Switch to Desktop Site  Uncle Sam does not want me  About these
ads  I had completed my daily three-mile run and was back home
doing 50 sit-ups in front of the TV. "Find out how you can be an
Army of one," the voice in the commercial commanded, as soldiers
rappelled from helicopters.  "That looks like fun," I thought.
"I'm no Demi Moore, but I think I could survive military
training."  The armed forces spend millions of dollars on
recruiting - enough to buy a couple dozen toilet seats at
Pentagon prices - only to reject many who try to sign up.  They
wouldn't be wasting their money on me. I don't use drugs, I'm
not overweight, I have a college degree - I can even find
Afghanistan and Iraq on a map.  Yes, I'd have a lot to offer,
unless they asked me that one key question that keeps many of us
from serving in the military. No, not that question. I'm
referring to the question "How old are you?"  You see, I'm 51 -
and the cut-off age for joining the military is 34.  We're in a
war against terror - but the recrui