Can I join the Army at 62?

Holy crap. People are taking this seriously?

You could certainly participate as a hard target on a gunnery range.

What is a hard target and what is a gunnery range?

Depends. Do you have a degree or masters and what field? Are you trying to join as enlisted or officer? Being fit is only part of the acceptance. Do you have a degree in a critical career field and are you willing to serve in a critical career field. You'll need an age waiver. These are just a few of the concerns you'll be facing.

Only if you are from Kenya. First, you can change your age. Then you can get a piece of paper saying you are a US citizen. Then you can go out and help re-write the US distances record book and everyone will say "Yay, we are a distance power again".

Being physically fit is just one aspect of it. I joined in the early 80's. We had some older guys in their 30's. The biggest problem they had was thinking. The drill sgt would tell them to do something and they would hesitate for just a split second. You could they were processing why we were doing whatever the task was. They got dropped (pushups) a lot.

According to

veteran.com

Military Enlistment Age Limits - Veteran.com

Veteran.com Team

The minimum and maximum enlistment age for joining the military differs by each branch of the military. The earliest is 17 and the maximum is 39.

Open link

and

nationalguard.com

Army National Guard

Army National Guard

Open link

, you can't enlist in reserves or natl guard after 40yo.

So no, you are about two decades too late

Ike was such a sissy wasn't he.

You must be 17 - 35 years old to enlist and 17 - 31 to commission as an officer in the Army. That said, you can receive a waiver for nearly every requirement. Over the maximum weight? There's a waiver for that. Got arrested in high school? There's a waiver for that too. And over the age limit? Yup, it's waiverable.

In 2019, a 63 year old cardio-thoracic surgeon commissioned as a Commander into the Navy medical corps. If you have a skill set the army needs you can find a way in.

navytimes.com

Ensign commissions her 63-year-old father as a Navy officer

Jon Simkins

The heart surgeon passed up a relaxing retirement to join his daughter as a naval officer.

Open link

Wow! That's impressive! 🙌

The guy could pass for late 40s/early 50s!

I don't why the miltary doesn't let 60 yr super fit guys join up. Let's be honest here: A lot of us 60+ runners are super fit cardiovascular machines in better shape than most of these 18 yr olds who are signing up these days. Lol

Heck, we're probably in better shape than these D.I.s who we could run into the ground!

I was active duty for 8 years. We had a guy in my division that was a reservist like 42 years old or something and he was abused because of his age. It was not a physical thing it was the younger guys bullying him to nearly suicide. At 62 years of age, you would be a sitting duck. You can try and convince yourself that you can handle it mentally, but you would break with a bunch of 18–26-year-olds just mentally toying with you daily. Calling you every name known to man to picking on you about failing at life and needing to join the military so late to just be able to have a paycheck. The instructors calling you things like old failure, grey nuts, and saying things like why does it smell like a mausoleum in here? Oh right because of the Private Corpse! Hey Crypt Keeper, are you having a heart attack! Also, to think because you are 62 and in good shape well, I can tell you a fit 18-year-old actually a typical 18-year-old would mop the floor with you if you pissed him off in boot.

I can promise you that you are not more physically fit than anyone in the Army. What you are listening to is your old man ego that is trying to convince you that you are!!!

Ask yourself how you would feel about being beasted and ordered around by someone the same age as your grand children then you will have your answer.

Would not the senior officers put an end to such abuse? The bullying?

It would come down to how bad your bone spurs are.

Do you know what a "U.S. Citizen" REALLY is according to the law? Were you born or reside in the District of Columbia? If not you are NOT a "U.S. Citizen". Look up the definition for "United States" in United States Code at 26 USC 7701(a)(9). Also, 28 USC 3002 15(a). Most Americans are citizens of the united States OF AMERICA.

The problem is most Americans do not know what "U.S" and/or "United States" is pertaining to on government forms. They think it is the continental 50 states of the Union when really it is the District of Columbia. SMH. Hosea 4:6

After all, COs are well-known for being compassionate and protective

You seem upset about something, as if it were actually you that got bullied and traumatized.

Disagree I heard Dan Gable was able to beat Wrestlers in the Iowa Wresting Team Room in his 60's, Myron Roderick was Famous for Challenging and beating Wrestlers well into his 50's when he was Athletic Director at Oklahoma State, he always challenged Wrestlers Including NCAA Champions (He himself was a 3 Time NCAA Champion when they were only allowed 3 years of eligibility) to take him down, he was ridiculously good on his feet and It was extremely rare for him to be taken down.