brucelee

iTrader: (6)

I've wanted to be part of the armed forces for some time now... Since about age 19 but I ended up getting some really good jobs at places like Adobe and such.

Now I'm 30, I speak 4 languages (Engrish, Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian, German and a tiny bit of spanish... I guess that's 3.5 languages. I'm also a math whiz and my major in college was physics, then astrophysics... Useless, I know, but I thought it would be impressive to the military (I know some might get offended, but it's true. You need the highest test scores to get into the AF. I took the marine/navy test(which I didn't want to join but just used to the test as practice for the airforce test).


Get this... I go in, tell them my credentials and past software and hardware history over the past 12 years (Thats what I did for a living), my love for mechanical things and the fact that I'm a pretty decent marksman to begin with (lowend, Davheed or anyone else can attest to this). I specialize in rifles of all sorts as well as all sorts of pistols and am very easily adaptable.

My flaws are being in VERY closed spaces with no way out (like being stuck) as is heights, but for some reason I can be in a plane or jump out of a plane and not experience the fear that I usually have with heights (I think it's a perspective thing).



Everything went SMOOTHLY and I was set up for a pretty cushy job in the balkans (yes, we're still there and we need more people that can translate incoming transmissions, things like that... I'm also good at math (I got through quantum mechanics in college, that was the hardest class EVER.


I had to have a physical exam which tested everything including eye sight. I have 20-20 vision, I have enough strength to pick up heavy stuff, can learn to repair things, etc... The reason they denied me:




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Due to the chronic back pain (which I have control of now that Ive gone through physical therapy. They think that I would have trouble firing a rifle due to the fact that I broke my collar bone and my shoulder is all ****ed up because of it... Another reason is all the metal plates in my arm and the pin in my neck. They said that those injuries could hinder my ability to endure long term exposure in combat and that the pain I have in my back and neck could automatically disqualify me from being a pilot, which is what I wanted to do. You know one last reason which is f'ed up? I can't be a pilot or even drive a tank (unrelated of course since we're airforce) because of my height!!! I'm shy of 6'7 by like 5/6 and apparently that's too ****ing tall.


Mother f'ers!!! How dare they deny me!!! I passed all of the intel tests that they make you take, I am a better marksman than most of those guys and have a passion for the safety of our country yet I can't do **** to help out.


I want to fund a website that helps our vets or something... Not being allowed to participate is one thing, but they can't stop me from helping all together. I'll come up with something.


I gotta say, I'm pretty bummed about this... A lot.

boxerfxt

iTrader: (4)

That sucks... sorry to hear

wombatsauce

iTrader: (7)

That's too bad - sounds like you put a lot into that. I wanted to join the AF when I was younger but did not think I had what it took to make it through. You have what it takes, but are denied the chance. That sucks.

Maybe it's time to start your own thing a la Expendables.

Superglue WRX

I can't imagine enlisting at the age of 30 as an E-1 or E-2 and being outranked by some 19 year old who's never been away from home before. Not to mention the pay.

Good on you for trying anyway. If you want to help anyway, you can alway volunteer with vet assistance groups or the USO.

http://www.volunteer.va.gov/
http://www.uso.org/ways-to-volunteer.aspx

Those are just a few, there's many other ways to help out active duty and veteran troops.

Teagleye

iTrader: (2)

I think you are very honorable for attempting to serve your country at least.
I also have much respect for you for wishing to set up something to help out our vets.
My father was a Recondo in the Vietnam war and I showed him your post. Has respect for you as well.
Really too bad they wouldn't let you in.
With your skills though, I believe you got something better going for you and could use those in a proactive way to do something good for the vets like you intend.
Good luck. =]

CaliSuby

iTrader: (10)

Sucks to hear.... At least they didn't give you a gay reason such as me.
The marines refused to take me in because over the limit in tattoos... Super gay. They won't let me protect my country because I have too many tattoos? WTF?

newyorkreload

iTrader: (4)

So true. I thought 28 was the age cap for new recruits.

