Have you ever been the oldest person of your platoon and not be an NCO? Did you experience any career progression challenges because of it?

Joined at 31, 3 years older than my DS 1SG (Join to see). Just made SPC at 33, there's just another SPC older than me in the BN. Challenges, of course, but our maturity shows off. We have to stand out, being ahead in any possible of our peers.
Our age won't take away promotion points or our accomplishments. Take advantage of your experience and be conscious that there's no need of rank to be a leader.

I was out for 6 years. Was a Cpl in the Marines. Now a Soc in the Guard. My pltsgt ang I are the same age. We are the oldest. My only problem is I wanna choke my NCO's sometimes for dumb shit they should know better than too do.

I'm a 32 SPC and have seen E7's who were a year younger than me. In the military, there's nothing wrong with being a little older than those who hold hiring than you. Regardless of your age, we are old soldiers, something that many in this country cannot say. Is it somewhat embarrassing to be a little bit older than those who are higher rank than you, yes, but you still need to be proud of them and keep confident that one day you will become an NCO. God knows I made some mistakes in the first half of my career, but I had made up for those tenfold. However, the penalty I have paid just watching others younger than me climb the ranks while I remain a specialist. But that will change soon enough. Keep going strong and prove that you are a great soldier. At the end of the day, that is all we signed up for, regardless of age and rank.