Quote:
Originally Posted by Team Sergeant
I love when people say "I'm (place age here usually between 30-50) and I'm in the best shape of my life!"
Good for you, what happened to 18-30? By the time I was 19 I was an animal and a killing machine.
By 23 I was a Special Forces animal and a more skilled killing machine.
At 39 I retired from the military. So you're going to start at 31 and maybe, maybe make it to a team as an E-5 by the time you're say 34?
Good luck with that. Can't wait to hear the 20 year old SF Staff Sergeant calling you grandpa.
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You forgot to say, at 36 I was a broken shell of my former self just pushing myself to accomplish the mission. The missions, the falls, the jumps, the weight of the ever decreasing 100 pounds of lightweight equipment still weighed 100 pounds.
I went into SF at 25ish after being in the Infanrty for eight years, I was in good shape, by 31 I was in great shape, 33 "best shape of my life," after that it was one injury at a time and I learned and accepted that as I got older I didn't heal as fast, didn't bounce as well.
Knowing what I and most of us know, there is a "prime time" for being in SF. If you can't keep up there is a time to go find another job. That's a hard pill to swallow but must be...the mission comes first. They only keep the broken old guys around to impart knowledge and wisdom on the next generation. If you're just an old guy without knowledge and wisdom of SF's mission you're not of very much value.
I didn't marry until I knew my career was nearly over, didn't have a child until after retirement, right now and back then it was 100% Army, 110% SF, there were no competing interests. Today my son is 100% of my interest and everything from marriage to job is only a way of supporting that.
So ask yourself, what do you have to offer, how long can you give, and are you truly doing this for country, duty and honor of your brothers?
SF has a very high divorce rate of those that had a strong marriage because choices are made, and those that make those choices are better or worse for it. Ultimately, it's the children who suffer a selfish father or a mother with misplaced loyalties. For the families who make it work I've never seen a stronger bond and level of devotion and pride in the accomplishments of their children. Many boys who follow in their father's footsteps becoming men who will make the same sacrifice they hated as youngsters. Oh, and daughters that go on to outstanding achievements of their own.
Good luck in your choice, but make it for all the right reasons.