View Full Version : Considering the reserves, Navy or Army (Due to age)
I would like to consider joining the reserves. After talking to a few guys here at work, I find that our company (Private company) is very "reserves friendly".
They will allow me upto 24 months active call out without me loosing my position.
They will continue to pay my benefits while called to active.
They will maintain my normal salery minus what the military pays me, but they do not look at bonus monies from overseas, hazard pay, or any other extra monies.
So, I would not lose any money or benefits for my family if I were to be called out, and I can do something for my country and its people. I see it as a great oppurtunity.
I checked and saw that being that I am 37 yrs old, no military background... I have the choice of Navy or Army. Marines will not take an old dude like me. I am really looking at the Navy Seabees as a heavy equipment operator. I do not know what the Army would have that would interest me, but I do think that at my age the idea of being a "soldier" humping the sand all day is not very likely. I feel that as a supporting role, I could still be helpfull to the military without being a dead weight to others around me that are much younger and in better shape. Mind you, I am not fat or terribly out of shape at all, but I am soft compared to a hardened soldier...without a doubt.
Some of you all may have some input for me that can help me in the decision to follow through with this, if so please share.
By carreer I am a Nuclear Non-Destructive Testing Technician, titled "Senior Nuclear Specialist". I have 17 years of experiance in Ultrasound, Mag Partical, Dye Pen, and Visual Inspection with ASNT certifications.
I tried to search the websites for something that would place me within my current skill-set, but could find nothing. I thought the SeaBees would be pretty cool because I could get into heavy machinary (fun!) and still get invloved with some security work. I have been reading up on the SeaBees and they sound like they work hard on the construction/support side and yet still get the chance to do some security/soldier type work.
SeaBees - We Build, We Fight!
Any suggestions? Am I crazy for wanting to do this at 37 years old?
the USMC has (or had) NDT techs in the Air Wing down at the squadron level. If they did, I bet the Navy does, too. Why not try to pick an MOS that aligns well with an area where you have some expertise?
BTW you are not crazy. If I thought I could swing it without risking a divorce and/or loss of job, I'd do it. Hell, I'd have done it 6 or 8 years ago!
Note: The last thing I want... is to be stuck on some ship! I wish to avoid that at all costs!
The SeaBees interested me because of the fact that they claim to be soldiers as well as construction. So in that family, you can get some exciting jobs that may involve some adrenaline and excitement. I also kind of considered MP as that would be not out on the line, yet allow me to do some type of security work that would be more interesting than inspecting bolt carriers with MT all day. I've been doing NDE all my life, it would kind of nice to try on a different coat and see how it fits.... Driving a bull dozer or backhoe sounds pretty damn fun, especially if I can occasionally have a more exciting job between construction jobs.
Honestly, a guy I work with is a SeaBee and he's done two 6 month tours to Faluja (spelling?) and he says he had done multiple security runs with 3 stars under thier protection with a Humvee escort following a bulldozer on a trailer. Once the bulldozer and 3 star got safely to the location, they unload the bulldozer and do the job at that location. When they finished, they got GPS coordinates and drove to that point where a 2 star was let out of a chopper and they escorted him to a point that was again set up conviniantly to be there next construction job. So they got to hot rod humvees and duece and a halfs with M-16's and a SAW while moving from construction sote to cunstruction site. Sounds kind of fun. But, maybe he coated the story with icing and sprinkles?
I'm open to suggestions, I am not married to any job or even if I am or am not going to do it. I am interested and this is step 1 of my research. I fear calling a recruiter because they are most likley used car salesmen in uniform!
BTW you are not crazy. If I thought I could swing it without risking a divorce and/or loss of job, I'd do it. Hell, I'd have done it 6 or 8 years ago!
I talked to my wife about it, and she told me "Just like everything else you've done in the last 15 years, I will support you 100% and help you do the best you can." She is a good woman, hard to find girls like her... thats for sure. She let me try to start a small business that has nearly wrecked our lives... and she does not throw it in my face, even now as we are really getting deep in shit over it.
Larry -
I applaud your desire to serve. Please feel free to PM me any questions on affiliating - I'm not a recruiter, however my classmate is the CO of Recruiting in San Diego - we can get you the straight skinny on any specific questions.
SeaBees are a high demand asset for the Navy and COCOMs - you can expect to deploy quite a bit if you join them. Whether for our own force, building Partner capacity, or Theater Security Cooperation initiatives, the work you do leaves an enduring mark to the local population.
Best,
Pk
You may also want to look at Army Civil Affairs.
Larry,
The Reserves are definitely the way to go. Understand that a Reserve contract is for an 8-year hitch (three years of drill status, then you are released to inactive).
If you wanted to use your Non-Destructive Testing skills in the Army you'll probably want to go into Aviation Maintenance or ordnance -- we use Magnaflux machines to inspect everything from gas turbine engines to artillery breech blocks and machine guns.
