U.S. Army raises maximum age for enlistment (up 5 years to 39)

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N18239519.htm

U.S. Army raises maximum age for enlistment

WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army, which missed its fiscal 2005 recruiting goal, said on Wednesday it has raised the maximum enlistment age for new soldiers by five years to 39, greatly expanding its pool of potential recruits.

Army officials said the move did not reflect desperation to reverse recruiting shortfalls, noting the Army had achieved seven straight monthly recruiting goals despite coming up 7,000 short of last year's target of 80,000 recruits. The Army has blamed recruiting shortfalls in part on reluctance by some potential recruits to serve in the Iraq war.

Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, an Army spokesman, said older recruits must meet the same physical standards as the younger ones and attend the same basic training. The new age ceiling applies to recruits without prior military service.

"Experience has shown that older recruits who can meet the physical demands of military service generally make excellent soldiers based on their maturity, motivation, loyalty and patriotism," Army Recruiting Command said in a statement.

[blm]

1. Now Free Republic will stampede enlistment centers all over the country.

,

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. It will look like the running of the bulls in Spain

All those brave RW SWAT teams looking for the big signing bonuses.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. "The Army has blamed recruiting shortfalls in part on reluctance by some

potential recruits to serve in the Iraq war."

Gee, ya think? :shrug:

[kineneb]

3. now if my Little Brother whines

I really can go tell him to enlist...and he used to be able to speak Farsi...bet they could use him...

(actually, I wouldn't want him to fight for BushCo, but he voted for them, so...tough, I get to gig him)

[against all enemies]

4. Wrong, looks like 42 year olds can now join the fun - for some big $$$

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20060117-1500-armyrecruiting.html

[leveymg]

5. The New Face of the New Army of One

[Deja Q]

6. Just offshore some more jobs and pretend to want to restore ethics.

That'll make people eagar to fight what's right. Or at least to die comparatively quickly because there's nothing else left for them now that they're jobs have vanished and nothing substantial to replace it with.

[kenny blankenship]

7. So, should we expect congestive heart failure now

to replace IEDs as the leading cause of death among U.S. troops deployed to edges of the Empire?

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. Oh great. They'll be emptying out the senior centers next.

[DrDebug]

10. How about raising to 93? n/t

Uncle Sam Wants You

[kenny blankenship]

11. I am UPSET that the Bush administration has not seen fit to appropriate

the necessary funds to give to all our troops kevlar pacemakers!

[DanCa]

12. Somone please post this on free republic. I dont have the pain tolerance

to do it. Note give them the www.goarmy.com link and tell them to enlist.

[MercutioATC]

13. Akkkk! I'm eligible again!

I USED to be protected (even from a draft) by being an air traffic controller (civilian). These days, I wouldn't bet on that protection...

[Doctor_J]

14. Excellent! Now Sean Hannity can sign up!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl: