18X Age Requirement

[Ltigator]

I originally contacted a recruiter after the USMC turned me down for OCS. I couldn't get a waiver for dependents. For the first week or so, the recruiter was pushing 18x.
Last week he tells me that 18x is only for recruits that will be 30 or younger upon enlisting. Can anyone verify this? I am 33 and if my waivers come through, think I'd like the 18x enlistment option.
Thanks in advance,
Jim

[Beach Jp]

I have received the same information as you. A person elisting or re-enlisting can be no older than 30 years old at time of enlisting to get the 18X MOS.

HTH

Beach Jp

[Ltigator]

If I were to enlist with an airborne option, could I then volunteer for SFAS after OSUT and Airborne school? How does that process work, and how long does it take to get processed? Is there an age limit on SFAS?

[riptide]

What about going Guard SF and then switching?

[Beach Jp]

Ltigator:

Yes and no. If you enlist with just Airborne in your contract, once you graduate jump school you will be sent "World wide assignment", based on the Army needs. This means you could end up at any base that has your MOS. You would then have to put in form 4187 requesting SFAS. If you are overseas don't expect the Army to spend the money to send you back stateside.

Now if you enlist with your first duty station guaranteed, ie: Ft Bragg, you are then one step closer to SFAS, since it is conducted on the same base. You will still have to 4187 it and hope your CO don't mind letting you leave. But this would be a better chance than being put on WWA and ending up in Korea.

HTH

Beach Jp

[Para]

To the origional question....age waivers are plausable. I recieved one.

[007]

This is probably a stupid question, but what is so bad about Korea?

[Huskarl]

Originally posted by Beach Jp
..You would then have to put in form 4187 requesting SFAS. If you are overseas don't expect the Army to spend the money to send you back stateside.

Now if you enlist with your first duty station guaranteed, ie: Ft Bragg, you are then one step closer to SFAS, since it is conducted on the same base. You will still have to 4187 it and hope your CO don't mind letting you leave...

According to USAREC PAM 601-25 (In-Service Special Forces Recruiting Program) there is no need for a 4187 unless the individual is on orders for reassignment.

[Beach Jp]

007 - Nothing wrong with Korea. I was just making a point that it is very hard to come back stateside for TDY or schools once your over there. Korea is a good duty station.

Huskari - I stand corrected. I was trying to explain in simple terms how hard it will be to go SF without a 18X mos for people over 30. The 4187 is sop for a lot of schools and I thought it would be for SFAS. As para stated it is plausable for someone over 30 to get in, I just feel it is highly unlikely. Not trying to deter anyone from giving it a go, I just don't want anyone coming in thinking that it is going to offered to them on a silver platter.

Beach Jp

[Ltigator]

Para: Thanks for the info. I emailed you a couple of questions.

Others: Is there an age requirement for volunteering while in service for SFAS? How long would it take to get to SFAS if I started trying to apply right after jump school?

Thanks again,
Jim

[Colt1911fan]

Found this thread via search and wanted to add a question about the enlisting age limit for the 18x contract.
Is 30 the limit for when you ship to OSUT? That is my understanding of it. So in my case I would have to ship before 4-30-2005. That would not be a problem, however my recruiter said I had to be completed with sfas before age 30, which would be a problem as I know I am not fit enough yet. I know that to be false and suspect there is some quarterly recruiting numbers game going on.

[ccrn]

Originally posted by Para
To the origional question....age waivers are plausable. I recieved one.



May I ask how old you were when you recieved your waiver in PM or otherwise?

ccrn

[Big O 2/75]

Originally posted by Beach Jp
Ltigator:

Yes and no. If you enlist with just Airborne in your contract, once you graduate jump school you will be sent "World wide assignment", based on the Army needs. This means you could end up at any base that has your MOS. You would then have to put in form 4187 requesting SFAS. If you are overseas don't expect the Army to spend the money to send you back stateside.

Now if you enlist with your first duty station guaranteed, ie: Ft Bragg, you are then one step closer to SFAS, since it is conducted on the same base. You will still have to 4187 it and hope your CO don't mind letting you leave. But this would be a better chance than being put on WWA and ending up in Korea.

HTH

Beach Jp

Right on the money here, however I will tell you these days SF is hurting pretty bad and all you would really need to do is land at FT. Bragg w/an Airborne Option and go see the SF Recruiter. SF has their own recruiters that recruit internally.

To answer the question about OSUT...you must not have reached your 30th birthday by the time you begin training.

Same with age requirements for the Army...must not have reached 35th birthday by start date of BCT.

Big O

[Colt1911fan]

Thanks, that was my understanding about the age limit. I still am going to see if I can meet the requirements(IE 230 pt score) within the next month. Pushups and situps I think I can do near the 80 point level by then. But running is going to be my biggest challenge. I do not know if I can hit 15:12 in the two mile by then. But I will bust my ass trying.

[AllahBlowz]

I don't know if the standards changed but i got my 18 x contract at the ripe age of 31 and did not request a waiver, in fact my counselor told me there is no age requirement other then being over 18.

[DY]

Last I heard, age requirement to enter the Army is 34.

[SFRecruiter]

Hi,

1. SF is not "hurting for people". More qualified personnel are applying than we have room in the training pipe. SFAS 1-05 had over 150 more applicants than required. We boarded the class and sent the best qualified. The 18X program also has more personnel apply than required. I am not sure of the best way to ensure fair and consistent procedures across 41 BNs and 145 companies in USAREC. However, BN CDRs now interview every 18X applicant.

2. 18X age waivers are rarely granted. Generally they are given to exceptionally qualified candidates. Examples I am familiar with include prior military experience in Force Recon, 75th RR, and in one case an All American wrestler with a MA and regional and cultural skills.

3. As the BTDT folks know, CMF 18 is growing by 20% by FY08. The current recruiting and training pipelines are sufficient to meet force requirements. We are not lowering standards in either recruiting or training. I am out of SWCS now, and will let their cadre address training. More changes are in progress for the training pipe.

4. Just one trend, between 18X and In Service recruits, 750 of nearly 1100 SFAS grads last year were 11B. Combat arms experience is a significant indicator of future success.

5. Many of the pipeline waivers pass through my office. A lot of thought goes into who gets approved. We have a force to fill, but we would rather go short with the right people than assume risk on an ODA.

Your friends in the Special Operations Recruiting Company

[18C4V]

SFRecruiter,
Welcome aboard, I hope you stay around and give pointers!!!Great information in your post.

[FlyHalf]

SFRecruiter,

Just a quick question. I saw bullet point #4 that about 750 of 1100 (just over 75%) SFAS Grads were from 11B or combat arms experience. Am I correct in assuming that the scope of candidates from 18x and 11B was proprtional? And if so. Can you provide some insight regarding the attrition rate of 18x Contract Individuals. Thank You for your time.

[SFRecruiter]

In FY04 there were 442 18X SFAS graduates and 650 In Service graduates. 310 of the 650 In Service grads were 11B.

18X pass rates show some interesting trends. From recruitment through Phase 2, pass rates for high school diploma grads are 22%; and for 1 or more years of college are 42%. Note that 17% of 18Xs have a college degree, generally a BA/BS. Also note that the high school grads are 18-19 and the college cohort range in age from 20-29, median 25. Education, age, maturity, judgement, and intestinal fortitude matter.

Another flash of the obvious is organized athletic experience. Students who have participated in sports in high school and/or college perform significantly better than those who have not.

I am off to Mackall to watch the next group of heroes graduate SFAS. I retire soon and may even miss this place.

By the way one of our recruiters received a bronze star for valor with 1/3rd SFG at the USASOC ceremony this week.