View Full Version : When is to Old too Old
ffernandez222
10-24-2015, 22:55
Ok, so I have not been on this forum for a while. And I thank you all for keeping me and not booting me. But here is an underlying question...When is to old too old. When do you think or what age thresh hold is to old to try for SF? If there is such a thing?
You're only as old as your mind is...if you're body can take it...go for it.
Unless you're to senior in rank (unknown if you're .mil)
Hell, I'm still 35...In my mind, until I go do yard work and wash the cars/truck...lol Sad...aint it???
The Reaper
10-25-2015, 09:39
This topic has been discussed many times here. The Search button should help you find some of the previous threads about it.
Is it really fair to saddle your teammates with someone who is no longer in his prime?
If you have to ask, you are probably too old.
TR
ffernandez222
10-25-2015, 18:41
I'm 33. Just a question we where discussing at work so I figured I would ask on this forum. I will do a search on this topic to gain more insight though.
33? Too old? Fuck I only have short time left then
When you have to use your bifocals to look up the price of used corvettes in the penny saver.
Divemaster
10-28-2015, 01:45
When I was going through the Q Course, one of our instructors disappeared for a few weeks for a certain other selection course. He made it. He was 40. I seriously doubt he EVER asked how old is too old.
Bad Bob Howard handed me my Green Beret when I was 31. Felt like a teenager.
Use the "search" as The Reaper has been forced once again to suggest; there's one guy near my age who was still goin' strong in his 60's.
IMO, the fact that you're worried about it is the root of the problem.
You know, something The Reaper said brought back a lot of memories along this vein.
I broke my L5 and shoved it off the sacral plane down in Panama right after Noriega got his new hooch. They didn't image it at the time, so I kept rubbing horse liniment into it and groovin' along. As you can imagine, though, the L5 being jacked up is like rocks in the differential of a truck with regard to running, rucking, etc. I still functioned; deployed, went to SFARTAETC and did the wondrous 22-mile cert marches and all that, but I took a Team down to Ecuador a year or so later and just couldn't run fast enough to keep up with the rest of the horses. I could still outruck everybody (;)), but ran like Granny Clampett. They finally X-rayed it, and I retired.
If I had it to do again, I wouldn't have slowed down the rest of the boys by not being able to peak physically on a mission.
So-apply it to age, and you might be in the same boat.
I'm not SF. I'm light infantry. I'm in my mid-40's. IA few months back I had to pick up a peer platoon sergeant a decade younger than me from hospital due to hip replacement which put the fear into me.
Time to hang up my spurs? F no. I'm a chump for even thinking about it.
On a recent trip to the U.S. I flew a little further for the best resource I could find(Pat McNamara, probably known to many on this forum) to learn about his CST program and his focus on longevity beyond just combat fitness focus.
The guy is 50 and fitter than many shooters half his age.
I want to be like Mac. I want to stay physically relevant as long as possible.
I made the effort to learn his secret sauce which isn't so much secret as its innovation combined with age old discipline and effort. I learned heaps to put into practice.
Someday I will no longer meet the standard. That day is neither today nor tomorrow.
Young at heart and putting in twice the personal training effort of my soldiers to continue earning the privilege to lead them is what it takes for me.
I will not just quit and surrender the best job in the world without a very ugly fight.
A bit jerry bruckheimer melodramatic, but it gets me out of bed and out the door training.
40's are the new 30's right?
WarriorDiplomat
12-22-2015, 20:35
It ain't the years its the miles, I had put some hard miles on myself from my teens on and donned the beret at nearly your age. I grew up poor and blue collar and worked for everything I have so resiliency is part of my character.
I don't drink anymore, don't smoke and try to be healthy I have to or get out, but the hard miles are their I just deal with it and as others have said I put in the extra work to stay competitive. IMO I wanted to serve in the greatest unit, the cost is high the payoff is worth it the sacrifices I make to run with the pack is minimal.
The issue is not the age, war is fought by the youth and talked about by the old. The issue I find myself in now is having the life experience and wisdom of a near 50 yr old man but living in a 20 something world. This is what you will have to be ready for many times it can seem like the lord of the flies.
mark46th
12-22-2015, 23:19
When you have to break your Viagra into little pieces so you can take just enough to not piss on your shoes.
When you have to use your bifocals to look up the price of used corvettes in the penny saver.
If you're using bifocals in the 21st Century you're definitely over-the-hill! :munchin
WarriorDiplomat
12-25-2015, 22:48
If you're using bifocals in the 21st Century you're definitely over-the-hill! :munchin
What if your only part time bifocals?
When you get this old. :)
31778
You are too old when "you" are too old.
Aaron Bank was 39 when he enlisted, and 42 when he jumped into France to link up with the resistance.
But he spent those first 39 years working out, not getting injured, and learning languages.
I have worked with guys that you couldn't keep up with when they were 48, and I have worked with guys who should have hung it up at 35.