Recruit Maximum Age May Rise

On July 18, Defense Department officials petitioned Congress to increase the maximum age for recruits to 42. Currently the age limit is 39 for those without previous service to enlist in the Reserve Components and 35 to enlist for active duty. The proposed limit would parallel a recent change that authorizes commissioning of officers up to that age. The older recruits would not be alone in ranks; DoD statistics for 2004 reveal that some 25 percent of the 343,000 Army National Guard members are 40 or older. Furthermore, almost 16 percent of the 25,000 guard members who are mobilized have passed the 50 mark. Although the potential number of older applicants is unknown, it could be enough to counterbalance recruiting shortfalls, say officials. Estimates of costs or savings are hazy, although relative costs for college tuition probably would be lower, while medical costs could be higher.