I'm not familiar with where the Navy employs NDT skills, but the advantage of the Navy Reserve is they will try to pair your civilian job skills with your working rating (job code/job description). One of our Army Reserve JAG captains was the Assistant US Attorney for East Texas.
The beauty of military reserve service is if you choose to pursue a military job rating (i.e., SeaBee) the system normally works to do that. I've run into judges, helicopter manufacturers, and investment bankers doing jobs like Special Forces Intelligence NCO and intelligence analyst.
Naval service by definition means you will be on a ship some time in your career, even if that means just to transit with your heavy equipment (i.e., "From the sea"). Combat Engineer Battalions ("C-B") means sailors with big equipment.
Army Combat Engineers, Air Force Mobility "Prime Beef", and Navy SeaBees are always in huge demand.
The Active Army's initial enlistment age limit (non prior service) is 40. Our minimum enlistment is 17 months (not counting your basic training and MOS [job skill] school).
I do not know what the Army would have that would interest me, but I do think that at my age the idea of being a "soldier" humping the sand all day is not very likely. I feel that as a supporting role, I could still be helpfull to the military without being a dead weight to others around me that are much younger and in better shape. Mind you, I am not fat or terribly out of shape at all, but I am soft compared to a hardened soldier...without a doubt.
Any suggestions? Am I crazy for wanting to do this at 37 years old?
Dude, your not crazy. I'm 37 now, but in Nov 05 I decided to join the Nat'l Guard after an 8yr break from Active Duty. I hadn't done anything for fitness in all that time and I came back into the same job I'd done previously. Infantry. I started over as a Private and in 2yrs had worked my way back up to Corporal and had become a fire team leader. My leadership considers me an integral part of the team. I run 2-3 times a week and hit the gym 2-3 times a week. I even spent some of my bonus money on a trainer so I could learn how to work out more effectively. I guess what I'm trying to relate in a round about way is that it's not about your age, but the effort you put into it. Physical fitness can be a struggle at times, but it's all about what you want and what are you willing to do to make it happen. PM me if you have any questions. Good Luck in whichever branch you decide on.
Murphy,
Let's not forget that you also served in Iraq while many people half your age sit around at home playing XBOX.
Dude, your not crazy. I'm 37 now, but in Nov 05 I decided to join the Nat'l Guard after an 8yr break from Active Duty. I hadn't done anything for fitness in all that time and I came back into the same job I'd done previously. Infantry. I started over as a Private and in 2yrs had worked my way back up to Corporal and had become a fire team leader. My leadership considers me an integral part of the team. I run 2-3 times a week and hit the gym 2-3 times a week. I even spent some of my bonus money on a trainer so I could learn how to work out more effectively. I guess what I'm trying to relate in a round about way is that it's not about your age, but the effort you put into it. Physical fitness can be a struggle at times, but it's all about what you want and what are you willing to do to make it happen. PM me if you have any questions. Good Luck in whichever branch you decide on.
Murphy,
Let's not forget that you also served in Iraq while many people half your age sit around at home playing XBOX.
True. I have my reasons for serving and they have theirs for not. My reasons are better than theirs:D.
Eric Shelton
04-25-09, 13:50
Larry, you're not nuts, and it could very well be a great thing for you. I got out after a 6-year hitch of active duty Air Force for all the typical reasons. "This sucks, I hate my NCOIC, etc., ad nauseam." I joined the Air Nat'l Guard after (almost) a 5 year break in service.
And it's been the best thing I've ever done.
Sure, there are units or career fields that foster the "weekend warrior" joke or cliche. I remember being terrified of that when I was active and swearing I wouldn't be one those doofuses. What nobody told me is that there are also some totally cool opportunities, like the UAV unit I'm in. And there are full-time positions, if you really fall in love with it.
Here, it's interesting, because how seriously you take it is really up to you. There are a couple of guys that I would love to drum the hell out of here. There are also some guys I really respect. But your professionalism, and military is all on you to maintain. It makes it much more darwinian, for lack of a better term, and I think overall it's made my unit pretty great.
I'm pretty sure most Guard and Reserve units just require you can complete 20 years of service before the age of 60... So I don't think you're nuts. Hell, I'd encourage you!
Proudamerican
04-25-09, 18:01
Do it your still a young man i just went back in the army reserve at the age of 46 to finish my retirement as a 25U.
I didn't read every post so hopefully I'm not repeating things...
Not sure about the Reserves but active duty Navy has NDI specialists who are typically AMS or AMH (I think they're the same now). They work for AIMD (Advanced Intermediate Maintenance Division) and onboard boats they're attached to the Airframes Division or IM-2. They do need them on shore as well so that may be an avenue you could take. Good luck!
AMS/AMH = Aviation Mechanic Structural/Hydraulic
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