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The 40-Year Old Recruit
By Lt Col P
A very interesting article appeared in the Washington Post Magazine this weekend, "The Last Resort." "Forty and short on prospects," reads the tagline, "Clayton Beaver traded the lush splendor of Hawaii for boot camp, barracks and the strong possibility of going to war." Traded poverty and the lack of opportunity too, but I digress.
It is at once more, less and exactly what you'd expect. I encourage you all to read it. The reasons PFC Beaver joined up are not new, but the article reminds us of some hard truths. Make up your own mind. (By the way, good on him for doing it. I'm not sure I'd want to do any sort of basic training at his age, which is my age, even Army basic. I don't even want to think about going through OCS at 40.)
Now, see also the online discussion that accompanied the article today. This one is revealing not in what it says about PFC Beaver but what it says about some of our fellow citizens.
Bethesda, MD: This is a raw and extraordinary story and beautifully told. I've never fully appreciated why anybody joins the Army, but I can relate to and appreciate a good man who wants his family to have a home and opportunities. I admire Clayton Beaver delivering for his family and your story revealed all this powerfully. But I have concerns. My question is what if, three, four, five years down the road, this doesn't work out for him? What does a 43 or 45 year old man do then? Are there serious reasons to worry if it doesn't work out?
(I know a few very good Marines and other solid citizens who live in Bethesda, but that's pretty much indicative of the rest of them.)
However, here's a great one, out of DC no less:
Farragut Square, DC: Clayton Beaver is THE MAN, and I predict he will very quickly be elevated to leadership as he rallies his 19-year-old comrades to whatever task is at hand.Being just a few days shy of 40, I could only read this story with admiration. If I tried to enlist, one exam of my knees would earn me a reply of "No thanks, Pops."
But beyond age quips, I admire him further for serving our country and for doing what it takes to improve things for himself and his family. I've seen Hawaii, and it's not all paradise. I also grew up in an insular area with limited local opportunities (Eastern Kentucky) and made the decision to move elsewhere. The alternative is to stay home and spin your wheels forever. If Mr. Beaver makes a career in the Army, he and his family will get to see the world beyond Oahu. If he eventually returns home, he will bring with him perspectives and energies that can be applied towards improving the lives of his family and his local community. Yes, there's risk in serving, but that's life. "If you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat."
Clayton Beaver, if you're reading this: all the best, sir.
Michael Leahy: I'm posting this reader's comment as well as the next reader's comment to provide a window on to how the debate over American involvement in Iraq and elsewhere natually spills over to a story about the Army's attempt to attract recruits like Clayton Beaver.
And here it is...
Washington, DC: Your article is complete BS. There are plenty of good jobs in the U.S. other than volunteering to fight wars for the oil companies. People like Clayton Beaver are the problem, not the solution.Michael Leahy: Here is the other reader's comment.
Shithead.
All in all, I have to give Michael Leahy a thumbs-up, although some of the article was overwrought. Beaver's achievements speak for themselves, though, and there's no doubting that.
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Comments
"Washington, DC: Your article is complete BS. There are plenty of good jobs in the U.S. other than volunteering to fight wars for the oil companies. People like Clayton Beaver are the problem, not the solution."
Three cheers to Mr. Beaver. As for the comment above, there really should be no explanation to what it is. I would elaborate some more, but I have to leave now and take a
#2.
If you take care of your body and can shoot well - why not. Athletes today are playing longer and longer - why not soldiers.
As to having a "good job", what is more fulfilling at 2359?
Also, I think most of us have that yearning to return despite our age. Anyway, thank PFC Beaver. (And I miss Hawaii too)
Goodness... at age 40 I'd just gone on permanent walking profile because of my legs. Basic training at my age... no thank you.
I wish PFC Beaver all the success his fortitude allows him.
First, stupid sheep do not like sheepdogs - they are afraid of and resent them.
Second at 48 i joined CAP/USAF Aux, with bad knees and all I can do things that matter -so to all, just do it you'll be glad you did.
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This one hits home for me. I just turned 40 and have been trying to convince my wife for the last several years to allow me to go back (to the ANG) Finally this summer she consented and I began talking to a recruiter about OCS (I was prior enlisted) It was a short time before she changed her mind (when she realized I was about to sign the dotted line) We don't come from a military area, so the whole idea was very foreign to her. She just couldn't understand and I had to respect it....
All I can say to Mr. Beaver is all the best....you will NEVER regret this!!!