Maximum Enlistment Age of USMC is 28..29 for Reservists

[Sgt Leprechaun]

I mistakenly deleted a thread where this topic was first posted in 2007, then resurrected several times since then, the most recent being yesterday.

Here is the scoop for those who want to know:

The MAXIMUM enlistment age for those wanting to join the active Marine Corps is 28. It is 29 for the Reserves.

According to www.marines.com (the official Marine Corps website):

"Q: I am older than 29. Can I enlist in the Marine Corps?
A: Waivers may be available on a case-by-case basis for those over the eligible enlisted age of 29. Contact your local recruiter to discuss your personal qualifications."



WHAT does this mean "in practice"??

Well, truth be told, the Marine Corps wants to keep it's options open. However, based on experience here, and in speaking with recruiters...the Marine Corps is very, VERY reluctant to enlist those over the age of 28. CAN a waiver be obtained? Yes, it can happen...it happened to one our our members. BUT...he had darned good and valid reasons why he could NOT enlist prior to age 29. His waiver was approved, but he is the EXCEPTION, rather than the 'norm'..because he was exceptional!

For the rest of you 'old farvts' who think you are 'in shape' at age 35,44, whatever....it's likely NOT going to happen.
At least for the Marine Corps, anyway. You CAN still enlist into the National Guard branches, up to age 42.
After 42, you are basically out of luck.

Here is a 'sample' question that was asked not long ago...my responses below that are not specific to just this question, but through the years I've seen many questions directly along this line:

***
"I just turned 44 and if the Core would have me I'd join in a heartbeat, and I'm in pretty good shape, probably better then most of those young men, I work out five days a week and my job keeps me in shape. So the question remains why is there a cap on the age should it not be determined by the individual, heath, shape, stamina, and so forth... Great men come in all ages..."

***
Of course, to begin with, it's "Corps". We are kinda picky that way....

Moving on...Now, there may be some of you who can outrun the 19 year olds at the 3 mile, and do 100 crunches, 20 pullups, etc. Great. Good on ya. Can you also out 'hump' them? Meaning, carrying 120 pounds of equipment while slogging through a 10 mile road march...or better yet, sustained days of combat in the Helmand province with little food, little water, all the while being shot at, running, jumping out of vehicles, hitting the ground and getting up over and over again? CAN you??? CAN you survive without all those vitamins, supplements, energy water, growth powder, viagra, propecia, extenz, or whatever ELSE it is America has told you, at 35/44 or whatever you just HAVE to take?


"But...I GO TO THE GYM 9 times a week!" Great. I'm sure your doctor is proud and you are a chick magnet. Being a gym guy does NOT equate to being a MARINE.

It's a young mans game. Just that simple. Quite simply, your mid-life crisis about wanting to 'prove' yourself now (instead of at 19 when you realistically SHOULD have been doing it..yeah yeah I know I'm harsh..tough luck...) and were partying/in college/parents would let you/time wasn't right/now I'm patriotic/etc etc just doesn't interest the Marine Corps. Yes, yes, it's not fair and I'm sure you are a badazz in your own right, etc etc. Don't care, doesn't matter.

Studies have shown that the Marine Corps is the most physically demanding of ALL the services in the long term...and has many, many, medical discharges and long term physical injuries (guess who pays for those...the VA). Thus, the age restrictions are not ONLY to prevent you from becoming a liability, but to save the gummint money.


So, that's the way it is. If you have some sort of special skill that the Marine Corps needs that is more 'geekery' related, you may stand a chance. But it better be darned special and something the Marine Corps cannot 'grow' itself. Martial arts/fighting skills? No. Got plenty o' them. I'm talking "There are exactly 4 people in the world who can do this" type skills...and the Marine Corps has decided it needs someone who does them.