[ToxicGreenJeep]

This is something that I have been considering for a long time. After I graduated from high school I wanted to join the Army or Marines, but I decided to take some time for myself to travel and do other things before making a commitment.
Well, time sure does fly and now I am married and have three children, my oldest is 9 and youngest is 2. I have mentioned this to my wife before and she was always against it but recently she said "if that is something that you really want to do, I don't want to be the one who held you back." I was surprised to say the very least.
The problem is that my children are still young and I don't want to take the chance of being deployed at this point. The other problem is that I am old by military standards, so I can't take forever to make a decision.
The plus about this whole thing is that I am a registered nurse and I would go in as a commissioned officer, 2nd Lieutenant at the very least. Nurses are in high demand so I figured I could negotiate a higher rank. A dentist who I know negotiated a rank of Captain before he enlisted, so I know that it can be done.
Not that I am against being deployed, I would just like to minimize my chances, at least until my children get older. So, I decided (after discussing with several people) that the Air Force Reserves may be the best option for me at this point.
My question for anyone out there is: Does anyone have any advice or helpful information that could help me out?

Thank you in advance,
Larry

[bigj1974]

it's harder to get into the Air Force at this point (they do waivers, but you have to be super duper special).

always wanted to be in the USAF but couldn't due to weight -- they want stick figures, even after you lose 80 lbs to get in.

the other services, at least Navy and Army don't seem to care much about your age. Navy takes enlisted reserves up to age 39 (only prior service?), and Army takes in people up till age 487 if you want to join.
this is something I'm thinking hard about too!

[GasAxe]

Originally Posted by bigj1974

Army takes in people up till age 487 if you want to join.

PFC Moses reporting for duty, sir!

[dz1087]

Dentists and Doctors go in as Capt. You'll need to talk to a reserve unit and see if they need you for nursing. Reserves and NatGuard are like businesses, if they have a slot open, they take applications. You can talk to a recruiter, but I would contact the units directly. You may want to look into full time AF. 2Lt pay isn't too bad, and you get good benefits. Either way, you will have a fantastic chance of being deployed, even as a nurse. 90% of them here at our clinic have been over at least once, the others just haven't gone - yet. Also, for the medical corp, 30's isn't very old.

[blck4drjp]

i had the same ordeal bud. except i'm still in the debating phase, i'm 22 and i have a good job that pays more than they'll give me (plus other personal conflicts). you're def. to old for the marines i think the cutoff is 28 or 29 for reserves (if you never enlisted before). you have this year to figure out if you want in the air force because the cut off is 34 for reserves. the army is 42. join the air gaurd. my buddy was deployed and he said he stayed in a hotel and played games, and lifted weights for 3 months. he was deployed only because he asked for it too. also the best thing to do is to talk to the recruiters and see what they can offer you. take a day off and take the ASVAB that way you know what you're worth, and it doesn't commit you to anything; anything the recruiter promises you is B.S. when you go to sign that final sheet to sign your life to them for 4-6 years the bottom even says " The agreements in this section and attached annex(es) are all the promises made to me by the Government. ANYTHING ELSE ANYONE HAS PROMISED ME IS NOT VALID AND WILL NOT BE HONORED". if you do make the commitment sign up for 6 years. you'll qualify for more benefits like the GI bill. Also most importantly is to train. and no matter how hard you train mentally, they will find a way to break you. that's the DI's job. Check this link out it'll tell you everything you want to know about any branch http://usmilitary.about.com/

[afbond03]

Get ready to deal with more stupid little bull**** than you could ever imagine! Ive got 2 years of 6 left and am ready to move on. I was at one point going to do a nursing program that would allow me to stay active, pursue nursing, and come back an officer. Yea..after talking to nurses, I have since decided to get out and pursue it on my own. Like someone else said, it really depends on what the Air Guard units around you need. I am sure though if you really want to do it, they will find a way to get you in. Be ready to deploy, usually with the Army, usually for 6+ months. The Air Force is trying to get away from the sissy 4 month deployments it seems, especially with a skill like being a nurse.

[bigj1974]

I've got fam that has been in for 20+ years and some that just did a 6 year USAF. none regretted going, but none have rally anything positive to say, other than making a few good friends. Nice to get the training, but I think you really gotta LOVE it to stick it out for so long. I have a stepsis in the navy that hated every minute of it (according to her), yet stuck it out for 20. She said the mil was just chock full of prima donnas and backstabbers.

my sis that had been in the USAF said she met MANY MANY people that just wanted to do something else, but didn't know what, so they enlisted....and I find myself in that situation.

a few years ago I almost went into the Army, but decided against going in because I found myself only looking at the Stafford loan payoff and bonuses....and I didn't think I could be of any use to the Army by solely going in for that.

[Whybu1]

Been in the Army since 86 with a break for schooling. Right now if you join you have to ask "when will I deploy" not "will I ever deploy". That may change after the election but if you do not want to risk deployment do not join. By all means make sure your family is behind you; it is impossible to explain how hard deployments can be on families. If there is any doubt in your mind or theirs I would pass.

[Hilldweller]

I have a good friend that's a Navy Capt (Dentist); if you'd like to talk to him and get some for-real input, let me know. Bob loves his military life and the people/places etc he's been around.

[Gravitytester]

There are three type of soldiers in the Army(this includes reserves and guard). Those that are deployed, those that have deployed and those that are getting ready to deploy. Right now the reserves and guard are on a 3 year flip. Delpoy for a year and come home for 3 then deploy again. That is a average, some units deploy more, some less. I have just finished my second deployment in 2.5 years. With a total of 3 deployments in 4.5 years and I am in the guard. Bottom line is this, if you do not want to deploy, do not join. It is not if, it is when.

[Hilldweller]

Oh, you'll deploy. My buddy with the JAG office just got back from a tour.
And he's older than I am....

[RnEmOvr]

when i signed up in Jan of this year they told me the only thing they could promise me is i would deploy, most likely with in 6-12 months of getting out of basic,



on a positive side guy i went to basic with turned 42 while we were there, his youngest son was in Echo company a week behind us

[bigj1974]

how did the old fart do physically in basic, compared to the 18 year olds?

was it harder for him to adjust to all the rigors of basic since he's older?

I think it's kinda cool the Army takes older folks who had life get in the way but want to serve.

[RnEmOvr]

he actually did rather well, hardest part for him was dealing with the "young bucks" like one night they took his dentures, they kept them from him long enough to tell the DS, we all had a few good laughs doing PT at midnight outside in about 12 degrees

[Hilldweller]

Originally Posted by bigj1974

how did the old fart do physically in basic, compared to the 18 year olds?

Yikes, sonny.
I'm 45 but, last I checked, I could still bench-press 450.
Cheese. Old farts, indeed.

But I can't run worth a dang anymore so maybe you got something there...