Typical age of a WWII officer - compared to the officers today

January 14, 2010 | myknowledge

[myknowledge]

I am asking a question that may interest anyone who is a relative of any military officer from WWII all up to the present day.

My question: What was the typical age of an officer, from second lieutenant to colonel, during WWII? Compare that to the officers in the present day.

Richard Bong was a major at age 24. Brig. Gen Harrison Thyng was a colonel at age 26.

During the Battle of the Bulge, 2nd Lt. Lyle Balk, a platoon leader was a youthful 20 years old.

In the Vietnam War, Brig. Gen. Robin Olds was a colonel at age 44 when he led Operation Bolo.

Today's officers tend to be of more diverse age groups. You can have a captain and a colonel of the same age.

[MediaMole]

Education is one of the big differences. Almost all officers don’t even start their service until graduation from college. That makes most junior officers 22-24 when they start.

In WWI, my grandfather was an officer with an eight grade education while today, I have friends with advanced degrees who are senior enlisted personnel.

[fieldmarshaldj]

My father made Lieutenant Commander by the time he was 28. This was in the late 1960s. He opted not to go further in rank and switched to the Reserves about the same time, retiring in the early ‘80s.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"And the colonels & generals I see nowadays look to me like boys playing soldier."

Frightening thought.

[Mr. Lucky]

Without knowing the reason for the promotion, the camparison may not be all that meaningful. My Dad made Captain in the Army, in 1943, by age 23. But, that was largely because the other officers senior to him in his infantry company had been killed.

[castlegreyskull]

Times have definately changed. God bless your father for his service.

[fieldmarshaldj]

And God bless you and thank you for yours.

[TWfromTEXAS]

My grandfather, and most of the Rice University football team joined the Marines in early 1942. Because he had 2 years of college they made him a sgt and shipped him out for training. At the end of that time every third man was reassigned and at age 20 + - he became a Navy Ensign.

A cousin of my grandmothers joined the army at 17 and was field promoted to Lt at 19. He stayed in after WWII and fought in Korea and Viet Nam and retired as a Master Sgt.

[elcid1970]

“Frightening thought” - relative youth of senior officers today.

Just kidding. Their youthfulness only makes me feel older. I’m certain these young battalion and brigade and division commanders are the best our Army has ever fielded and in them I have the utmost confidence.

I’m just grateful that later in life I was granted a direct appointment as a warrant officer based upon my earlier aviation experience. And thanks be to G-d, I am on extension until age 62, which is a whole year off.

That’s only one of the many things I love about being a warrant officer.

;^)

[sjgtn]

I have a picture of my father becoming a major (by Gen Mark Clark) in Italy 7/12/44. He would have been 25. He served 1940 to 1946 then became a reservist and was a lt col when he died in 2004. Happy Father’s Day, Dad — I miss you!