geo said:Compulsory release age = 60
CDN Aviator said:Geo....CRA is 55. Not everyone has an entitlement to CRA 60
geo said:Point taken... but have been told that, should I want to stick around, they'll tolerate me for another couple of years. :crybaby:
Rearadmiral said:First off, I agree with everyone else here that says that 31 is far from being too old to join the reserves. I was 40 when I rejoined.
I left the reg force in 1989 and rejoined in the reserves back in 2006. Because of my long hiatus I was required to take the BMQ course again. Physically it wasn’t too demanding if you prepare. Lose some if not all of your excess weight and get more physically active. Being is better shape will only help you.
The thing that I found was significantly harder at 40 than at 20 was the mental element of BMQ. My section i/c was young enough to be my son. It really required shifting mental gears to stand at attention and get yelled at by someone half my age. But on a BMQ where the average age was probably 20 I wasn’t treated differently and if I had expected it to be then that would have only made things worse. Be prepared to deal with those issues. Any instructor on your BMQ worth his or her chevrons will realize that what you may lack in endurance you make up for in other ways. An older person will likely be more mature and any unit can benefit from that. Start showing leadership right from day one.
About a year ago I had to do the BOTPR element of my training and that course was fairly unique. (Yes, I asked.) I think the average age on that course was around 30. The oldest person on the course was 51.
If you’re physically and mentally prepared for your initial training then 31 is a great age to enroll.
Two things that you might want to consider: my interests at 40 are different from when I was 20. Consider that when you decide on what unit to join – if you’re in an area where there is a choice. Being in a hard-core combat arms MOC is obviously a lot more demanding than many other military jobs. The initial training is essentially the same, but your trade-specific training will be easier.
Second, I don’t know this for sure, but I suspect that if you enter older and more mature and dedicated then you are likely to be diligent about courses and start to show leadership potential early on. I’m guessing that this would mean faster promotions.
And one more thing – I don’t know what the standard issue combat boots are designed for, but they aren’t designed for 40 year old feet. Get some sort of padding. Standing at attention in them made my feet go numb in about 5 minutes.
Follow your dream and look into joining. I’m confident that your only regret will be in not following that dream sooner.
The thing that I found was significantly harder at 40 than at 20 was the mental element of BMQ. My section i/c was young enough to be my son. It really required shifting mental gears to stand at attention and get yelled at by someone half my age. But on a BMQ where the average age was probably 20 I wasn’t treated differently and if I had expected it to be then that would have only made things worse. Be prepared to deal with those issues. Any instructor on your BMQ worth his or her chevrons will realize that what you may lack in endurance you make up for in other ways. An older person will likely be more mature and any unit can benefit from that. Start showing leadership right from day one.
geo said:Hey.... I'm slim & trim (+/-)
If it wasn't for my blown out knee I would continue to outlast the members of my Troop / Platoon.
I'm not old... I'm experienced.
C4, there's never enough C4... xcept when you have a woden structure that needs to be destroyed... then all you need is a gallon of gas & a book of matches