So here's my dilemma. I qualify for 18 series except that at 32 I'm too old for an 18x contract. This is according to my AD recruiter and a SORB recruiter at Ft. Benning that he spoke with. So I would like to get some input on which route to take.
First, are age waivers available for 18x? I'm finding a lot of contradictory information. This thread here says a 34 year old got an age waiver in 2016 but I've also read here and on reddit that they don't give age waivers. 34yo hoping for SOF option(s)
Who else can I ask/call to get more information on 18x max age?
I've been working with my AD recruiter under the assumption that I can't sign an 18x contract. We've narrowed it down to two options:
My goal is to become an 18D. Ideally active duty as then I could focus on soldiering 100% and not worry about a civilian career. But what concerns me about the OPT 40 and straight 11b options is that neither one has 18 series written into the contract. I was told I'd likely have a minimum service obligation of 18 months to Ranger bat before I could go to the Q course and haven't been able to find reliable info on what my service obligation would be if I went in as an 11b but I'd expect it'd take at least a few months even if my CoC was supportive and possibly much longer if they're not, or if I'm not at Bragg and need to PCS(is this correct? Can my CoC keep me from going to selection/Q course if I were in the 82nd or 1st ID or a unit like that?)
I'm thinking at this point my best option would be to take the Utah Guard's Try One contract. This guarantees me a shot at SFAS provided I pass their SFRE, which shouldn't be an issue. I'm not opposed to Ranger bat. It's a top-notch organization and I'd get amazing training. However I feel like if my end goal is SF then putting my body through the rigors of RASP, Ranger school, and battalion life and deployments and adding another 2-3 years to the timetable before attending Q course wouldn't be the best idea. I'd likely be 34-35 by the time I could attend selection and the Q course with that route. And finally I'm hesitant to go back in as an 11b to a regular unit. I think I'd hate life in the barracks(as an old man I try to go to bed by 9pm most nights now, I don't drink, and hate bars). I also don't want to get screwed by the needs of the Army and get sent to Korea or wherever and spend years before I can PCS for the Q course.
Thoughts? Opinions? I don't have any experience Active Duty, my prior service was 6 years in the Guard so I'm firing blind in my assumptions of what active duty life would be like and what my chances for going to selection there would be. It's just based on what info I've been able to gather online and through the recruiters.
Really ideally I'd just take an 18x except the damn age limit. Come on Army why the age limit!!
First, are age waivers available for 18x? I'm finding a lot of contradictory information. This thread here says a 34 year old got an age waiver in 2016 but I've also read here and on reddit that they don't give age waivers. 34yo hoping for SOF option(s)
Who else can I ask/call to get more information on 18x max age?
I've been working with my AD recruiter under the assumption that I can't sign an 18x contract. We've narrowed it down to two options:
- 11b OPT 40(these are available to prior service per the 75th recruiting e-mail).
- 11b Airborne(I'm not positive that I can get an airborne contract as prior service).
My goal is to become an 18D. Ideally active duty as then I could focus on soldiering 100% and not worry about a civilian career. But what concerns me about the OPT 40 and straight 11b options is that neither one has 18 series written into the contract. I was told I'd likely have a minimum service obligation of 18 months to Ranger bat before I could go to the Q course and haven't been able to find reliable info on what my service obligation would be if I went in as an 11b but I'd expect it'd take at least a few months even if my CoC was supportive and possibly much longer if they're not, or if I'm not at Bragg and need to PCS(is this correct? Can my CoC keep me from going to selection/Q course if I were in the 82nd or 1st ID or a unit like that?)
I'm thinking at this point my best option would be to take the Utah Guard's Try One contract. This guarantees me a shot at SFAS provided I pass their SFRE, which shouldn't be an issue. I'm not opposed to Ranger bat. It's a top-notch organization and I'd get amazing training. However I feel like if my end goal is SF then putting my body through the rigors of RASP, Ranger school, and battalion life and deployments and adding another 2-3 years to the timetable before attending Q course wouldn't be the best idea. I'd likely be 34-35 by the time I could attend selection and the Q course with that route. And finally I'm hesitant to go back in as an 11b to a regular unit. I think I'd hate life in the barracks(as an old man I try to go to bed by 9pm most nights now, I don't drink, and hate bars). I also don't want to get screwed by the needs of the Army and get sent to Korea or wherever and spend years before I can PCS for the Q course.
Thoughts? Opinions? I don't have any experience Active Duty, my prior service was 6 years in the Guard so I'm firing blind in my assumptions of what active duty life would be like and what my chances for going to selection there would be. It's just based on what info I've been able to gather online and through the recruiters.
Really ideally I'd just take an 18x except the damn age limit. Come on Army why the age limit!!