Joining at an older age

[JollyRoger]

Evening all,

I'm new to these forums, slightly unsure which section this post belongs in so if it isn't here then i'd be grateful if a mod could do the necessary.

I'm 29 and looking to apply as an Intelligence Officer in the near future - I'm currently in a fairly responsible job in civvy street but I am looking for a new challenge with more of a sense of purpose. After a fair few months of consideration I think I am ready to give this a go.

I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on the average age of applicants going through OASC and new entrants to IOT? I expect to be quite a bit older than some but I was wondering by how much. Is there any correlation between being older and being less/more likely to succeed?

Also I was wondering to what extent joining at 29 will impact my career path - the maximum age for the IntO role is 36 so i'm assuming it must still be possible to enjoy a full career but I am not naive to the fact that there may be limitations and glass ceilings.

Any info very much appreciated.

 

[Stevienics]

Evening all,

I'm new to these forums, slightly unsure which section this post belongs in so if it isn't here then i'd be grateful if a mod could do the necessary.

I'm 29 and looking to apply as an Intelligence Officer in the near future - I'm currently in a fairly responsible job in civvy street but I am looking for a new challenge with more of a sense of purpose. After a fair few months of consideration I think I am ready to give this a go.

I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on the average age of applicants going through OASC and new entrants to IOT? I expect to be quite a bit older than some but I was wondering by how much. Is there any correlation between being older and being less/more likely to succeed?

Also I was wondering to what extent joining at 29 will impact my career path - the maximum age for the IntO role is 36 so i'm assuming it must still be possible to enjoy a full career but I am not naive to the fact that there may be limitations and glass ceilings.

Any info very much appreciated.

I, and quite a few others on here, went through OASC and IOT around your age mark (30 ish) and I have just observed the new IOT generations go through as I went back through OASC and ROIT reserve officer training (at the tender age of 55).

You'll be fine - in fact you'll probably be better than fine because that extra 10 years makes things a little more palatable, especially if you have real world experience to benchmark your passage. You are around the average age, but there are many even older than you. This may offer you a degree of maturity that gives you an edge.

That said, I can pretty much guarantee that if you do get to the IOT stage, your age will become the least important aspect of your life in a matter of minutes. People undergoing that experience ae so involved in getting each other through and so bloody tired much of the time, that they all look the same age by the time they get to term 2.

The only thing to remember is, no matter how old you are, get there fit enough to allow your body to take a bit of a pounding. The Med Brigade is a large and unhappy gang, and you really don't want to spend upwards of 20 months there because your conditioning has failed you, as some recent graduates were. Also, they'll work you up to a point where you have to make the right tactical and leadership decisions when you are just about dead on your feet - it's hard enough being an emotional wreck without being a physical one as well.

 

[JollyRoger]

Many thanks for that reply, it's good to hear that the average age is a bit older than I had thought.I take the points on conditioning onboard definitely, it is probably my biggest concern and is the reason I have delayed applying formally - I would rather wait a few more months and be ready from day 1 than rush into it and have that drag me down.

 

[Mag2grid]

I, and quite a few others on here, went through OASC and IOT around your age mark (30 ish) and I have just observed the new IOT generations go through as I went back through OASC and ROIT reserve officer training (at the tender age of 55).

You'll be fine - in fact you'll probably be better than fine because that extra 10 years makes things a little more palatable, especially if you have real world experience to benchmark your passage. You are around the average age, but there are many even older than you. This may offer you a degree of maturity that gives you an edge.

That said, I can pretty much guarantee that if you do get to the IOT stage, your age will become the least important aspect of your life in a matter of minutes. People undergoing that experience ae so involved in getting each other through and so bloody tired much of the time, that they all look the same age by the time they get to term 2.

The only thing to remember is, no matter how old you are, get there fit enough to allow your body to take a bit of a pounding. The Med Brigade is a large and unhappy gang, and you really don't want to spend upwards of 20 months there because your conditioning has failed you, as some recent graduates were. Also, they'll work you up to a point where you have to make the right tactical and leadership decisions when you are just about dead on your feet - it's hard enough being an emotional wreck without being a physical one as well.

Just had a read of your latest blog entry, I really didn't find DE1 or 2 that bad. But I went through it when I was 24 and knew the pain of JROC to come after IOT. Not sure if they have kept the same set up but I remember at 0530 one morning walking from the COC to the accommodation area (Sector 1 Dom) having passed the same OCdt who was on the opposite pattern to me, every morning without fail a knowing nod shuffle into the day. I'd love to go back and see what it's like now with such smaller numbers.

In the summer of 2007 when I did DE1 we deployed for 17 days, there was 155 of us plus the a Delta Flt mob who needed to be assessed. It's not too physical as much as mind numbing repitation, you no longer count days but tasks until it's over. Wake, Guard, CIT, Patrol, Sleep, Wake, CIT, Sector GD's (adj's b**ch), Guard, Sleep. Repeat 15 more times. You look forward to food as a means of introducing something different into the day.

As has been said fitness is a must, not because you need to be superman to complete the course but it helps minimise injury, yes you still might get the crap end of the stick and fall, trip etc but you can't avoid those kind of injuries. I pitched up relatively fit, it does help, your fitness will peak around week 7 of term 2, before you go on DE, 2 weeks on exercise and when you come back your pretty much winding down before you go on 2 weeks leave before term 3.

 

[LightningMk6]

Speaking as someone who at 26 joined up, age never entered my head when I applied for enlistment. Motivation was what made me apply. Having worked in civvy street as a photographer in many different aspects of the trade, it was the opportunity to learn a new trade and change of lifestyle at 26 that did it for me. Never regretted one minute of my decision and went on to complete 22 years as an Aircraft Technician. Age is not a problem if you are fit and healthy.