Posted on Jul 27, 2020
Is commissioning from enlisted to officer at 32-33 years old too old?
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I’m planning on doing the Green to Gold 2 year active duty option within the next year or two once I finish my AA degree.By the time I commission I’ll be 32-33 years old. I’m 28 now. Has anyone else commissioned in their 30’s before? How was your experience and what was it like at your unit.
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
I was 31 years and 10 months old when I commissioned in December. I’m currently in BOLC. You are going to be 33 years old in 5 years regardless of what you do. If you want to commission go for it.
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This is my favorite kind of topic (old people stuff). I literally pinned 2LT when I was 42 years old. When I was SELECTED I was 41, but the process took it's sweet time, and orders for the commission weren't actually cut until AFTER my 42nd b-day. So I got an age waiver as well. Neither here nor there.
Here's how I looked at it. LTC is a really successful retirement rank. I have enough time to get there (if I don't putz around). You'll have 10 more years to do it, and COL could be in your cross hairs as well. Looks like you are Supply/Logistics. YOU ARE GOLDEN!!!!!!!!!!! There will always be opportunities for you. You should get promoted from 2LT to LTC on your first look every time if you hit all your marks and are never flagged.
My Drill SGT asked why I would want to be a 40 year old LT. Keeping my mouth shut at the time I thought to myself I'm not going to be a 40 year old LT. I'm going to be a 60 year old LTC.
Plus, your pay will top out at the O1E scale.
As well, you kind of get to coast if you want. You're military career education starts all over. Expectations for a seasoned SSG are different than those of a new 2LT. You could take on more if you want, but that's for you to manage. Take a breather and enjoy your new TRADOC path for what it is.
While I was a USAR officer 2LT at Ft Lee in BOLC we were picking grass out of the sidewalk around the school house (we were being reminded of our place in the officer pecking order). I always appreciate how much I actually get paid for the actual work I have to do. So there I was picking weeds out of the sidewalk earning top tier 2LT pay (prior service), getting paid CALIFORNIA BAH, and pulling down PER DIEM as well. Can I do this forever :-)
Here's how I looked at it. LTC is a really successful retirement rank. I have enough time to get there (if I don't putz around). You'll have 10 more years to do it, and COL could be in your cross hairs as well. Looks like you are Supply/Logistics. YOU ARE GOLDEN!!!!!!!!!!! There will always be opportunities for you. You should get promoted from 2LT to LTC on your first look every time if you hit all your marks and are never flagged.
My Drill SGT asked why I would want to be a 40 year old LT. Keeping my mouth shut at the time I thought to myself I'm not going to be a 40 year old LT. I'm going to be a 60 year old LTC.
Plus, your pay will top out at the O1E scale.
As well, you kind of get to coast if you want. You're military career education starts all over. Expectations for a seasoned SSG are different than those of a new 2LT. You could take on more if you want, but that's for you to manage. Take a breather and enjoy your new TRADOC path for what it is.
While I was a USAR officer 2LT at Ft Lee in BOLC we were picking grass out of the sidewalk around the school house (we were being reminded of our place in the officer pecking order). I always appreciate how much I actually get paid for the actual work I have to do. So there I was picking weeds out of the sidewalk earning top tier 2LT pay (prior service), getting paid CALIFORNIA BAH, and pulling down PER DIEM as well. Can I do this forever :-)
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SSG (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) Sir, thank you so much for your words of encouragement and motivation. You’ve definitely inspired me. To commission in your 40’s is amazing. If you can do it, then I definitely can. Honestly, I hope to retire at BG if possible so I can say I lived up to my first name. I really appreciate all the info about the pay, etc, as well. Great info!
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I honestly think the hardest part is going from being somebody back to the bottom. Yes people will acknowledge your prior service and I am sure your dress uniform shows it but at the end of the day you are wearing the gold bar. I pinned major and found out that majors are the 2LT of the field grade officers. The best advice I was not given and probably would not have followed is you have two ears and one mouth, listen twice as much as you talk. I turned 30 as a 2LT during the second battle of Fallujah and was in the ICU at LRMC taking care of blown up kids.
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SSG (Join to see)
MAJ Byron Oyler Sir, thank you for the information. Never looked at it that way before but being an officer is a step up for me so I look forward to becoming a 2nd LT. I will keep this knowledge in mind.
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