)

another thing they changed was that you used to be able to drink *on base* (off base you were subject to normal laws again) at the age of 18, i think they changed that in `97 back to the normal 21

~Your only Limitation is your Imagination~

Although from what I

Although from what I understand people don't follow that drinking rule. I know a few people in the the U.S. army. They said if you were 18 you could easily get a drink on base.

age

Sadarsa's picture

sure, given to them by someone of legal age... which is called contributing to a minor, and also illegal.

I never saw anyone ever follow that law when it came out, but since it *is* illegal you'd have to be careful and cover your butt. By the time that law passed i was oversea's where it was still legal, had my 21'st B-day in Sagamiono, Japan. So when i got back i was of age and didnt personally have any trouble with it.

~Your only Limitation is your Imagination~

Age Requirements

littlerocksilver's picture

I taught at Officer Training School from 1975-79. I retired in 1988. For a person to get a commission they had to be commissioned before their 35th birthday. That's so that they may get ten years commissioned time in by age 45. Retired officers or officers who do not retire may be subject to recall at the (forgot the word) of the government. This has been employed many times during national emergencies. General Douglas McArthur was recalled after retirement. To be commissioned a person must be 21 and a US citizen. One does not have to be a citizen to enlist. I believe the lower age limit is 17 to enlist with parental permission. Eighteen or over does not require parental permission.

Portia

16 induction

Sadarsa's picture

I was 16 when i got into the `DEP' program, but yeah 17 is the lower limit

~Your only Limitation is your Imagination~

Reenlistments

https://news.unt.edu/news-releases/military-historian-availa...

Military historian available to comment on raising of age limit for enlistment in Army

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

In June, the Army raised its enlistment age limit from 40 to 42 -- after raising it from 35 to 40 in February. The first group of older recruits, which includes just five soldiers age 40 and older, have started basic training. The Army hopes to attract older soldiers by offering shorter active-duty periods, signing bonuses and bonuses for soldiers who persuade others to join.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/enlstand...

Prior Service Enlistments

The age limit for prior service enlistment for most of the branches is the same as above, except that an individual's total previous military time can be subtracted from their current age. For example, let's say that an individual has four years of credible military service in the Marine Corps and wants to join the Air Force. The Air Force could waive the individual's maximum enlistment age to age 31 (Maximum age of 27 for the Air Force, plus four years credible service in the Marines).

For the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps Reserve, the maximum age of enlistment for prior service is 32, after computing the prior-service age adjustment.

Active Duty None-Prior Service

•Army - 35 (must ship to basic training prior to 35th birthday. The Army experimented with raising the age limit to age 42 for a brief period of time, but effective April 1st, 2011, the Army has reverted to the lower age limit.
•Air Force - 27
•Navy - 34
•Marines - 28
•Coast Guard - Age 27. Note: up to age 32 for those selected to attend A-school directly upon enlistment (this is mostly for prior service).

For the Army and Air National National Guard, the maximum age for prior service enlistment is 59, as long as the member has enough years of prior service to be able to complete 20 years of creditable service for retirement by age 60.

The military has time in service limits by pay grade: an E-6 Navy can't REENLIST after 22 yrs. E-5 after 18 yrs

Remember also when you enlist you have an EIGHT YEAR obligation: 2 yrs active/6 yrs inactive reserve 4 yrs active /4 yrs inactive reserve.

Huggles
Chelle_MM

Age cut off

I attended Basic Training in Sep of 1981 and the max age for enlisting at that time without a waiver was 42. The military does have waivers for just about anything though if it is in the National Intrest.

Oh, and when I was an Army Reserve Drill Sgt, I came across 63 year old PFC's in a NHNG Artillery Unit that we assisted by giving them their Common Tasks Testing (CTT) for the year.

10 USC 311 and 18 USC 313 age limits for National Guard and Mili

As prior service USAF Active Duty 1983 to 1990 I'm a member of the Unorganized Militia until I'm 64 year old. National Guard will enlist members up until they are 64 as required. Adm Grace Hopper was at the time of her retirement in 1986, she was the oldest commissioned officer in the United States Navy (79 years, eight months and five days). She first retired in 1966 then reactivated in '67 and again retired in '71 and reactivated in '72 until her final retirement in '86.

So for the few the age rules don't matter. For the rest of us....

Robi

*HUGS*
Robi

I want to thank you all

Raff01's picture

I am working on plans for a story and have yet to decide how to proceed, but this information gives me some good ideas. Thank you all for responding