Oldest trainee in Fort Sill history

Spc. John Swanson, Minnesota National Guard, is the oldest trainee in Fort Sill history to graduate Basic Combat Training. Congratulations!

[@calebclendenon1613]

I went to basic with Swanson hahaha he was funny to mess with honestly but at the same time everyone respected bro cuz he’s been in combat and has a lot more knowledge about the military than the rest of us that were there

[@NgJackal1990]

What branch was he before?

[@lecommenter8528]

@@NgJackal1990 he was navy or airforce i believe. I dont know if he said in the video but people said he was staff sergeant in prior branch. I was delta battery and we only heard rumors. I had met this guy though when i stayed in their bay

[@lecommenter8528]

Didnt know his age obviously though

[@jennyt854]

He was in Navy

[@Tempus0ptic]

He must've had a shit ton of waivers, how did he managed to get in?

[@TripleX562]

Went to BCT with him. Awesome guy and hell of a soldier! He pushed through all the pain and that motivated myself and other recruits to never give up. Age is just a number. And all you guys talking bad about this awesome soldier should actually raise your right hand and swear in! Hooah!!!!

[@Xtragicfever]

Fort Sill has really changed since I was in. No one said stupid shit like "hooah" because they all said "oosha!" I still don't know what oosha means or why it is said or was said.

[@lex6794]

This Man is an Inspiration! Im 42 years old and considering the Army!

[@brealz_csrt4523]

I’m 41 going on Monday to the recruitment office

[@kcass72]

I joined at 17, honorable discharged at 21. I’m now 48 and would love to do over again after growing up and knowing 👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸 Army Artillery Veteran 2/32 FA

[@MyXyle666]

i did a short term as well. my only regret was not staying in, id be retiring this year.

[@I666I]

@@MyXyle666 Don't give your hopes up, they will need every man in the next world war. (;

[@donaldduck830]

Foolishness. I would love to serve in a military worth serving in, but none of them in existence today are worth serving in besides the Swiss defence forces maybe. Looking at all the war crimes committed and at all the woke nonsense inside the US military I would not join even if threatened with jail time.

[@kcass72]

My hardest issue of going back to the Army after 30 years would be NO SMOKING in basic .. 😂👍🏻🇺🇸

[@corecorazon9881]

Went in at 17, retired at 42...... great time but having that Blue Card is amazing!

[@johntodd651]

I was there at 41 years old . 2006 . Artillery then moved on to ft Bragg became airborne and went to Afghanistan. Loved it

[@vincentsavoca5575]

YOU'RE OLD.

[@johntodd651]

@@vincentsavoca5575 I did it !! It was late. However I did it!!! It was that calling. I was surprised I made it then only thing that worries me was the 20k at basic. My feet were killing me. Had me worried. I was the last one to complete that 20k. Once I gotten to Fort Bragg, I was a bit more conditioned for the 20k then . Had no people a from there on out. Then I started jumping out of planes. I loved that! Then we all had to train for Iraq at the time for that year and when the day came to deploy , we got scratched . Then we had to train again to go to Afghanistan instead. Then we left for there. Boots on ground. Glad to be home. Then I became a veteran. It was an interesting time late in my life at that moment. Glad I served. No regrets.. Airborne!!!

[@vincentsavoca5575]

@@johntodd651 Interesting. Why'd you choose to join in the 2000s and not in the 1980s instead, out of curiosity?

[@johntodd651]

@@vincentsavoca5575 to busy welding getting experience had finished welding school and was a young dad and married with two children. Life got harder later down the road and I had to do something to give my children a better quality of life and for the wife also at the time. Worked a lot of night jobs welding and struggled in a Pennsylvania town living condition weren’t that well for me with one paycheck every two weeks. Everything evolved around my children and my wife at the time . No matter what I did I could not get ahead and give them the quality of live with better living conditions they so deserved like everyone else had . It was rough my friend. I alway made sure they had good clothes and shoes and a roof over their head. I made sure the bills were paid and they had food. I have done without many things during that time then when I came home from work that morning I caught the morning news on . What was said was the military was in need of prior serve or people in their 40s up to 45 to please come join the military if they feel they can do it . NBC news put that out to call a recruiter Iraq was deep in combat, and Afghanistan was just beginning. So I put my head up high and joined for my family better quality of life. And I prayed I hope I make it through it. God grace I did. 4years and three months of serving . Ft sill and then Ft Bragg NC airborne . I did it . It cost me a lower back and some hearing lost of my left ear done PTSD. . However the quality of life for my children came true and the quality of life for me helped fir my self. I still struggle some , But not the way I did with my Family my children are grown up now and they are all living a better life for them and all have great occupations. So proud of them. I no when I die they will be okay. ❤️ Airborne All The Way!!!

