Texas OSO

[pilotwannab]

I recently visited the OSO here in my area and they informed me that the District is saying that I am past the allowable age to commission for an aviator contract. I am 28, (turn 29 in May) have not PT'd yet, nor have I taken the ASTB. They called the district when I was in the office for NFO and they said the same thing. I told him that I thought there was a waiver, but he said no.

My friend (who is a LT going thru primary in the USMC) called his OSO up in R.I. and his office said that Texas was full of ...... and that while my age is a factor, all I had to do was be a PT stud and they would waiver me.

Can anyone clarify this? I'm getting conflicting information and the OSO in R.I. said that Texas meets its recruiting demands and they can pick and choose.
Texas also told me that the USMC wants me winged before the age of 30 and that is why it is a "no go." Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[ru838434]

From what I've read on other posts, you can't be older than 27 1/2 years old at your time of commissioning. However, I think you can receive a waiver up to 29 years old if you are prior enlisted.

 

[pilotwannab]

Yeah, the OSO up in RI said that I can be waivered up to the age of 29; as long as I am commissioned before my 30th.

 

[loadtoad]

Not sure how many Marine OSO's there are in Texas but here is a website for the one in Austin. Perhaps you may get a different answer from them if it isn't the OSO you already talked with...


http://www.texasmarineofficer.com

 

[torpedo0126]

I worked a volunteer event two weeks ago with a prior enlisted ENS who is 31. He said he didn't know how he was able to pull it off, but the normal age I think is 30.

 

[Speed-bump]

I too was in your same boat about 5 months ago.

I walked into the OSO's office 3 months before I turned 29 and started the process. My OSO told me that it was a "possibility".

He did some real digging on my part for the correct answers on this. It turns out it's a waiver for prior service, but for us it's actually an "exception to policy" for non priors. Since I'm already a pilot with over 4000 hours, he said that I have a good chance. I took the ASTB, Qualed at MEPS, and in shape. I talked with everyone I could, to find out what the chances are of getting accepted. Like you I could never get a straight answer. Not to the fault of those I was asking including my OSO, it's just that nobody really knows. It's a varying circumstance. What I mean by this is that most Officers I talk with have never seen it accomplished, and all the OSO's can't get answers because with an exception to policy it has to go in front of a General after the boards before there is any kind of decision.

So I guess your answer is that, yes it can be done. How likely is it, is up in the air. I look at it this way, if I don't try I'll never know.