At 28 years old and with a lot of wear and tear on my body, will my body hold up for infantry or should I pursue another MOS?

2019-11-13T20:59:28-05:00

I pick my job in the next week. I am almost sure to pick infantry. I'm 28, got a waiver for no spleen, have been an athlete for years, a lot of wear and tear on my body. I'm going to be in it for the long haul, should I think about another job? Will my body hold up? Just looking for another perspective

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2019 9:56 PM

2019-11-13T21:56:02-05:00

I joined at 25 myself I don’t regret anything that I did either but I’m currently going through the med reclass process because my body said enough 5years later not saying that you will be the same way but no one can honestly tell you what to pick it’s your decision and you know your body best! Lots of running and rucking and lots of field time wouldn’t change it for the world but my body says switch now for me haha but whatever you choose welcome to the brotherhood!!

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Nov 14 at 2019 12:16 AM

2019-11-14T00:16:45-05:00

I'm not saying it can't be done. But there is a too-big-to-count crowd of folks who went in the Infantry as perfectly healthy - even athletic - 18, 19, or 20 year olds whose bodies did not hold up for "the long haul."

If you are serious about wanting to go until retirement, think about your body now, and then your body at 68. (Each year of infantry adds an extra year of wear and tear to your body.) If you think you will still be able to do it, go for it! But if you do go for it, I would STRONGLY recommend you have a military "plan B," and a civilian "plan C." Chances are good you will need one, if not both.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Nov 14 at 2019 7:04 AM

2019-11-14T07:04:06-05:00

Were you injury prone as an athlete? Being a Grunt isn't easy, but a lot of injuries come from lack of conditioning. I joined at 27, made it through 11B OSUT, OCS at 29, and Infantry Officer Basic Course at 30. I was a farm boy, a construction worker through college, a whitewater kayaker and did serious martial arts for the 6 years prior to joining. Other than pulling a ligament in Basic Training, I didn't have any problems. I'm currently 64 with a bit of arthritis in both knees. With the other stuff I've done, not sure I can totally blame that on the service. Now if you want to be a Ranger or SF, that's an entirely different level of abuse.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Nov 14 at 2019 9:59 AM

2019-11-14T09:59:58-05:00

You're old enough to know better than to pick combat arms. It's a waste of your time. Choose a career field that lines up with post military career prospects. You need to be thinking long term. There aren't a good paying jobs out there that care how well you can ruck march...

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Nov 14 at 2019 10:35 AM

2019-11-14T10:35:02-05:00

I enlisted as a Grunt at age 36. It aint easy for anyone. If you're a little broken and/or a bit older, it's an even harder life, but if you work hard and are smart(!!!) about what you can and cannot do physically, you can succeed.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 14 at 2019 12:46 PM

2019-11-14T12:46:12-05:00

Are you stuck on going into combat arms?

Response by SPC Anitra Bailey-Bearfield made Nov 14 at 2019 1:51 PM

2019-11-14T13:51:35-05:00

The infantry soldiers do alot a physical things, lots of running, alot of field activities. You have to be in great physical condition to be in the infantry. I was on station on fort benning a infantry post but I was in a engineer unit and we were support for the infantry units. I was a athlete as well, I ran track but with all of the running we did I injured my knees, I went straight out of high school. Everybody's body is different but we lived beside the rangers and those guys ran a few times a day. So it is up to you if you think your body can handle it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2019 8:22 PM

2019-11-14T20:22:26-05:00

I can tell you this, I re-enlisted at 34 as a 12B combat engineer. I am currently in a Sapper Unit with guys half my age (now 37). My body hurts and I am looking at changing my MOS to a non combat arms role. I get wanting to do the hooah shit, I love being a 12B and I loved being a 19D prior; but my body will not last the next several years to a retirement if I don't slow down and take care of it. I considered 11B when I came back in, but I had a good friend of mine be very real with his advice and I took it, well part of it... i still picked a combat arms job. Like I said I love being a 12B, but my main goal is to serve my country, in any capacity until I am to old to do so.

Response by SPC Anitra Bailey-Bearfield made Nov 14 at 2019 8:55 PM

2019-11-14T20:55:14-05:00

Also the military is not like it was when I was in from 97 to 2000, my son enlisted and had been in for two years and the military has gone a little soft, we could never have phones in basic or games and they had all of that, I was real surprised. Learn all you can and if I were you I would get a job that you can do when you get out. The military isn't always fair, there are some crappy leaders so cover you, stay out of trouble and do what you need to do. Good luck

Response by MGySgt Rick Tyrrell made Nov 15 at 2019 7:32 PM

2019-11-15T19:32:20-05:00

I spent 30 in the infantry in the USMC and I am still here working another job. The pain is there and? If it’s the infantry that makes you move on then your are wrong. If it’s in pursuit of better jobs once you get out then ok. You make your own path along the the that should assist you once you get out!