[@johntodd651]

@@vincentsavoca5575 there was more to this story of mine to share however, it would take to much time to read it . You would be sad. Don’t want to bore anyone with it.

[@billybelk1831]

When i was in basic training, the "old man" of the company was 25. His name was Sample I was 18.

[@ulfgaar7724]

Hell, our old man was a 34 year old E-5 who had to go through Basic again because he got out of the Army in 2010 and then reenlisted.

[@davidr1676]

we had a guy at 34 but he'd never been in. This sending people back in is somewhat stupid but if I heard a good explanation then I might get it. I should've re-enlisted around 2005 or was it 2008 but going back to basic in these days of wussified Basic would probably make me go AWOL or shoot myself while qualifying. Of course the next thing to go is these kids won't need to fire a rifle. I learned this last year that bayonets are history, and I worked at that hot snake pit at Ft. Sill during 0 week. I just heard last week that grenades aren't taught anymore either. I think both those and hand to hand or use any object to smash the enemy should be mandatory before even being handed a rifle unless you grew up shooting and fighting.

[@BlueCollar1212]

I’m 33. Been out since 2013. On disability through the VA but they told me I was unemployable. I want to reenlist so damn bad.

[@colossusforbin5484]

I went through Marine boot camp back in 1985. The oldest guy in the platoon was 28. I was 18 and remember thinking that was old. At 53, you realize just how young that is.

[@FTroop37F]

Good for you man! How did you get in at 49 though? September 11 2001 the max age was 35. A few years later, and a few years into Iraq, the age was raised to 39 due to recruiting challenges. A few years later it was raised to 42 for the same reason. You mentioned prior service and I realize that a year of service talkes a year off of your age, but how did you get in at 49?

[@ericaquino4690]

That's what is like to know. I've always wanted to enlist and both times I missed the age requirements.

[@anotherarmchairhistorian2831]

He's prior service. Plus I'm sure he had to get a waiver or two.

[@Trisharena]

Prior AF here and headed to army basic at Fort Jackson next month at 36yo and 10 years civilian...

[@buzzmeanytime]

They wouldn’t take me now. I’m 46 with no kids or wife. I’ve been a teacher for 16 years.

[@JI-sg5uy]

I did my basic at Ft Sill back in August of 1995

[@Skyjuice70]

was there in May 03'. Church Sundays and if you didn't want to go, it was floor waxing detail.

[@crossroads5771]

My dad went thru artillery school there in 1970 When he was 55

[@Azkabanprison]

Ahh good ole ft sill I was there for both basic and ait delta 1/19 3rd plt night stalkers and ait c battery 1-78th fa mos was 13f went thru training back in 2007

[@lxdgr8]

I was an "old" trainee @34 yo back in 02. Can anyone tell me who the drill sergeants were for E 1/40th? I started OSUT in July 02 and graduated in October 02. Thanks.

[@Skyjuice70]

I'm right there with you bro. I was @32 back in 2003 when I got shipped to BCT. . Did they make you PG? As soon as they found out how old I was, automatic PG. I was like, damn! lol Same thing in AIT.

[@lxdgr8]

@@Skyjuice70 no sir, not me.

[@JJ-gk9ri]

I was 36 going through Air Force BMT. Beat that.

[@sithninjacowboyranger9803]

Were you prior service

[@garouuchiha4041]

Better late than never.

[@JJ-gk9ri]

@@garouuchiha4041 No regrets. Officer now.

[@VerifiedVIPMember]

Wonder why he had separate sleeping quarters? I went through basic there in 1989 and couldn't imagine going back again....

[@deltasquad8817]

49 years old damn....

[@Solidergirl01]

I didn't know you could join at that age. the oldest I thought was 35.

[@IEversmann1]

They will subtract prior service years from your age

[@misstajay9697]

Also there's waivers

[@OutOfReg]

We had a guy that was 39, he turned 40 in BCT. He last name is Feumy, and he is from Cameroon. Dude had a six pack on top of his six pack. B 3-10 MARAUDERS, FT LOST IN WOODS

[@jt8isgr870]

I think he is awesome. I'm old now wish I can re up but I have to many health issues and I don't know if they freeze my 100% VA rating if I was back. The other thing is since there's no 19D anymore do I reclass to something else?

[@tracywilliams7929]

How did anyone older than 34 yo. find his way into basic? Has the age limit been extended or taken down completely?

