I can't speak directly to the Army, but I joined the Navy Reserve as a Seabee (Engineers) and was 37 years old at Great Mistakes. I was a married father of two and a full time LEO at the time. I had been on the SWAT team for many years and was a PT machine.
It sucked being the oldest one there. Try having a 33 year old RDC (DI) on you all the time telling you they're going to break you because you don't belong in his military. The snow watch, outside from 0200-0400 in January did suck. He didn't break me. I will say that boot camp was much easier on my mentally and emotionally than on the average 19-20 year old. Obviously, I think, the Army PT is much more physically challenging than the Navy. There were two others in thier 30's. They were studs and were going to be SEAL's. They failed and ended up Boatswain Mates chipping paint for thier enlistment. That is more the norm for the older guys that think they'll excel and get to SOF units in all the branches.
Guard and reserve guys can just about stay deployed if they desire. I know many Bee's that have the GWOT expeditionary, Iraq, Afghanistan, and even the new Syria/Iraq(inherent resolve) campaign ribbons. That's 4 separate one year deployments and I have friends with even more deployments as reserves.
In general older guys do excel once they get past the first enlistment and are usually E-6's be then. I've seen many make E-7, E-8, and even E-9 that came in later in life, or take a commission and stay in till 60, especially as an Engineer in the CEC (Seabee Officers).
In my time I've done multiple deployments to all the shitty hot spots and am really looking to retire in 10 months. At 56 the PT isn't hard but it does suck to have to maintain everything when your knees and back let you know your age. I made E-8 in 13 years and will retire as that. I never wanted an extra career but I'm glad I stayed in. I wouldn't do it as an active member but the reserves allowed me to serve and contribute without giving up everything else. Just do it!
"The peace we have within us is most often expressed in how we treat others"
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