Thanks for that. And I certainly will keep things updated and answer any questions people might have once I'm in. A recruiter I was working with was always very patient with me and my application process. He never once tried to brush me off or anything. He took the time to answer any question, explain in detail any issue, and even give his own personal experience as advice. I really look up to him. He told me when I got accepted to remember what he had done for me and to make sure I do that for others. He said to always try and help those that need it and to lend a hand when it's called for. He said I could never pay him back directly, but I could always pay it forward to someone else in the future.
I wasn't even his recruit, never even met him in person. We only talked on the phone, but that's the kind of leader and soldier I want to be.
As for the other stuff, I'm not saying a 30 year old Infantry Officer will be easy (I'm looking at ENG myself.) But I think the bigger factor is time in that branch. As you said, someone just coming in at 30 is "fresh." In a few years, yeah, he will hurt. But a 22 year old comes in fresh, and in a few years he will hurt just the same. So I think that's less about what age they were when they started and more about just being in that Branch for so many years.
Honestly, a few years ago, there were 42 year old 2LTs, some went Infantry. If age played that big of a factor on whether or not they could do the job, I'm sure the Army wouldn't have let them in that Branch.
I'm 31, I only see 2 differences from when I was 21. The first, is I really have to watch what I eat more. At 21, I could eat pizza every day and not gain a pound or feel out of shape. I ate so much junk food, day in and day out, and I just stayed the same. These days, I only occasionally reward myself with some junk, and I feel it the next day. That sucks. The other is that recovery time has slowed a little.
What has gotten better though, is my overall physical performance. I run faster and longer than before. I'm stronger and quicker and make progress much faster than before too. Maybe I was just a really late bloomer, but I work out with some guys that easily 10 or 12 years younger than me, and they can't hold a candle to what I do. Not just in the weight room either. I smoke them on a track and barely break a sweat. I honestly have felt since the time I was about 25 that each year after that I've been in the best shape of my life. I have never been more fit and more capable in my life than I am right now and I ship to BCT in 2 weeks, where everyone says their fitness increases dramatically.
I know this was a wall of text/ramble, but I appreciate the sincere response. Usually my posts here are just met with downvotes and that new mod screaming at me. lol