[@tubesurfing]

I thought the cut off age was 35 prior service or not wtf

[@tatankahanska120]

I went to basic at the age of 39. I enjoyed BCT at ft Jackson

[@zachwit5559]

Numbers must really be down

[@michaelficarro2591]

Ft. Sill is a wonderful post🙄

[@oceanbreze1977]

Many who join are young, poor and havent been around doing much of anything or been anywhere and this is just how it is, and often told to get a job. If possible, it would help alot if they slowly pretrain themself for a few months prior to getting on that plane, because it can harm the body when its not prepared for even doing things like short sprints, jogging, pushups and hiking. Learn to shave everyday, maybe get a military haircut and march around a bit. Watch some basic training vids and look about where your going on google.

[@joeharris3878]

Can't graduate , Jethro Bodine ?

[@keshanalangdon1178]

He got to live in separate quarters and his cellphone? Why is that .. this video does not explain that

[@dak098]

He’s prior service. So he gets some privileges.

[@keshanalangdon1178]

@@dak098 of course 🙄

[@LordLT13]

@@keshanalangdon1178 he deserves those privileges though

[@Deni238]

Diego De La Torre I thought prior service didn’t have to go through basic again!!

[@sinkiller112]

@@Deni238 you do if you've been out for a while or you're coming from another branch

[@cornnflaekk675]

I'm at Charlie 1/31 right now

[@willthrasher3519]

It was easy dawg

[@jadenyoo3693]

Went to AIT with him lmao

[@mikeprouty856]

My name is Michael Howard proudy I went through Fort Sill 1980 no rain 1990 anybody ever been recycled through this shit hole

[@ssr0821]

Hey it's Charlie 1/40!

[@epicbobbingfan]

Hooah

[@asrielromo8611]

Chaos Ready :p

[@typhoon35gaming83]

I would like to join but don’t know if recruiter can waiver to 46 as he stated ( we all know Recruiters aren’t always honest) current age 44 green card 6 Months waiting time, i would refuse 1 Million dollar if i could join and speak 3 languages Fluent unfortunately MAVNI program is canceled and i have been married to my wife (U.S citizen Currently in U.S Army) for 16 yeras

[@robertlee4767]

When I went to jump school we had all different ranks from E-1 to O-6, we had a E-5, tell one of the Black Heads thats what he wanted to be, bad mistake they dogged him the entire time there.

[@donniesavage2051]

I went to Fort Sill in 1993 and this is not the same Army these people look weak drill sergeant looks like a child probably is a child

[@mikethemechanic7395]

Never understood these guys. I joined in 1993 at 18. Got out by 23. I joined to serve my country. I knew this at 15. Desert storm just made me more motivated in junior high to go in. I have no respect for anyone who did not join at 18. Or after college.

[@garouuchiha4041]

Pffff!, ha!, whatever. You are a joke.

[@WilliamRepsher]

Maybe it’s just me…. But boy, military looking soft AF, this guy….he a guy right?

[@jamescox7537]

49 years old !!! He cannot make retirement. He will only have 13 years in at the mandatory AGE OF 62. Are really this desperate for recruits?

[@garouuchiha4041]

Yes.

[@thezipper100]

Time to retire Swanson. Not a fan of this man

[@courybrown5265]

the military has fallen the honor is dissipating.

[@Alexander-sv2wq]

Will their uniforms be PINK 🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@kalmorrison5313]

I went through Army OSUT 1987 at 18, Did my three years, Enlisted in the Marine Corps 1994 Reserves, went to Boot Camp at 25 turning 26 at Parris Island. It was a Big Difference going through Boot Camp from 18 too 26.. I was in Great shape, but I was more set in my ways at 26, I made it though and finished 17 years in the Marine Reserve’s As a E-6 with a 20 year pension which I collect at 62.. I loved both The Army and Marines Ooh Rahh

[@HCSRBLX]

Thank you for your service, I plan on enlisting pretty soon I’m currently going through the MEPS process.

[@HateTheIRS]

Why’d you join the marine corps. Why not the army for the second time around?

[@TonyGarrett-p1c]

Should be collecting that pension at age 60??

