Age Waivers are real!

For those of you interested

SEC. 553. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO WAIVE MAXIMUM AGE LIMITATION
ON ADMISSION TO THE MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES.
(a) WAIVER FOR CERTAIN ENLISTED MEMBERS.—The Secretary
of the military department concerned may waive the maximum
age limitation specified in section 4346(a), 6958(a)(1), or 9346(a)
of title 10, United States Code, for the admission of an enlisted
member of the Armed Forces to the United States Military
Academy, the United States Naval Academy, or the United States
Air Force Academy if the member—
(1) satisfies the eligibility requirements for admission to
that academy (other than the maximum age limitation); and
(2) was or is prevented from being admitted to a military
service academy before the member reached the maximum
age specified in such sections as a result of service on active
duty in a theater of operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom,
Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation New Dawn.
(b) MAXIMUM AGE FOR RECEIPT OF WAIVER.—A waiver may
not be granted under this section if the candidate would pass
the candidate’s twenty-sixth birthday by July 1 of the year in
which the candidate would enter the military service academy
pursuant to the waiver.
(c) LIMITATION ON NUMBER ADMITTED USING WAIVER.—Not
more than five candidates may be admitted to each of the military
service academies for an academic year pursuant to a waiver
granted under this section.
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It sounds like the waiver only holds if the enlisted member was prevented from receiving an appointment because he or she was deployed to OIF, OEF or OND.
 
That what I was thinking. Which would mean he or she decided to try for LEAD WHILE deployed. For example; when I was filling my forms out I had to get coded by MPF stating I couldn't PCS or deploy till I received a final verdict on my acceptance to either the AFA or the P school. Therefor, I couldn't go if I was coded. So yes age waiver is true, however the circumstances for the waiver to work are very very slim.
 
USAFA is not meant for 25-30 year olds. I'm sure an operationally experienced servicemember would have difficulty relating to their 17-22 year old USAFA classmates. A 26 year old age-waived freshman would be 6 YEARS older than I will be as a FIRSTIE next year. They'd be the same age as many of their 0-3 instructors. Also, family considerations begin to come into play since you cannot be married or have dependents while at a service academy. Thus, that 26 year old 4 degree would not be able to marry or think about children until age 30+. I'd think civilian college and OCS would be a much more attractive option.
 
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+1 to all of the responses.

I would also add that like any waiver, just because it exists don't assume they will give it. In this current environment I would believe they would have to be the most amazing enlisted personnel member that blows every candidate away.

Plus, most of the prior enlisted we knew at 26 wanting to go officer typically did TA and applied for OCS. Many by 26 were close to completing their undergrad by that age, thus went to OCS. They have been enlisted and as much respect they may have for the AFA, they know that once commissioned they all wear the exact same uniform, being an AFA grad gets the same jobs as an OCS grad. Yes, even UPT.

I am sure somebody will probably try for it, but I wonder what benefits they are seeing as a 26 yr old going this route. Personally I see none, especially if they want rated because they will be too old by the time they graduate from the AFA.
 
Jeez. Do we really need three different threads on this very topic? It is worthwhile but it seems like overkill. Can the moderators merge these or close a couple down?
 
I must admit, it does seem like a lot. I honestly only read the AFA forum and maybe the Prep Schools forum here and would not have caught this post had it been consolidated in a different section.
 
I also think that for each SA they can see the waiver differently.

For AF, I can't see the deferment due to the fact most of the deployments are no more than 6 months. AF missions have been winding down for yrs. AF has AEF wings, they don't send everyone at once.

USMA is different. They have been there for 12-18 month deployments over and over again for the last 10 yrs. One yr there, 1 yr home. Their window of opportunity depending on when they deploy can be very small.

I would be highly doubtful a 24 old in the AF would be given a waiver. However, it would not surprise me if a 24 in the Army was given a waiver.

In the end, I just wonder how many candidates that have been ADAF since 18, are saying let me in at 24?
 
I want to add one thing.

AbigailPR2017 was posting with best intentions.
AbigailPR2017 said:
I have a very good friend who is in the same boat and I would love to share some good news with him!
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It appears she has a personal connection to this issue.

