The Military raised the age to 42 - what is a 42..?

They'll be regular entry-level troops like everyone else. Me, I joined at 18 and retired at 38. I can't imagine starting at 42 and having to take orders from a 23 year old NCO or officer.

They didn't raise it to 42. The Congress did. The Uniformed Military Training and Service Act of 1947 (as amended) sets the age range from 18-45 years of age. But, for many years the military has had an upper age limit of 31-35 years of age, depending on circumstances. We have a doctor on active duty in the army who is in his 70s. He came back from the retired list.

Most of the older guys who will enlist are in construction and engineering fields, medical and the like. We have a big need in Provincial Reconstruction Teams in both Iraq and Afghanistan. They are doing one hell of a job and don't get a whole lot of mention in the news.

Some have skill's some don't, 42 is the age you can join up to. My husband was 40 when he joined, but being 4 years prior service (20 years ago) it reduced his age as if he was joining at age 36.

He drove a truck after he got out of the navy (16 years) but when he joined the Army they asked him if he wanted to continue driving a truck? he said NO and he is doing something different now.

My husband did not have to go through regular basic training, he did 6 weeks of what they call warrior training course because of being prior service then he went to through his AIT for his MOS, but if you were never prior service then yes you would have to go through basic like everyone else, then you will go to your AIT (school) for whatever your MOS is.

Well, just like any other soldier, they have to pass the physical training aspect of being a soldier and get through boot camp. If they can handle that part, then there is no reason why they can't be whatever they want to be in the military.

You never know. There is a guy that is going to play college football this Fall at age 59 and he is a starter.

So 42 isn't that old.

it could be either way but when they enter already with a trade or not they will have to do basic training. what happens is that the army and i will assume the marines and navy and air force have age applicable p.t. tests which means that the older you are the less stringent the p.t. test is for you.

They start from scratch. They will be required to do everything an 18 year old does in order to complete training.

Go to military.com theres a list there or the chart they use on physical training and your age. Its basically the older you get the less work you have to do.

All of The Above!

Vet-USAF 44MMS