Is 23 too old to join the military?

Question

It seems like a lot of people join right after high school.

Answer 1

Joining the service at 23 is perfectly fine. Be sure to choose the right branch though... the Air Force and Navy typically have better training schools, especially in telecommunications and electronics. If you want combat duty, chose the Army or Marines, however, after your enlistment, there's not a lot of civilian jobs that require that type of training, not too mention the inherent danger of armed conflict.

Each branch will require that you go through 'basic training', which is a grueling physical AND mental process. While it was a b*tch to go through, I consider my successful completion of basic training as one of my greatest accomplishments. You go in as an immature, untested infant, and you emerge as a confident, tough young man (or woman).

Finally, if you are considering the military, give serious consideration to serving a full twenty years. Over the course of your life, you will change careers many times... you're also going to have to work until you're sixty.

If you spend that first twenty years in the service, you will get a guaranteed income (albeit minimal), and good health benefits for the rest of your life. You'd only be 43 when you retired, and could start a new career with the safety net of having monthly income and health insurance that many companies do not offer these days. Take it from a 45 year old who only just started a new job, and the health insurance is not only expensive, but also very limited. Good luck, and God bless our troops.

Answer 2

No way is 23 too old! Kids right out of high school just don't have the same maturity level as someone who has already turned 21 and possibly gotten the "party" bug out of their system and are seriously reflecting on what to do with the rest of their lives. In my opinion, 18 is too young to join the service. Just doesn't seem right that a kid can get killed for their country before they're legally allowed to buy a beer. They're responsible enough to fight and die but not enough enter a nightclub or tavern - how much sense does THAT make?

Answer 3

You are actually going to do better in basic training than the younger kids because your body is more mature if you stayed in shape. The more mature soldiers I have are the ones who usually stay out of trouble.

Try going not during the summer time because thats when all the high school kids do their basic training. You might even qualify for enlistment starting at a higher pay grade if you got any college education or something. I know of couple of people that enlist after college because they dont know what to do even after college. One even had a masters degree in recreational management.

Answer 4

no 23 is not too old for the military, i saw lots of people in their 30s join the navy

Answer 5

No Way, 23 is not too old to enlist. The only thing that is different when you enlist is the Physical Training requirements. Other than that, you do what everyone else in the military does.

Answer 6

HOLY COW!! NO!! I joined at 35. Although I joined the Air National Guard (29 is usually the age limit unless you have a waiver). It was the best thing I have ever done. You are never too old!!!

Answer 7

no you can join until you are 26 or older. Most people right after highschool are joining to escape their home life and it is the wrong reason to join... Go in knowing what you want to do and know that ALL recruiters lie. So be careful and get it in writing in the contract you sign.

Answer 8

You can join the military at 23. They prefer younger people as they more readily adapt to military thinking.

Answer 9

No it's not. I'm 23 and just got out of Coast Guard Boot camp. The advantage age for my company was 22.

Answer 10

nah ur at a perfect age but take it rom me i'm 21 i've been in since i was 17. If u do enlist go full time i wouldn't suggest national gaurd or reserve for ne branch. ur too young to sit and do it for only once a month and not getting the knowledge that the guard expects u to have.