What advice do you have for someone considering branching as an Infantry officer at 35+?

2019-12-27T17:55:13-05:00

Happy Holidays to everyone. I just recently found out I was accepted into Army OCS and I’ve been researching branches that fit my personality and skill set. Ive been really interested in Infantry but I that know if me being 35+ would be a good fit in that environment as a LT. Physically I’m in the best shape of my life. Running a 13 min 2 mile and maxing out the pushups and sit-ups on every PT test I took since I’ve been in the Army. Im in Artillery now but I’m more intrigued with the Infantry. I like rucking and being outside, I just need advice if being a Infantry PL is a young mans game?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2019 6:15 PM

2019-12-27T18:15:49-05:00

LTC Mackay wrote an excellent post about it, but the short version is that you get what the Army needs to put you into.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Dec 27 at 2019 7:57 PM

2019-12-27T19:57:37-05:00

Don’t

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2019 10:37 PM

2019-12-27T22:37:18-05:00

Honest opinion here:

I did G2G and branched Infantry at 32 y/o. At IBOLC I surpassed most of my peers, both physically and academically. I passed Ranger right after IBOLC, no issues. Since then I’ve had two platoons, one Infantry and one Armor.

The plus sides to being an Infantry Officer are that it’s a great fit for a hard-charger, A-type personality that likes to do the gritty stuff. You will be afforded (and encouraged) opportunities to go to all the Hoaah schools. I got Ranger, Pathfinder, Air Assault and some others. I was already Airborne. I even got to train for and go to the Best Ranger Competition earlier this year. You’ll get the freedom to train your Platoon your way, which has been a blast and a great learning experience as a leader. And, you’ll get to do solid PT. As an older guy with over 10 years of prior enlisted time, it has only been an advantage for me (and I was not prior Infantry either). The community is driven by competition, so if you are a competitive kind a person, you’ll do great! I am very glad I branched Infantry. I have no regrets with my decision. I am 34 now and still in great shape.

The Infantry goes to the field, a lot. If you are good with that, it’s not an issue. Honestly, I’d rather be eating MREs, conducting patrols and curling up in my fart-sack at night over plugging in DTMS stats or doing training meetings any day of the week...

If you have any questions about anything, hit me up, I think I’m a good resource for you brother.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Dec 28 at 2019 3:20 PM

2019-12-28T15:20:41-05:00

Why don't you ask to shadow an infantry officer... for a day or so... and hang out with infantry enlisted.. you can do it with other branches as well...

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Dec 28 at 2019 3:27 PM

2019-12-28T15:27:07-05:00

Real advice... get a degree and MOS with high earning potential.. If you want to play infantry.. join the Reserves... older prior service mostly.. I was a 47 yo 19D.. 11B

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2019 3:29 PM

2019-12-28T15:29:45-05:00

Go with what’s in your heart. Infantry’s a calling not a job. You won’t like it if you’re in it just to test the waters. But I don’t see BOLC being a challenge for you.

Response by COL Phillip Janzen made Dec 28 at 2019 8:23 PM

2019-12-28T20:23:59-05:00

Do it. Everything in the Army supports Infantry. It is demanding but your age will be an advantage as long as you stay fit and motivated.

Response by PO3 Alex Bravo made Dec 29 at 2019 12:48 AM

2019-12-29T00:48:30-05:00

You are older and therefore wiser, as such, ensure your leadership is not imposed by your rank but by your example and sincere care for the people under your command. Do not expect them to do more than you, and learn each and everyone's talents. Not everyone have the same capabilities but everyone has a particular talent. Physicality is very important but is not everything, brains will get you further ahead and remember that you do not know it all. If you learn these few tricks and (learn and understand Sun tzu philosophy) you will always have a great team behind you. Remember, brains and morale are part of great leadership.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2019 12:56 AM

2019-12-29T00:56:30-05:00

Honestly, I only see maturity and wisdom as an advantage in any branch, including the Infantry! As long as you’re physically fit and can lead from the front, have at it!! Like others have stated though, it’s a calling to be IN, not a job. Your Soldiers deserve you to 100% all in!!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2019 7:35 PM

2019-12-29T19:35:04-05:00

It all depends on what “YOU” want and what “YOUR” priorities are.

I wouldn’t worry about age in regards to fitness sense the new ACFT is leveling the playing field. It will definitely be an advantage maturity wise though. How taxing it will be physically? It’s hard on the body, but then again you have guys who work just as hard (if not harder) who are in construction in the civilian sectors who are hard chargers well into their 50’s; so it’ll boil down to how well you take care of yourself (and I mean you, and not your BN PA).

As for being a “young” man’s game... well, that’ll also depend on your unit. As PLs with prior service, my friend and I were a lil older than most our peers (28 and 33) and I found that we had an easier time building rapport with both our NCOs and our leadership than the younger LTs did. Whereas in another friend’s unit, he’s having some issues dealing with how “clicky” his younger peers are...

Response by 1LT George Aggott made Dec 29 at 2019 7:58 PM

2019-12-29T19:58:19-05:00

Congratulations on being accepted for OCS. I am an OCS graduate, wish you the best. But OCS then might be different then now when getting assigned an MOS. I finished 6th in my class OC 12-70 and was given Infantry. I had no problem with that. Proud to wear Infantry Blue. Only the top 5 in the class got to pick their MOS. You will have to be in great shape as an Infantry Officer as opposed to maybe Finance,or Quartermaster. But it sounds despite your age, you sound like you are in great shape. I was 23 when I was commissioned. I think you can handle it. Going through OCS unless it has changed will surely tell you if you can cut it or not. Good luck!!!

Response by LTC William Pulsipher Jr made Jan 1 at 2020 8:48 PM

2020-01-01T20:48:42-05:00

CPL Jones the advice I would share is if you are serving and have already deployed with your unit to and of our locations where you have experienced harms way, being an Infantry Platoon Leader, you would probably do well. If you have not, you my find it difficult to transition.

Response by CPT Peter Grafton made Jan 2 at 2020 8:32 PM

2020-01-02T20:32:51-05:00

I went to OCS and received my commission at 34, and I was asked to join the infantry. Like 1LT Jalen Smith stated, Infantry is a calling and I didn't enjoy it as much as logistician which is where my previous 16 years were spent.
Infantry isn't a young man's game and some of the greatest infantry were older. Plenty of example out there.
https://www.stripes.com/news/us/age-is-no-obstacle-soldiers-complete-army-s-toughest-schools-after-40-1.571375

Age is no obstacle: Soldiers complete Army’s toughest schools after 40

Here's a look at two soldiers who recently completed physically grueling courses at a time in their lives when some soldiers might be tempted to coast into retirement.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2020 2:26 AM

2020-02-02T02:26:33-05:00

Infantry is hard on the body regardless of age. So, no, it is not necessarily a young man’s game. I attended OCS at 35. I asked for Infantry but the Army chose Armor for me. I was bummed about it having been Infantry as enlisted. It turned out great. Armor, Cavalry and Infantry are similar when it comes to mechanized operations. Armor and Cavalry go to the same basic course. All three branches are trained at Ft. Benning now. Cavalry and Infantry are your only two options if you want a chance of going to a light unit though. Hope this helps. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2020 11:37 PM

2020-02-11T23:37:20-05:00

Great question! I graduated OCS at age 39, graduated IBOLC at age 40, 17th out of 43 in a very competitive JUN-OCT class. It's a tough course, but if you're mentally and physically fit, you can crush it! Tremendous pride in the Blue Cord brotherhood. Age should not deter you if you already bleed blue! Best of luck.