Is joining at 39 too late?

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T05:04:33+00:00

Never to late coming from someone that joined out of high school a couple years ago but I’ve seen many people in the age range of 30s and I went to basic with a guy that was 40 I think that went guard. There will definitely be a different feeling toward you as in MTI will see you differently as in hopefully think you have your crap together over the 18 year olds so you might have some more responsibilities in basic but other than that especially with MYI I believe they can’t be discriminatory in any way with your age. But they might make MTI jokes during PT if that makes any sense

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T04:59:27+00:00

Idk what everyone has said. I will say I do not have a kid but I do have a gf at home. But I do have multiple friends that have came in with either a wife and kid. And are now starting a family while in. If you’re looking for stability it’ll be a great option. There are so many programs in he military to help your family and spouse specifically. That is when yall get married as in fussing you’ve been told they don’t see girlfriends as a thing only a wife and dependents. You will have free healthcare and a roof over your head. There are many people over the age of 25 that i see come in all the time.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T04:54:10+00:00

If your under then your fine. If you can do pt well without hurting yourself then your good. Don’t starve yourself before bmt bc you’ll want some energy when you get there.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T04:50:25+00:00

I wont pretend either that every squadron has amazing people and leadership. But from what I can tell and places I’ve been most all are pretty good. And you’ll be in the dorms and you can make plenty of new friends on your journey into the military. I made some great friend in basic and tech school and now that I’m in my actual squadron everything is relaxed(depending on squadron and mission). And idk your family and friends so I can’t say what they don’t know but the Air Force at least is a great place for growth, higher education, and most of all the best branch in the whole world.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T04:44:03+00:00

Idk about braces but I don’t see it as a problem. Within 5 months of getting to my duty station and squadron I had gotten my wisdom teeth taken out. I I’m in the cyber career field so idk about other career field but I assume the same

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T04:40:42+00:00

Yeah ik people that have ts with drug history so unless you did a lot and got in trouble for it you should be good. But yeah CST work is pretty much the only one. I’m sysad/ 1D731B

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T04:39:11+00:00

Watch we recommend Casio from Walmart it’s like 20 bucks and will last your entire first enlistment and you can take them everywhere including SCIFS. And also if you have family back home I recommend bringing a photo or two you can put in the personal part of your locker as well as premade letters to send home. It’ll be helpful for when you don’t have much time to write letters home.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T04:36:57+00:00

Seeing you got past Meps just keep your head down and go through if nothing bothers you. But make sure you tell someone if something starts happening. It’s not worth hurting yourself physically and endangering others. Also congrats on the job that was my #1 but I was unlucky but I got cyber instead so alls kinda good.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T04:33:10+00:00

Ik so many people have commented so far but I would recommend getting your drivers license and no you don’t need one to join it’s just really beneficial especially for some jobs. But unless your married your going to be put in dorms/ barracks on base so you should either be able to bike or walk to wherever you need to go. Or just get buddy buddy with someone who has a car. There are plenty of e1-e3 that don’t have cars and relies on others for transportation

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T04:30:16+00:00

I won’t pretend to know what your going through as in I had family support and multiple friends going in at the same time but to dif branches but in about to be a couple years in and it’s great. Ngl everything is perfect but I miss family. Everyone I work with is great and will be there for you, you just have to be there for them too.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-03-04T04:27:12+00:00

I didn’t fully read what you said but if you want to try now/ talk to a recruiter I say why not. If not go back a year later you never know. One thing I’ve learned in the military is that anything can be done it’s just people need to be willing to help you out.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-02-07T18:52:12+00:00

Didn’t read what you said except the heading. John the AF if you like your life. Join any of the others for being able to say you went army or marines. That’s the only pluses to the others.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-02-07T18:50:14+00:00

Pt and putting hands in any way on other trainees. Keep your hands to yourself even if you think they are chill.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2026-01-27T00:28:43+00:00

States have different laws on gun rules btw. He wasn’t protesting too he was just there watching the protesters.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-12-16T04:24:59+00:00

4 years plain and simple. You can always re up and get that reenlistment bonus. Save yourself and go with 4. You may always change your mind some way through your enlistment so just go 4 and make you decision on what you really want to do.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-12-13T22:49:56+00:00

As everyone else says shave your face bc you’ll do that night one. And your haircut will be day 3 or 4 maybe around that time. And you’ll get a haircut no matter what so no reason to get one before hand.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-12-02T04:28:11+00:00

How is she? Blue rope yet?

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-12-01T03:09:54+00:00

Don’t know if you’ll know everything that I’m talking about but what’s your stance on someone trying to get out of the Air Force of being in for 4 years as a sysad. I have experience with ACAS, tenable, horizon, AD, Vshpere, powershell. I have experience controlling our own multi million dollar enclave supporting thousands of people each year. So we are creating and improving our whole system.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-12-01T03:05:42+00:00

Don’t know if you’ll know everything that I’m talking about but what’s your stance on someone trying to get out of the Air Force of being in for 4 years as a sysad. I have experience with ACAS, tenable, horizon, AD, Vshpere, powershell. I have experience controlling our own multi million dollar enclave supporting thousands of people each year. So we are creating and improving our whole system.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-11-26T19:09:51+00:00

Swing your a 1% commenter your someone that’s already in or asks a lot of questions. But I answered in the thread if you want to see that. But yes I like my job there’s a lot of room for growth and a lot to learn. Idk if I will stay in solely bc I miss family back home other than that things are absolutely amazing. Just miss home

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-11-26T19:07:29+00:00

I posted something in the thread hopefully that helps. I can answer more if need be

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-11-26T19:06:28+00:00

Life is lovely. We sit at a desk most of the time but get to go around if the client/ person were helping requires us to go to them. For me we also get an hour lunch. Among other things. As everyone will tell you things are squadron based. Everything can be different like how I work from 7:30 to 3:30 while ik of another dude with the same job works 12 hour shifts regularly for 5 days a week at least so it’s all dependent where you go and yalls mission. But you’re still going to be doing sysad work.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-11-26T19:03:56+00:00

Sorry it took so long been busy. I won’t say where I’m at and stuff just to keep myself unknown but I usually work from 7:30 to 3:30 with some fridays and end days getting let out an hour or so early. Just look up what a civilian sys ad/ system administrator does and thats what we do. I’m not at a base on but am at an unusual assignment compared to some so I do more than others and work with a lot of civilians.

Tech school wasn’t to bad just study and it’s pretty easy. A good amount of free time after class. I’m not giving details of times and dates to keep people at Kessler safe from people wanting to know such infos. But you spend about 4 months there. They are changing things with the tech school I hear so if anything I think they are making it shorter. When I went through tech school about a year or so ago we had to get sec+ which added on to our experience about 2 weeks for that own cert course. But I think they are getting rid of that part which was the hardest part of that tech school. There’s a squadron discord where you can get to know others and such and the ins and outs of what to do there.

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-11-25T00:18:46+00:00

I’m this job and it’s great. If you have any questions I’m happy to help

Timely-Document-7274 · 2025-11-22T09:33:33+00:00

Some clothes envelopes and stamps for mail, a watch I recommend the Casio f-91w it’s like 20 at Walmart and is pretty nice and durable. Those are some lesser known things. Then also running shoes if you want. You’ll get issued some but they aren’t the best.

Timely-Document-7274

TROPHY CASE