Military manpower shortage solution?

Question

Why not to increase the number of recruits for the vacant jobs change the max age to say 45yr old? My thinking is that while a person this age may not be fit for front line combat they certanly could fill most if not all support positions and free up younger personnel for the front line duty. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

When OIF began, I volunteered my services... I was almost 60 at the time, but I don't think I was particularly out of shape... or very far out of training.

I run from 2-3 miles a week (less than 18 minutes). I swim 2-3 miles a day (never more than 75 minutes), do weights 3 days a week (about 30 minutes), Karate 3 days a week and Kali 2 days a week (about 90 minutes each), shoot a couple times a month. Summers I go to a lake and mark off a quarter mile on the beach and swim a mile (4 laps), run a mile (4 laps), and repeat twice for a total of 6 miles and I do it in less than 90 minutes.... and I'm 65 now.

I told them I might not be as spry as I once was, but perhaps I could take a bullet meant for a young soldier so he could keep fighting.

I'm too old. Maybe in better shape than some of the guys in the service today... but it's the fault of my birth certificate.

The answer is to get younger guys and gals (if they really want equal rights) off their lazy, complacent, self-centered butts and into uniform. And if they're too lazy, complacent, or self-centered, maybe they need to be drafted. Sometime between the age of 18 and the age of 26, every person should be expected to spend at least 4 years active duty. If we had everybody serving who is physically able to serve, we might lower the service time to 2 years.

Some soldiers may question the prudence of putting guys in harm's way that don't want to be there. They worry that such people would drag them down. To them I would suggest that when the bullets start flying, it kind of motivates people to defend themselves. I've seen kids almost sick with fear, going out on a mission; but when the stuff hit the fan, the training kicked in and they did a whole lot better than they expected.

Yeah, some might crumble... give them a few extra clips and pick them up on your return trip.

To those who fear the draft, or who think it unfair, I would point out that for a large chunk of your life, this country has given you every opportunity for education, religion, work... to enjoy your life, liberty, and your pursuit of happiness. It is your duty to pay your way. Why should you expect others to pay your way?

Of course there are exceptions. If a family has lost one child in the military and has only one left, then that one should be able to claim exemption. But in past wars, every male member of a family might have been lost. Of course,if a person is physically or mentally unfit for service, they should be disqualified. however, in past wars, everybody at least tried. But escaping your responsibility because you're going to school? Maybe if you're in an ROTC program... but if you're sliding along in some are that requires no particular knowledge... or intelligence... art, business, education, psychology, sociology... or if your school is not accredited, you're not going to slide any longer. What about conscientious objectors? They should be able to serve in non-combat support capacities. They could become medics... and, when they get out, they could serve their communities as EMTs, nurses, orderlies, and the like.

I'm sorry if I've offended anybody, but today, Veterans Day, if you really want to "support the troops," if you really want to honor Veterans, this way is a whole lot more meaningful and constructive than flying flags from the windows of your SUVs or sticking those magnetic decals to them.

Answer 2

Actually the Army has already done this; the main problem is that when you fill all the rear echelon jobs with older people not suitable for combat and then include females who by law can't be in combat units then you would stick all he young males in Iraq or where ever constantly without a break,. The Navy hit this little snag when the openned all sorts of jobs to females in the late 70's and 80's but the females were not allowed aboard combat vessels; the males in the support jobs, SK, AK, YN, PN etc were getting long at sea duty with short time at shore billets because the shore billets were filled with females who could not go aboard the combat vessels. Not as much a problem now since many of the ships once classified as combat have been reclassified as support/indirect combat/combat supprt. This hit very hard in the aviation side as sea duty was primarily aboard carriers which at that time women could not serve on so the shore billet AK jobs were filled by the females and the males were running much longer sea duty because no one to replace them and no shore billets open. A better solution would be for some more of the young people to understand that they might owe a little something to this country and not be quite as self-centered thinking about what they deserve or are entitled to free just because they are who they are.

Answer 3

If these 45 year old recruits are then screened to be medically healthy and physically fit enough to meet the fitness requirements, I don't see why not.

In the Australian Army, the maximum recruiting age was raised to 55, and they can stay on until they're 60. In practice, very few people enlist past the age of 40, and not many of those go on to serve in a combat corps. But if it'll grant you just an extra few hundred decent soldiers a year, it'd be worth it.

Older recruits are rarely the most fit in a platoon, but usually end up being the most mature, the most life experienced and the quickest to adapt - your 17 and 18 year old kids are usually the ones who get in trouble with those with rank.

Answer 4

The max age was increased 2 years ago from 39 to 42. It hasn't had that big an effect.

However, while there are concerns about manpower, tehy are long term. We have no shortage at this time and becasue we are consistently meeting recruitng and retention targets whihc include increasing teh size of the force, I see no cause for alarm in ths regard.

Answer 5

I don't see a manpower shortage. All the branches seem to meet both their enlistment and retention quotas, year in and year out. Perhaps the AP or some other "mainstream media" service hasn't bothered to check out the facts. The source below has monthly press releases giving all of the previous month's recruiting and retention figures for the armed forces.

Answer 6

Fine, but few 45 year olds are interested in a career change. Also, they would have to be 65 to retire with 20 years, and the increase of medical problems at 50 makes this idea far from cost effective.

My solution, which I sent to all the politicos (no response yet), is to create a brigade of illegal immigrants who want citizenship. This brigade would be trained and led by American NCO's or graduates of the program. They would receive all the pay, incentives, benefits, etc as regular soldiers in addition to English classes and US citizenship training. Their family would also get all the benefits associated with military families. They would be required to train 1 year and spend 2 years in Iraq or Afghanistan as part of their Immigrant Unit. After their 3 years, they receive citizenship. They could stay in the Army, go back as cadre to the Immigrant Training Unit, or join the civilian sector.

I don't know why the government doesnt try this. These people want work and citizenship - here is the chance!!

Jay

Answer 7

i had the chance to do EOD in the army and didnt take it because i have a child. there were 6 openings when i went in. that's a pretty good amount. so i say yes. and if you go in and have that chance...EOD is an amazing job...and plus you can get on a swat team after the military.

Answer 8

I'm 46 and in good enough shape for the front lines but to old by Army standards even with prier service subtracted from my age. I'd go in a minute!!

Vet-USAF

I have contacted my congress man and he is all for it but he has to find more to help back the plan. CALL YOUR CONGRESS MAN AND INFORM HIM

Answer 9

Jay's answer sounds alot like the FFL....I dont think we need that in the US :\

And to answer the question...Ive got no clue how to fix it. We should stay an all volunteer army. And I dont think raising the age limit or even lowering standards would help us at all.

Answer 10

Reinstitute the draft......

No deferments like in Vietnam.....

Draft both sexes......