[@abdiellawrence397]

I reported to Ft. Sill on 04 Jan 2017 at the tender age of 33. My drill sergeant was 31....I really do miss that DFAC. Greetings from Germany. :-)

[@charlesk1140]

WOW!!! I enlisted at the age of 17 during Desert Storm in 1991 and did my Basic and AIT at Ft. Sill. I am now 47 yrs old and the kid in me would love to go through basic again given what I know now and the life experience I have gained. But that teeny tiny pea size part of my brain that contains common sense LOL knows darn well my body would say WTF were you thinking??. Now my own 19yr old son is enlisting and as ironic as life normally is, it appears he to will be going to Ft. Sill for his basic and AIT. I look forward to seeing just how much the place has changed in the almost 30 yrs since I was last there. The man in this video must be from a family with a spectacular gene pool because at our age most peoples bodies are starting to show signs of age ( I know mine is) so for him to get through the physical part is inspirational. Im sure the mental part was a breeze for him. It pains me to think of all the guys I was in basic and AIT with who may no longer be with us given so many wars/conflicts since then. To those of you who chose it for a career, as well as Nation Guard/Reserve... THANK YOU!!!!! I never could see myself doing it for a career. I only went the National Guard route so I could still be able to come home and become a firefighter/paramedic for a career.

[@epicbobbingfan]

0:34 my basic training DS' right there.

[@asrielromo8611]

Ian Price Mine too she’s awesome, just left the battery

[@jennyt854]

She was mine back in 2018

[@lionelbunker2755]

It's so strange seeing women at Fort Sill. When I was there, the only women there were civilians who worked there in some capacity. How things have changed in this era.

[@davidr1676]

same here. those buildings look like the newer ones they had in 1990 but our mess hall and inside barracks didn't look like that at all. We didn't have cell phones, we wrote real letters or had a chance to make a 5 minute payphone call before having to get in the back of the line. We also NEVER had our weapons in our Bay, we cleaned those on the drill floor but I was in AIT by end of October or 1st week of November so once the freeze hit maybe things changed. Women we saw were employees that fed or clothed us, maybe if you ended up in the hospital like I almost did but when I found they wanted to admit me...I just took the antibiotics and pulled a string or 2 to get released back to my unit. oh, and we saw women while we were in AIT but they were at the bowling alley/activity center or we saw them in town at a strip club.

[@LaMiltonTheHoodrat]

I was 28, damn, I thought I was old!!! (not really Big Smoke lol_)

[@258thLT]

I went to Basic training in Ft Sill, 2007 and I was 34 years old. The oldest in my company was 42

[@davidmartin320]

mark getman battery**

[@258thLT]

@@davidmartin320 yes battery ..my bad .

[@258thLT]

@Baseball Fan age limit was raised in 2007 ...

[@neraka-z4n]

I also went to FT Sill in 08 with a 42 year old in my battery. Dude was old af to me at the time and had hair like Chewbacca but he was a tough sob.

[@Skyjuice70]

I was there at Sill in 2003 @ 32. The old man they called me. lol. One other guy was older..I think 35 or 36

[@unacarafea567]

I did basic at Ft. Sill and we had the oldest guy in basic training at the time in my platoon. He was 38 and had enlisted on the day I was born and going back in after getting out a few years ago. Artillery. 2/27 FA, Ray Barracks, Freidberg, Germany. 75'-79'.

[@KentPetersonmoney]

I was wondering how you could join at 38. I read 36 the max to join the military but I guess if you were former military thier likely to let you in at 38. I mean 38 is still young just old to be starting. I'm 39 and would not think of joining. Would have rather been leaving the military at that age then joining. My dad retired like a month before he was turned 40.

[@yolloyd6678]

i leave for bct at fort sill in feb 19th next year...i’m 26 and i thought that would have been a factor...but this video proved me wrong! #armystrong

[@bwoody23643]

LJgaming XL we might be there together! I go the 25th to sill!

[@yolloyd6678]

Briana Underwood yeah hopefully i see you there!😁

[@renleighb7093]

I leave to go to Ft Sill in June

[@NgJackal1990]

I graduated basic when I was 27, the hell you're talking about bruh?

[@chrismccleary5929]

There’s gonna be a lot of people older then you bro, i graduated there in September there’s gonna be some in there 30s

[@richardunger2177]

Cudos..I did Benning, 1980. We had two vietnam vets 33 and 34 years old.....they both made it but it was noticably more difficult for them...obviously we looked up to those two..pure bad-ass

[@dalewoods7308]

33 years when I was in basic fort Leonard wood

[@LIFE-nh4zq]

I did BCT there 30 years ago. looks exactly the same.

[@tommyblackwell3760]

Me too, BCT at C/1/31 starting in April 1990, then did AIT at D/3/22.

[@smartacus88]

Back in 06 we had a Boston Irish guy named Fagan. I want to say he was 40-42. Something like that. Oldest cat in our training battery. He could run a 13min 2 mile.

