But. I'm interested in joining when I'm 23-35, with a college degree or two and a few other creditations.
Age restrictions have already been noted by others.
Shooting for an officers position and having the financial solidity to not only equip myself with anything the army can't (body armor plates etc) but possibly a good portion of the unit too. (In a couple years, I could be making six figures. Or I could be living under a bridge.)
You aren't going to be doing any of that *expletive deleted*it, this isn't 1860.
The whole "join the military because it has a magical effect on you and makes you into something more durable" or whatever meme doesn't really hold water with me. For one thing, I've already been through the types of prolonged experiences that most people don't have that bring about real changes. I can probably survive anything short of a concentration camp now without being overly fazed, either had to get to be like that or die.
That all depends on what you are actually going to do in the military, now doesn't it? You can almost always find some aspect of military service that will push your mental and physical limits. If your military service isn't a life-changing experience, that is typically the fault of the person in question.
There's basically three things I'd like to do: Fly helicopters, some sort of advanced combat medic, or airforce pararescue.
As far as the Army goes, you get to pick your MOS *if* your ASVAB (sp?) is high enough, and get said MOS in your contract. Same goes for some schools, like Airborne. Recruiters may be weasels, but if it is in your contract, you can really screw 'em over if they try to bait-and-switch you later.
All three of those would bring about elevated levels of dopomaine in my system
Um, OK. That statement makes you sound like an immature ass, sorry.
I could even get a rotary bladed pilot's license / build up some EMS type training over the next few years in order to have a jump start going in. Same with physical fitness and leadership skills, a few foreign languages, a martial art.
Foreign language can get you extra pay if you score good enough on the DLPT. Getting in shape should be focused first on maxing the physical fitness test for the service you are going into, then ruck marching 12+ miles in <3 hours with 50+ lbs on your back, then anything else you feel like a distant third. Prior EMS training and a pilots' license would be nice, but nothing more. A martial art would be a waste of time, except as good exercise and something that is generally cool... nobody will care if you know kung fu. "Leadership skills" training is usually a complete waste of time.
I'm not thinking of GI-Joe firefights and adventure. Same with not expecting to make it into the rangers, or seals, or whatnot, cool as that would be. I know I'll need the Lasik, but in a year or two I'll have reached confidence level in that technology as well.
As noted, with 20/50 you are probably out of the running for being a pilot, all the other branches pretty much don't care about a vision defect as long as it is correctible and/or not to severe. Going Ranger isn't
that hard, actually, provided you are very fit and can pass the schools. SEALs are a different story.
Oh, and if you have a degree, you should go the officer route, definitely.