I'm 54 & 1/2 now, (hey if kids can do it, so can I)?

Question

I've asked a few questions on here, just to see the answers, but this is a really serious one, I'd like older folk to answer mostly, but I want everyone's answers.
Why don't we have us older, experienced guys, go in and take care of business in Aphganistan and Iraq, and Iran? We would know what to do, who to trust, just like the old days in Nam. Why do we get our youngsters killed, when weve already lived our lives?

Answer 1

Probably why younger people get the jobs now too........when the older are more experienced, more trustworthy, and more mature.......

I appreciate your OFFER;...........however, you (and older gentlemen) like yourself; have DONE YOUR JOB.......it's time for them -- to do theirs.........and remember, it's still volunteer...
so nobody is FORCING our younger generation to go fight.... like they did, during the Vietnam Era.........

God bless (I'm inbetween in age, BTW)........yours and theirs...

Answer 2

That's a good point but it's the middle aged folks in this country that keep it economically, socially, and politically balanced...sure, older folks could join the military, but they shouldn't be recruited because most have already accrued responsibilities to the country in a different way...not to mention the families that they have to support. Youngsters don't have those types of responsibilities. All that aside, i'm sure there would be a much better outcome overseas if the previous generation went to take care of business.

Answer 3

Thank you for the offer, but as a soldier currently in Iraq, i would prefer you to stay home. The conditions here are not conducive for a healthy life for older people. The heat and body armor (which is very heavy) would take a huge toll on your body. If you couldn't keep up due to dehydration or because the gear was too heavy, you would be a burden and be a safety issue. I volunteered to join the army, we can take this one.

Answer 4

I'm only 20, but I'd like to put in my 2 cents.

A guy from my senior American Gov't class in HS joined the USMC and was deployed to Iraq, then his armored vehicle hit an IED and while he survived, many of his comrades did not. He now has severe PTSD and is no longer the same person.

I was born pretty long after Vietnam occurred so my opinion on this is less informed as I'd like, but to have put men through such times, and then to put them through it again.. there's only so much a man can take.

My boyfriend is a Marine currently deployed in Iraq, and I don't know if I could ask him to go back, 40 years from now, to make him go through all this again. But maybe I'm just selfish..

Answer 5

Well, I'm a 50 year old woman. My dad, who was a US Marine and is now 66, explained to me that the reason young men, especially, are wanted in the military is because between the ages of 18 to mid-20s, they have so much testosterone, they are the strongest, quickest, and bravest they will ever be, and they feel they are invincible. After that age, males start to realize that they are NOT invincible and so are not as brave. The military uses these young men as replaceable game pieces - they will run to the front of the line and charge ahead, regardless of the fact that they are going to be killed (because they don't, themselves, believe they are going to be killed) and there are more to take their place.

Answer 6

There were no age limitations before the 20th century. When they started to draft people in world war one the army wanted men in their early to mid 20s because those men were most likely to have NO DEPENDENTS. In fact, 18 and 19 year olds were not wanted by the army then because they werent fully developed. The fact that men in their 20s are more trainable is true...but the IDF has plenty of resrve infantry soldiers in their 50s and sometimes they have kept themselves in much better shape than 21 year olds.

Answer 7

Good question. But it's a cruel world and the young are expendable. It's the old that send the young in their place, and letting the other old guys go would put these power figures in danger. Count on your fingers the presidential staff that have actually gone to war. Count the draft and duty dodgers and you'll need a lot more fingers.

Answer 8

You sound like my dad and father-in-law! I've heard both of them make similar statements. But haven't you guys done your time? You all have served in the Military and Vietnam, and you done it well. It's time to give you guys a rest and allow a new generation of well trained young men and women to do their job.
I don't doubt that you guys, especially those of you that served in Vietnam, could go in and kick some serious @ss! My husband, who's Military, has said that your generation was a very determined bunch! And I think few doubt you could do it, it's just that our men and women in the Military now signed up for a reason, and they are proving what they're made of. We should all be very proud of them, just as we should be proud of people like you and all of those that served before.

Answer 9

Like others here have posted, at that age your not as in good physical condition as someone in their 20's or 30's, and a lot of stuff being done in those areas are strenous work.

You might be a good advisor or trainer, but you probably need a lot of certification and training before they'd consider you for that too.

Again, nothing wrong with having that kind of attitude. It's just that the military will be hard-pressed to believe you'd be of any use to them (esp. if you haven't been keeping in shape).

Answer 10

I like you're attitude, but I'm afraid there aren't enough people who share the same enthusiasm. Most people who experience war become traumatized and don't want anything to do with it anymore.
At least our troops down in the middle east now are all doing it voluntarily, we haven't had to start drafting people off. I suppose it's all just a matter of how much people are willing to do to fight for their country.

Answer 11

God bless you for the support. In reality, there are still a few of you more experienced folks still in the military...or at least the Reserves. I served with a guy in 2001 at Ft Hood who was a Vietam vet. Although we didnt deploy, he still was there with us.
You might check to see if the Reserves will tak ya. They (at least the Army) is still need ing lots of people to help out in certain fields. Check into it.