DerekB707

iTrader: (21)

When I joined years ago, there was a 35 year old that had just enlisted in my squadron, graduated basic training as an E-1. When I joined in 1995, I made like 850 bucks a month as an E1, hope it's more than that now, cause I was broke back then. I had another buddy who went all the way through officer training school wanting to be a pilot and he answered one question wrong about headaches and wasn't allowed to become a pilot. Imagine how many candidates they have. They can afford to be very selective just due to the number of people who qualify for that same job. Doesn't make it any less disappointing for someone not getting in. Sorry to hear man.

SR20steve

iTrader: (2)

They do have waivers for that type of stuff, it's not impossible to be medically denied but be cleared with a waiver...any recruiter should be all over this with you.

Also if you have a degree I would try and go the officer route, most regular recruiters won't tell you much about OCS (officer canidate school) but if you search for a local ROTC recruiter they can give you more info on ocs.

SR20steve

iTrader: (2)

Also the best thing to remember when going through a military physical is just say "no...no...no....no" you say yes to anything they will have it on record. The metal plates are obviously impossible to hide but anything like chronic back pain, you gotta keep to yourself.

I'd go join the Army they will find a way for you to get in, plus if you want to go the enlisted route you will start as a specialist (e4)...and if you wanna shoot and have a combat mos the air force is....well the air force. There are plenty of oppurtunities to fly in he army as well either as a officer or warrant officer in aviation.

STiForFun

iTrader: (6)

Did you tell them the part about how you got hurt fighting a bum, or where you shot yourself, or got all loopy on medications and banned on Nasioc, or the crazy stuff in high school, or maybe the time you tried to be a cop...

DarkJuic3b0x

iTrader: (3)

Sad to hear what happened, but it's all a learning experience man.


I'm a reserve officer in the Army and believe me when I say that the AF is the toughest branch to get in to. Believe them when they say that your chronic back problems and what not will/may/might hinder your ability in combat, you might not think of it now but it will affect you later down the road when you have to carry rucksacks weighing 75lb-100lb+ and you're in a combat situation.

Don't fret man. AF denying you entry isn't the end of the world. If you truly want to work on planes and vehicles, or be a mechanic, then your best route would be to look into becoming a warrant officer (considering you already have an associate or bachelor's degree). You may already know, but WO's specialize in what they do. So in a sense, if you become a WO and specialize in some mechanical field, then you're already on your path to becoming more knowledgeable than 75% of the people in the armed forces...may be exaggerating that part a bit, but it's true.

It all depends on what you want to do man. Every branch has their specialty in terms of mode of operation, as SR20steve has someone said. Just think about it...

Good luck and keep us posted!

04caliwrx

iTrader: (6)

it's hard to get in if your 30 years old

OneManArmy

iTrader: (7)

I wouldn't take it personally dude. The military is finding any reason they can to deny people right now.

They just pulled the one that worked for you. Could have been any one of a few different ones. With the economy in the tank TONS of people are running for the service. Hell, I thought about it. I started the process with the PD but decided it wasn't for me. So with this flood of people they are making it harder and harder to get in.

My brother in law is having issues and he's already in.

In your case it was probably a combination of things... including your height, back pain, too many people doing what they'd slot you to do, and your age.

The Air Force in general invests a LOT of money in people and want younger life long people. Not people that are gonna get their training and bounce.

I tried the Air Force when I was 19. Back then we were not in war. I scored in the top like 3% in the country on the testing and the top of the list was pilot. That's what I wanted. My grandfather was one and I always wanted to fly. They turned me down because of my medical history and the fact that my mother and father both wore glasses. They didn't want to invest in me only to have me not be able to fly after I'm 30.

I'm 33 now. Still don't wear glasses. Still have better reflexes than damn near anyone I've ever met and very good hand eye coordination. I can see something fall out of the corner of my eye, turn away from it and still catch it without seeing it.



So don't take it personally dude. They are back in the overstaffed mode. Cut backs. Always happens with a government shift... especially one so drastic.

OneManArmy

iTrader: (7)

My brother in law joined the army when he was 39. No questions asked. He's in Afghanistan right now.

A close friend of mine is flying c130's right now in the air force. Got in in his late 20's.

Both during Iraq....

New president. New war. New budget. New cut back. Tough to get in if you're 20.