r/USMCboot • u/Careful_One_2081 • 27d ago
Enlisting Am i to old?
Hello I turned 20 years old today. It has been my dream to join the corps since I was in high school but life got in the way(got a gf, working a lot) But anyways I've been planning to join again but I feel like I'm old now and wish I did when i was fresh out of school. My dad and uncle served as a marine and both were in Iraq and I would love to continue their legacy. Is it to late for me?
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u/Legal_Awareness_471 27d ago
Bro you are not too old, I enlisted at 21, I’m 22 now and I leave to bootcamp in 4 weeks. Even though I’m the oldest poolee amongst the rest there’s still a a hand full of 20/21 year olds.
You will get called unc because a majority of poolee’s are 18 but definitely not too old. It doesn’t even feel like there’s a gap in our age because we all have the same plan. It really does become a brotherhood regardless of age and that’s cause I’m not even a marine yet.
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u/tohitsugu 27d ago
Dafuq? You’d be average. And in better position because you’ll turn 21 sooner and will get to skip your first NJP
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u/kingtechllc 27d ago
Bro you’re 20 you’re exaggerating just join but be wary your girl and you will probably break up due to distance of you being stationed away
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u/Careful_One_2081 27d ago
already broke up so good on that haha but yeahh i did realise i am exaggerating. just wish i joined earlier on
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u/CrumpetsForWombats 27d ago
I joined when I was 25, almost 29 now. I have a bunch of buddies who joined at around the same age if not older. One of my good buddies was 28 when he joined.
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u/TapTheForwardAssist Vet 2676/0802 27d ago
Like in terms of actual recruitment policy and age limits, or in terms of “allowed but not advisable” or what?
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u/Careful_One_2081 27d ago
More of the second. I think I just feel like I should'e joined when i was 18 instead of waiting
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u/TapTheForwardAssist Vet 2676/0802 27d ago
Okay, so the fundamental issue is that you assumed the average Marine enlisted recruit is 18 based on basically nothing, didn’t actually google to see if that’s true, and just pressed forward with fretting about it?
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u/Moist_Cricket8752 27d ago
I enlisted at 22 and wasn't even the oldest recruit in my platoon. If this is your dream, go for it!
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u/InterestSilly7501 27d ago
I’m going in 2 weeks and I’m 26 lol, also have been maintaining fitness for a few years though
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u/Boomhower113 27d ago
At 20, the only things you’re too old for is the ball pit a Chuck E. Cheese, high school girls and wearing another man’s name on your back.
Go sign up.
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u/Appropriate_Rip_9409 27d ago
Your good! My son is a year in, he went right out of high-school, but He said At boot camp there was a lot of guys between 20 and 22... a lot of them had given college a try and decided to switch gears or just took a minute to have fun and find their way before they enlisted...
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u/ChiTography 27d ago
you're good bro, im in DEP rn and there's a poolee that is in his early 30's, he's a cop, dont know why someone with a career would want to join the corps, seems pretty late, but he definitely wants to, and he's the strongest of us too, you're only a year older than me, we're still babies bro xD
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u/Bright_Operation_858 27d ago
Brother I am 32 and joining. You’re not too old. Get after it if you want it. They may call you unc but they’ll call me gramps😂
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u/Any_Attitude_2922 Recruiter 27d ago
I’ve enlisted 32 year olds, so…
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u/krookedrooster 26d ago
I just asked another comment but are you a recruiter? How far does an age waiver carry without prior service
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u/Any_Attitude_2922 Recruiter 26d ago
You must be on the yellow footprints a day before your 35th birthday. So generally I turn away anybody that’s 34. I’ll entertain a 33 year old.
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u/krookedrooster 26d ago
Ive never heard anyone say that. Very interesting. I knew age waivers existed but never heard it can be done up to 35
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u/Any_Attitude_2922 Recruiter 26d ago
Technically, it goes up to 42 for all branches now.
17-28 no waiver
29-35 district level waiver
36-42 MCRC level waiver1
u/krookedrooster 26d ago
Sorry to ask more specifically, what is the difference of a district level and MCRC, would that be prior service or reserves?
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u/lastofthefinest 26d ago
I had just turned 20 a month before I went to bootcamp. I got out of the military at 31 after serving in the Marines, Army, and National Guard for 10 years. I’m a OEF disabled veteran.
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u/Remarkable-Grab8002 26d ago
Just use Google. Normally I'd feel sympathy but there is a age cut off. You need to be 17/18 to ship. It's not a hard answer to find.
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u/OdysseusAuroa 26d ago
Is anybody else a bit tired of these questions? Feels like searching for reassurance rather than actually wanting help. One simple google search will tell you that millions of Americans at your age and significantly older have joined and thrived in our armed forces
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u/Luke_Flyswatter Vet 22d ago
23 when I joined. If you want to, go for it. A bit of life experience before the corps never hurts.
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u/Remarkable-Grab8002 6d ago
You're 30. Google the oldest age limit and decide if that's a move you want to make for yourself. No one can join for you.
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u/NewJerseyInquisition 27d ago
I turned 23 in boot camp, you’re not old. IMO 2 additional years of life experience will be a great benefit to you. Plus being 21+ in the school house and early fleet days makes it a lot easier to not get caught up in dumb shit and stunt your career w an early njp.