Uncle Sam doesn't need him ("Tears-in-your-beer" alert)

The Sydney Morning Herald ^ | Aug 18, 2003 | staff writer

[yankeedame]

Uncle Sam doesn't need him

August 18, 2003 - 10:37AM

He's one of Hollywood's toughest - but Bruce
Willis isn't tough enough for the US Army.

In his latest film, Tears of the Sun, Willis played a hardened soldier on a rescue mission in central Africa. But the real US Army was less than convinced by his GI potential, as they rejected his application to sign up, reports Hello! magazine.

Willis admitted in a magazine interview that he was "devastated" by the snub.

"Years ago I wanted to register as a volunteer but they told me I was too old."

The 48-year-old, whose father served with the Army in Germany, still feels he has what it takes to be a soldier, however.

"I believe I have good leadership qualities," Willis said.

Commenting on his role in Die Hard, Bruce also observed that being an action man rather suits him.

"Above all, I look much better dirty, bloody and covered in mud."

He'll be reprising that image in Hostage, his forthcoming thriller about a police hostage negotiator. And he's also signed up for a fourth instalment of the Die Hard series.

AAP

[Kadric]

It always tickled me that when I got out after 7 years at 25 with 6 month to go till I was 26 I had to register before they would give me my discharge.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Of course not! I'm just saying that just because he acts the part part of a soldier in the movies, doesn't mean he automatically has what it takes to be a real one in real life.

This from someone who probably doesn't realize how many actors joined the military and actually fought in World War II.

[Kadric]

I'm kind of mixed on it but would not mind basic due to the totally different mission profile. My training involving defense was how to destroy the crypto and ECM gear if the base was being over ran, then run for my life while scattering the parts. And according to one of the rumors at the time running for your life involved getting away from the aircrew.

[2111USMC]

My recruiter and I are getting the paper work together for me to join the NG at 42. I am prior service but a non prior service can join until they're 36.

No Sh!t ?

I thought all of us guys over 40 couldn't get back in.

[familyop]

LOL. I was 31 when at Ft. Lost-in-the-Woods for those first
three months (OSUT). They thought I was too old (even
though not quite so by regulation). ...made it, though. :-b

[Kadric]

You have to have enough Prior service to be able to get your 20 in before you turn 60. In my case with 7 years prior active service I have until I turn 47. 20-7=13, 60-13=47.

[familyop]

The top age when I was in was 34 for enlistment, 32 for
officer training. ...only one of the "old men" who
made during that cycle at that post, AFAIK. The others
did the suicide and injury thing.

[Hoplite]

C-4-2, class of '86

= )

[familyop]

enlisted type, 12-B-H, ARNG, '89-'96

[Hoplite]

What's an 'H', Combat Engineer type, 1 ea?

I'm familiar with the Infantry alphabet soup, but that one escapes me.

[familyop]

Hotel = instructor = assistant instructor for me

...can't talk about what kind of schools on this board
for the world to see. The basic, earlier MOS was 12-B.

And with the senior NCOs of the time (who were good men)
being a little less educated, I did most of the teaching.
...with all due respect, of course. Heh, heh...funny
thing is that I was made a temp. CPL (instead of
the SPC, which is all the home unit TOE allowed for)
to do the schools. ...rest of the time, you know, the
field (but just "weekend warriors playing army," LOL).
The schools thing was way pud compared to the usual
schedules. Boyo, is life good now!

[familyop]

Fixed my tag line (below and right of this line).

Essayons (means "Let us try" - In other words, send us crazies
when the "Follow me" types get stopped by deep doo-doo
devices). ;-)

[Hoplite]

Uh oh.

Super secret squirrel stuff.

Mum's the word, then.

[alternatediscourse]

what about my congrats too, Hoppy? I sign the paperwork in a week or so. I'm either MP or SFer...:) Of course, have to endure their training, not a problem from a physical standpoint, is it will be fun...:)) don't ya think? So, when do you re-up? I'm using my vast Marine Corps experience to hooo-yahhh...

[Wondervixen]

REAL REASON:

The United States Military DOES NOT enlist new recruits older than 35 years of age, plain and simple!