Posted on Aug 3, 2020
Old grunts. Would you recommend coming back to the infantry at 35 years old?
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I'm currently an 88m in my reenlistment window and I'm considering returning to my previous mos 11b. I was forced to be an 88m when I came back to active duty in 2018. Since then I have missed being an infantryman and the camaraderie that is absent in most support units. My issue is that in a few days I'll be 35 years old and I'm considered the old guy. People have told me how hard it's going to be trying to keep up with 18 year olds which I think could be a factor. Now I've known some old guys that were pretty tough bastards in the infantry but I know that I've slowed down since I became a truck driver again. Would you recommend it? If you're an old grunt, what are some issues you face?
Infantry
11B: Infantryman
11C: Indirect Fire Infantryman (Mortarman)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 38
It is a young man's game. Keep in mind that other SGTs will be 15 years younger than you. I have a good bit of prior service and I am much older than my peers. I will tell you that I am usually the slowest infantry officer out there but I am still out there. I will be taking a command soon and I know that it's going to be challenging. I have thought about going into another MOS but I really can't leave my MOS until I command complete. It's really up to you. But you are going to have more challenges like Ranger School or fitness event like when you compete for your EIB. It really depends on your. If you are not able to run a 2 miler in 14:00 and be able to knock out a solid 60 push ups you might want to reconsider.
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SGT Dave Tracy
CPT (Join to see) - A bit off topic, but out of curiosity, as you had made E6, why not stay enlisted side?
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MSgt Hamish Barrett
CPT (Join to see) Are your feet landing on the heels or ate you landing on the balls of your feet?
I have been trying to change how my foot strikes the deck and it is not easy.
It would be hard to change carrying a combat load but, might be worth the effort in the long run. It would ease the pressure on you hips and knees too.
I have been trying to change how my foot strikes the deck and it is not easy.
It would be hard to change carrying a combat load but, might be worth the effort in the long run. It would ease the pressure on you hips and knees too.
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CPT (Join to see)
SGT Dave Tracy - I had a really bad PL in the past and thought I could do a better job. But I felt more drawn to be an PL vs a PSG. Plus, the money wasn't bad. In all honesty, I felt I could make much more of a difference as an officer than an NCO. I honestly really enjoy being an officer.
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Came into Army infantry in 2018 from the Marines. Maybe it’s the unit but there is no more comradarie and all the E5’s seem to be spoiled children only looking out for number one
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Do you have a Ranger tab? If yes then, I would say go for it. If not then don’t. You will be just another old man trying to hang with young studs. People Will look away from an old dude falling out out of PT that has a tab. He’s been there done that, that kind of thing. But just some old dude falling out is not acceptable. Especially as a SGT. If you were a 1SG or SGM it would be different.
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TSgt (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - You are absolutely correct. Until it hits the fan you do not know what you will do. Hopefully excellent training will instinctively give you the right responses. However, in my case I got out in '73 and back in ANG in "89. Week-ends were fun but I knew I was no longer in physical nor mental condition to lead in real combat. fortunately I was able to switch to AFRES
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SGT (Join to see)
TSgt (Join to see) - When I got out of the army, and into the army reserve, the CO there was always gone, and rarely talked to us, lucky we had a 1sgt. If we did have a XO, I never saw him for two years. I only stayed in the army reserve for only two years, it was a reinkidink unit. No National Guard then, nor any other reserve units, every monthly meet, all they had us do was, paint the vehicles with a brush, I swear the paint was so thick, it was armor plating. Lol
So I got into another uniform, the Guam Public Safety, a combo of the police and fire departments, I was in the police side.
Lucky for me, I had a real good field sergeant, who was a veteran out of Vietnam, and was in the Special Forces there. No matter what, or how fast things were happening, he had it under control, and in a calm voice over the police radio.
So I got into another uniform, the Guam Public Safety, a combo of the police and fire departments, I was in the police side.
Lucky for me, I had a real good field sergeant, who was a veteran out of Vietnam, and was in the Special Forces there. No matter what, or how fast things were happening, he had it under control, and in a calm voice over the police radio.
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