[@m4nwo]

Good idea to have a quartermaster the troops feel like they can build trust in.

[@KentPetersonmoney]

Hav'nt been on that base since I was 11. My dad use to work fort sill back in the 90's

[@Xtragicfever]

Fort Sill basic has gotten weak when they went co-ed. There is nothing remotely intimidating about a female DS. There is no yelling or smoking going on in this video. Are you even producing warriors, or is this is jobs program with summer camp sprinkled on it?

[@666ILIKETURTLES666]

Female DS are much scarier. They turn it down for the cameras.

[@joey6704]

@@666ILIKETURTLES666 No scorn like a womens wrath

[@Skyjuice70]

Yes, it's a shame. I was there at Sill in 2003 when it was still all men. They kicked our butts. Lots of bunks overturned. Flutter kicks till no end. 5 minutes to eat and you're done. Swallow now, taste it later.

[@Artis_Lapsley]

Try 1998 Fort Sill....🤣

[@Xtragicfever]

@@Artis_Lapsley I was at Still in 1998. A battery, 1/22.

[@MyXyle666]

went through basic with a guy, Spc Bolinger. he was the old one at only 30 if i remember right. the guy was in the navy 8 years prior and decided to go reg. army while he was still young enough. he helped ease some of the stress since he would talk about what he had to deal with in navy boot.

[@franktalley]

I have but one question...Why?

[@uhsenli6424]

isn't 49 too old to join?

[@user-uq9dn1in2z-pj1vw]

congratulations sir!

[@huskyaonecee7568]

Rock on!

[@aidenstokes7403]

CID Agent

[@justjayjustjay5054]

Damn.... 49?!😳 I'm 48 now & I wanted to re-up 6 years ago but was over the limit. Is this 1/40 in the video? Seen a "40" on their guidon banner. I was also the ol guy when I went through Ft Sill at 28

[@rainwave5]

Yes that's Charlie 1/40 which was my parent battery during BCT. Lol I recognize the rusted mailbox and the 3 trash cans. And I think I saw DS Tamashiro in there.

[@justjayjustjay5054]

@@rainwave5 Nice! I was Alpha 1/40 for OSUT looks very similar but very different as well. We definitely weren't able to be joking around at chow nor had the DS's joking around unless smoking us. Was back in 97 or so

[@rainwave5]

@@justjayjustjay5054 😂😂 I can imagine. Mine was in October 2020 and those standards were still kept more or less. But I think now the camera made a big difference lol.

[@justjayjustjay5054]

@@rainwave5 Yeah... we weren't even allowed cameras unless we purchased them on leave (disposable cameras) at the BX. Only place we really used them was at the Gunner's Inn, if that place is still there by the gate. Do they still have the taxis that take you anywhere for a couple bucks, & have anything you want in the trunk including cigs, alcohol, beer and a photo album of the girls they can "have you meet"? Crazy times... but good memories.

[@ryan215553]

How?

[@jasjas-rm9kc]

Maybe I missed it, but how do you get to do basic training at age 49? I thought the maximum age was 34? I was at Ft. Sill in 73, and before that, Ft. Knox. The oldest guy in my basic was 34.

[@andrewmiles3409]

prior service. whatever amount of years you have in prior, is basically the amount of years that is subtracted from your age. So, if the limit is 34, and he had 15 years prior, he's good to enlist at 49. If he was in the Navy/AF/CG, he still has to go through BCT to join the Army. I also believe there is a time limit of how long it can be after you're separated from the service before you have to go back to BCT again if you decide to resume your service. I had an E5 with us at BCT as a trainee. He used to be an officer in the Navy but decided to go Army, and there he was.

[@AFRO_KEEN]

You would never get me in boot camp around a bunch of young kids.

[@garouuchiha4041]

Some are good and some are not, it's horrible.

[@sethjohnson411]

Same pace half his age? You mean twice??

[@mikeprouty856]

I got recycled cats I went from third week 2 11th week back to 3rd week

[@HateTheIRS]

Why

[@Fzr600pike]

How was he able to get separate quarters and his phone lol

[@sithninjacowboyranger9803]

Prior service I guess

[@darktoadone5068]

Pain is weakness leaving the body.

[@terrydavis8451]

Holy cow Ft Sill looks like a daycare now vs a military post. What a shame at how far the Army has fallen.

[@ProjecthuntanFish]

Why in the world would you need to send a prior service member to Army bootcamp??? Stupid and a waste of taxpayers money!