what is the oldest age the british army will employ?

Answer 1

Technically speaking there is no upper limit.

After all, Chelsea Pensioners and Yeomen of the Guard are still on the Army paylist!

The Royal Infirmary is a kind of "old peoples' home" for military pensioners of good character - it is technically an Army barracks commanded by a Brigadier (note to americans - Brigadier = one-star general). The oldest pensioner I heard of was in his nineties and is technically the oldest serving soldier on the Army rolls...

Yeomen of the Guard are again old soldiers in their fifties and sixties who are ex-NCO's with a clean and exemplary service record, who are "soldiering on" in a semi-active capacity as the honour guard at the Tower of London. I understand they retire in their late sixties, though.

Elsewhere, the upper limit depends on specialisation and rank.

I was relieved at the time of the Iraq stupidity to be over the age of 39 - this means I was too old to be recalled to the Infantry where I served over twenty years ago, as the max age for an infantryman is 39yrs.

However, during my Army service I did several courses in intelligence work (deep gloom). As a speciality calling for a lower level of physical fitness, the horrible spectre is that I could be recalled as late as 55 yo. I doubt this - if I'd been thought of as indispensible they'd have recalled me before now for refresher courses - but the horrible spectre is always there.

Senior officers tend to retire later, according to need and what they can negociate: I understand the last serving soldier with WW2 experience left the Army in the middle to late 1980's as a General in his sixties. I think the only reason he'd been kept so long was that he was the only man who knew the stores system and where everything was, and he had to be allowed time to train up a couple of successors!

Answer 2

Alright Charles
How are you?
I am currently applying for the British Army. I am 28 years old and quiet a lot that they have to offer is now unavailable. Have a look at my history and you will see a question called "joining the army" There might be something to help you there. It seems from the Website that 26yrs 11months is the max age for a lot of the usual vocations. Due to my age i have asked my recruiting officer what is still available. They will take people upto the ge of thirty but this is usually in the less "demanding roles" such as chefs, chaplains, H.R etc. As i said earlier about being 28, the best vocations that have been offered are REME, Logistics and possibly thr R.A. I am however looking for a posting that will give me skills for later life. (due to the age)

I also applied to Sandhurst about a year ago for Officer training. They will accept you if you are under 29 on the day you start training at Sandhurst as the training is about 12 months (30 years old.....ok). The best thing to do is to find your nearest recruiting office and go for a chat or give them a phone.

Try the links below for more info. Good luck mate i am looking forward to my time in the Army.

Answer 3

55

Answer 4

the oldest to be recruited would be late 30's, but i guess you can serve much longer, even beyond 50, if you are at a high rank

Answer 5

I was called up for the Falklands at 40 but I don't think you can actually enlist past ~ mid to late 20s...

Answer 6

It depends in what capacity. I am sure you could work as a cleaner for the army if you were 100.

Answer 7

If you're over the age of 26 you can't join.

Answer 8

26, special circumstances 28.......22 year career shortly to be extended to 24 years..

Answer 9

It would depend upon your army rank.

Answer 10

not sure... they just had a deserter from Korea show up at his post a while pack, and hes around 95