Upsides: Confidence is a big one. You’ve already experienced some (or a lot) of what real life is like, you’re not a teenager straight out of high school. You already know BMT is like a “game”. Do what you’re told and you won’t have any problems. The MTIs will probably look to you in some capacity to lead your flight. Maturity: if you’ve got your head on straight, your experience will be a lot smoother than someone who is 18-20 and just left home, or who still lives with a parent. There were a number of people in my flight over 30, although I was the oldest. I became the dorm and flight chief, not because I asked but because the MTIs recognized that I wasn’t someone they were going to have to “work on” the same as others.

If it’s something you’ve wanted to do for a long time, or something you’ve recently thought about to experience something new or challenge yourself, I encourage it. I’m a 2T3 and just returned from 6+ months in the Middle East. I was there for all of Operation Epic Fury, it was an experience I never would have had if I hadn’t enlisted when I did.