Now, AbigailPR2017,

The fact that your post read like you searched it out for them, and they did not find the answer before you; says a lot.

It says to me that they didn't want it. Every Commanders knows it exists. Enlisted members need their command support. AF = Wing King/Queen.

Your intention is admirable, but in honesty, it is not enlightening any enlisted member that truly wants this opportunity.

A quick google search gave them the answer. If they couldn't take the 30-60 minutes to google search age waivers for an SA, or talk to their commander, can you honestly say they want it bad enough?

Just me, but I have no problem saying they didn't want it bad enough if the only way they learned of the waiver was on SAF and your post.

Honestly, enlisted members work the chain of command for support just to get to apply.
 
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Just my two cents, but this seems to be the last bastion of discrimination - age discrimination. After admitting minorities at the turn of the century and then women in 1975, age discrimination is the only hurdle remaining at service academies. You can start attending any 4 year college in the US if you are 30 or even 40. There is no age limit for example to play NCAA sports anywhere in the US, so there really is no reason the academies can't or shouldn't begin admitting people over 25 or 30. If you don't agree with the standards write to your congressmen and ACLU and complain. Its a democracy and these are public institutions-the military is normally great about reflecting the nations diversity and there is no reason the academies can't do so too. Just like admitting the first women in 1975 - at first they will feel under tremendous pressure and a small minority. But the more that were admitted - today it is commonplace and no one even thinks about it. The same would happen the more they admit people over 25 or 30.

BTW The argument of falcongirl below is invalid. She states that USAFA is not meant for 25-30 year olds. Thats just like saying USAFA is not meant for women - taking us back to 1975. By her reasoning you could go on to argue that it would save taxpayers money not to even send women to an academy or pilot training if they end up taking off 2 or 3 years here and there to have children. They should also consider revising the married and dependent regulations as well- you can be married and attend basic training at Ft Benning or Parris Island for three months, so why not a few years at the academy? Its not like they even still march to every meal like they did in the 1960s or not go home for Christmas the first year....The over Prussianization back then didn't help win the war in Vietnam so it wouldn't make much difference in todays low intensity conflicts. They should be committed to professionalism like the military as a whole.
 
JeffersonGirl said:
Just my two cents, but this seems to be the last bastion of discrimination - age discrimination. After admitting minorities at the turn of the century and then women in 1975, age discrimination is the only hurdle remaining at service academies. You can start attending any 4 year college in the US if you are 30 or even 40. There is no age limit for example to play NCAA sports anywhere in the US, so there really is no reason the academies can't or shouldn't begin admitting people over 25 or 30. If you don't agree with the standards write to your congressmen and ACLU and complain. Its a democracy and these are public institutions-the military is normally great about reflecting the nations diversity and there is no reason the academies can't do so too. Just like admitting the first women in 1975 - at first they will feel under tremendous pressure and a small minority. But the more that were admitted - today it is commonplace and no one even thinks about it. The same would happen the more they admit people over 25 or 30.

BTW The argument of falcongirl below is invalid. She states that USAFA is not meant for 25-30 year olds. Thats just like saying USAFA is not meant for women - taking us back to 1975. By her reasoning you could go on to argue that it would save taxpayers money not to even send women to an academy or pilot training if they end up taking off 2 or 3 years here and there to have children. They should also consider revising the married and dependent regulations as well- you can be married and attend basic training at Ft Benning or Parris Island for three months, so why not a few years at the academy? Its not like they even still march to every meal like they did in the 1960s or not go home for Christmas the first year....The over Prussianization back then didn't help win the war in Vietnam so it wouldn't make much difference in todays low intensity conflicts. They should be committed to professionalism like the military as a whole.
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They dont need to go to USAFA to be an Air Force Officer. If they are out of college for example someone who is 25 could apply to OTS and become an officer in 9 weeks instead of going to the academy for 4 years and becoming an Officer at 29.
 
@JeffersonGirl, interesting points, though I believe there is a minimum time in uniform requirement in the laws to be promoted to the General/Admiral ranks, and 62 is the mandatory retirement age for Generals/Admirals unless specifically waived. Starting too late may put a ceiling on the individual when you consider all factors.
 
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