I'm a 22 year-old male, and am thinking of joining the U.S. Army. I have a question, more of a concern, though. Supposedly I pass through all the training and qualifications, and get "accepted" and into the program. I'm sure an 18 year-old can also join. So, is it possible that I may have a platoon leader who's younger than me? I dunno. That's kinda humiliating, a 22 year-old having to listen to a 18 or 19 year-old, if not younger!
2007-10-09 10:45:51 · 11 answers · asked by euges115 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
your leaders will prolly be older than you.. but you will have to live with a work with a bunch of 18 year olds.
my husband joined the air force at 22.. and he doesnt like dealing with the obnoxious 18 year olds.. and i dont like dealing with him now acting like hes right out of highschool during training! lol
really i think major things happen in the maturity of men between the age of 20 and 24..
and i also think, you should join the air force or navy instead! better benifits!
2007-10-09 10:55:50 · answer #1 · answered by Lapin 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
So you think you should be platoon leader just because you're older? Doesn't work like that. The guy that's younger than you took the training and earned the position while you'd be a fresh out of basic no nothing. Age has nothing to do with it while rank and skill has everything. Do you think when you get to be 50 and join a big company that they'll let you be CEO even though you don't know squat about the business?
If you can't handle taking orders from someone younger than you, you're not mature enough for the military.
2007-10-09 20:23:04 · answer #2 · answered by Chris L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my unit there are three brand new 2nd Lts and they're all under 23 years old. There is an E-5 who is 20 who I've been deployed with and will follow him into combat any day of the week. The Lts not so much but they're still learning. I'm a 25 year old E-6 and am presently the acting platoon sergeant. So yes its possible to be under the command of someone younger, but that does not mean that they are all incompetent. Just do what your supposed to do and stick with it until its your turn to take the lead.
2007-10-10 00:44:34 · answer #3 · answered by crop13b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is not possible to have a 18 0r 19 year old
Platoon Leader and absolutely not younger!!
2007-10-09 17:56:39 · answer #4 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Them are the breaks. You enter as a private E-1 like the guy next to you and that 19 year old corporal WILL tell you where to get off. That's the army and the ranks are there, age does not enter in the equation.
2007-10-09 18:48:30 · answer #5 · answered by robert43041 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get over it, age is irellevant.
I went to Viet nam as a twenty four year old squid with nineteen year old infantry "Shake and Bake" squad leaders. When the stuff hits the fan, age becomes the factor that means nothing. Ability means everything.
I am a 66 year old working for the Government now. Am I embarrassed that my supervisors are all in their 40's and 50's? I don't think so, they respect my two careers and my decision to keep on trucking as long as I can.
2007-10-09 17:56:27 · answer #6 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Nope, your Platoon Leader has to go to college first so they should be a year older than you or about your age. There may be a buck sergeant about your age though. Good luck.
2007-10-09 18:18:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's possible.
It can be humiliating only if you think it is so. Your ability to cope with the situation will be something of an inspiration to the "kids."
But, you might be selected to lead your platoon because of your age and level of education.
I'll tell you... I've worked with some young enlisted guys who had it together better than some older commissioned officers.
2007-10-09 18:13:04 · answer #8 · answered by gugliamo00 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So it's all about YOUR ego then?
How about thinking about oh, I don't know....Loyalty, Patriotism, A call to better yourself and your country, Your team, Duty..etc,etc.
Suck it up. Platoon Sergeants are older then Platoon Leaders and they seem to handle it just fine.
2007-10-09 18:07:31 · answer #9 · answered by dee dee dee (mencia) 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would think it might be possible if they have college under their belt my brother is in the military with no college education when going in and he had younger guys than him telling him what to do he is in his 30s though
2007-10-13 15:47:28 · answer #10 · answered by grandmaofthree 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