RETIRE AND JOIN THE ARMY

The Army Times reports that this week the Defense Department has quietly asked Congress for permission to raise the maximum age for military recruits from 35 to 42.

The Pentagon’s request to raise the maximum recruit age to 42 is part of what defense officials are calling a package of “urgent wartime support initiatives” sent to Congress Monday night prior to a Tuesday hearing of the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee.

At that hearing, David S.C. Chu, under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said he felt the military’s recent problems with recruiting were improving, but that additional incentives would help.

There was no confirmation that the Penatagon also requested permission to count the 42 year-old recruits as two 21 year-old recruits in an effort to make up for recent recruitment shortfalls.