Totally gutted.....

Some may know I was looking at joining the TA (Now the "Army Reserve") and after a long year from the start of my application things looked like they were starting to move, I was attending on the Tuesday nights etc, and was realy enjoing it, and lined up to go in the MT section, but my age was always against me, although started the application at 42, there were too many long delays, as my application had been withdrawn at one point, even managed to crack the 1.5 mile in 11.17, and now below 11 mins, and lost a stone in weight to get BMI down by starving myself and going on the wagon, to me thats a hell of a sacrifice no beer... but received a call yesterday that my application would not go any further.... gutted, all to do with my age, even though I started the process at 42, called the recruitment team today ( this is now now done by a civilian firm, and covers all forces) and they said nothing they can do, so anyone can still join up 42.11 months and there application will take a few months at least, so the applicant will be 43 !!!!! by the time things start moving, trying to explain this today was like...:banghead: even the web page says 43.

Two good things have come out of it, my fitness is returning (been cycling over the last few years and can cycle over 20 miles and not break into a sweat but running... I havent run for over 28 years but back then I was an athlete and joining the Regs ) and the weight is still coming off, will have more time time in the bat cave with a long list of projects to be completed, so today after filling a 4 ton skip after levelling the garden think I,ll have a beer or two.....

I feel for you and you have my sympathies, but as a former training NCO I understand their thought process. We used to have a maximum combat age of 41 and I didn't understand when I was 17...now I do. They used to have a compulsory retirement age of 55 and I didn't understand...now I do. I had recruits from 15 to 55 and as they get older they have problems with keeping up in fitness and many don't arrive in shape. I understand you've been working towards that but it's still a mile or two to the finish...like you say, there's a bright side.

So they wouldn´t take me, aged 78???? I run 5000m twice a week and am well within my BMI. have got two university degrees, am fluent in three languages and can shoot a bit better than average. I´d be disgusted if they turned me down.

Thanks BR and Villiers, I understand the fitness and age thing and I,d be a liar if I said the running was a breeze I feel every ache and pain, just thought my skills may be of some use and to keep fit at the same time, the problem lies with Capita the civilian company who runs the recruiting side now but its not just them, when I first Joined up before leaving school it was all a paper trail, but handled by professionals.

Just a sad state of affairs when someone who is suppose to be a manager at the main recruitment base doesnt even know whats on the web site regarding age etc.... anyway skip nearly full and the beer didnt even touch the sides.....

I am truly sorry that you didn't get to realize your dream of military service of some sort. I did 35 years and wouldn't trade any of it, no matter how bad it was. If you had joined when you were just old enough...well, you'd still be here chatting about it with Peter and I and half a hundred others that were in...

Cheers Jim,

Its was a dream when I was a kid but took the advice from Clr Sgt Carrol when I joined up back then, who said go and get an apprenticeship (didnt have enough points for an army apprenticeship on my entrance exam) and come back and see me in four years, best advice I ever took, and after serving my time (Fitter and Turner) I went straight to Sea as a junior Engineer (Merchant Navy) and like I,ve said before the rest is history.... I should of left for a while and gone in the Army but back then I was too busy chasing the money and the women..... and inbetween that visiting a wide range of drinking establishments around the world, some excellent, some good, some bad and some where the requirment was at least two scars on the face to get in the door.......

I am fit now at 55 as I was at 45 in fact I am 10 lb lighter. I still do weight training with guys my age. 6 ft 225 still benching 300 + . The only time I feel old is when people tell me I'm old. Don't let other people tell us we're old ! I still feel 20 yrs old probably because I am single again.

Sometimes you just have to go straight to the horses mouth, not happy with the news I got last year, I looked a bit further afield and contacted a REME unit, Regular and reserve, spoke to a Major who invited me down for an informal interview, it didn't take long and a quick look at my qualifications they started the ball rolling again, re opened my application then applied for an age waiver, this was a problem (not the REME's fault) it went off but was diverted when it reached the correct dept... so just before Christmas, age waiver come through, official interview held in Jan (only thing missing was a bar and a few pints) selection and final interview passed last week, waiting now for security checks and a reference (which has been returned) so just waiting to get sworn in.... fitness is well up and 2 stone lighter than this time last year, have to take my hat off to the Major and WO2 who have gone out their way to get me in.

Great news! Hope everything goes well!

Congratulations ... :beerchug:

Regards,
Doug

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Originally Posted by kosmolinekid

I still feel 20 yrs old probably because I am single again.

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I heard that pal! I know exactly what you're talking about too.

Thanks Doug, Gary,

There was a lot more to it than a wrote in post 8, the whole process was like walking through a house of a 100 doors and every tenth one slamming me in the face, at the final interview I was told all eyes were on me from the first minute all to do with the fitness etc, they were more impressed that I hadn't called it a day at the first knock back also, All in all just happy to get this far, one things for sure there are are a few more out side the unit I,m joining that have gone the extra mile to get me in and used their common sense.
I wasn't the oldest either, was a lad there 47, he was an ex Reg from the RAMC who was going for the Reserves also, little did I know until the train journey home that he had similar interests and owns an Enfield...... As he has just moved back near my area was looking for a local shooting club, so done the decent thing and he will be a member next time I see him.

I had recruits join the reserves that were aged from 15 (almost 16) all the way to 51, I think was my oldest. Usually the older ones were joining a trade, and already qualified. Fitness results vary...

Great news.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I had recruits join the reserves that were aged from 15 (almost 16) all the way to 51, I think was my oldest. Usually the older ones were joining a trade, and already qualified. Fitness results vary...

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Jim,

Its my trade that was the vital key, although the unit have me lined up for a course on braking systems, someone realized ships don't have brakes !!! apart from that can transfer my skills across as they applied and got me exemptions (being a time served Fitter & Turner got me some brownie points also), but there still may be a few stumbling blocks regarding my colour vision.... colour vision grades C1 to C4, I,m a C4, a VM needs to be C3, Recovery Mechanic C4, Armourer C4.
As one of my mates said "there has been more twists and turns in my application than a Agatha Christie novel"

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Originally Posted by bigduke6

Its my trade that was the vital key

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That's right. That's always the foot in the door. It helps to get an older guy with experience, then he's just carrying on instead of trying to learn.

After a last delay from my Doctors surgery (wasn't the Doc just one of the staff who thinks she is a Doc) my medical forms were sent by fax and being glanced over while I was on the Way to get Attested, 50/50 chance it was going to go through but everything fell in place at high noon and was Attested today, been a struggle since day one but well worth it, even the Kings Shilling has had a substantial increase (just been brought in to get the numbers up) plus after initial Soldier training another one off payment and after trade training a very large one off payment, something I wasn't expecting so a big bonus, so any advice regarding my future training from any of the ex Regs, Resrves, NCO,s and even the Officers on Milsurps will be most appreciated.

The same advise I gave the children here before they headed off. No matter what, you just don't quit. It doesn't matter what the task, you may not be running in first place, you may not be all squared away, just don't quit. Do what you're told, the way you're told, when you're told to do it. Then you carry on after doing the job you're qualified for, and you'll have no further problems. Maturity helps a lot in this case.