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Heads up for those looking at military bands...

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 8:52 pm
by Dean
The military has raised the force-out age (age of forced retirement) from age 55 to age 62.


Still though, the longest anyone can serve is 35 years, and that is if they reach E9 (highest enlisted rank).


End result of course is that many military banders will be holding onto their jobs longer.

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:34 pm
by BVD Press
Do you have a source for this info?

Is each branch different?

Just curious

Re: Heads up for those looking at military bands...

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:08 pm
by Cameron Gates
Dean wrote: End result of course is that many military banders will be holding onto their jobs longer.
I doubt that this new rule will make much difference in how long a military band member stays in. I'm willing to bet that most people who retire are doing so before they "age out". Just what I have observed in my 13 years in the military.

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 10:38 pm
by Dean
All branches should be the same, as the age(s) for military service are determined by Congress.


I heard this at work, I am in a military band. I have no document or web site to cite for you.

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:12 pm
by Rob Wilson
How this may play out is that older individuals will be allowed to enter the military. The old cut off date was 35 years old. It will most likely be raised to 42, thus allowing one to enter the military and earn their 20 year retirement. The competition could get harder.

Rob W. <><
Retired E8

Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:32 pm
by LoyalTubist
In World War II they did something like this, allowing 42 year old men to enter the military. Most of the older guys fared very well though they didn't stay in. I'm not sure but I don't think they were allowed to stay in the service after 1946...

My dad was drafted only a couple of years after my grandfather (his dad).

Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:43 am
by Dean
i think Rob has it right.

http://www.goarmy.com/JobCatList.do?red ... rindex&bl=

(Scroll down to the bottom)

I do remember hearing that 39 year olds are now allowed in. The cutoff used to be 35 (meaning you could enlist at 34). I see rumors they are going to make it 42 as well--just doing a little googling tonight.

All branches are having some troubles recruiting. In addition to the higher age cap (along with the retirement cap), I have heard they are taking more people with past drug use, criminal history, and lower test scores on the ASVAB. They are also "advertising" basic training as being less physically intense, less yelling from the drill instructors, less stressful, etc etc etc....

We had heard about the age 39 thing a few months ago. There was some discussion within the band if a new retirement age would be instituted, and whether it would apply to us--because when WE joined, the cutoff age was 35 (we thought we would still be "grandfathered" in to our original 55 reitirement). Apparantly, all servicemembers, current and future, will be allowed the 62 retirement age now.