Armed Forces Recruiting Requirements

The US Armed Forces are all-volunteer, but they won't take just anyone. There is no guaranteed right to enlist in the military. As the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy are all governed by common federal laws and administered by the Department of Defense, they have many common recruitment standards. However, the services also have their own unique needs and cultures, and so they also have requirements in particular.

General Requirements

For someone to join an American military service, the Department of Defense requires that person to be between 17 and 34 years old, although some services depart from this standard. Recruits must be US citizens or resident aliens with a high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). They can be either single or married, but married recruits may have no more than two children. Being single with children disqualifies a prospective recruit from joining the Army if the candidate has partial or full custody of the children. Only if the other parent has full custody can a single parent enlist, and even then it is on a discretionary basis. Candidates must pass a basic physical fitness exam and a medical screening. They must also receive a passing aptitude score on the ASVAB exam. The scores required for the aptitude test varies with the service in question, but the test itself is standardized throughout the US military. All branches of the military have zero tolerance for drug use, and screen prospective recruits either as part of the medical exam or shortly after induction. Those with criminal records are usually disqualified from recruitment.

Army

The Army physical fitness exam differs from some of the others because those who fail are sent to a "fat camp" for physical training rather than disqualified. They are brought up to the admittance standard and then allowed to go on to basic training. The minimum aptitude score is 31.

Navy

In addition to the usual criminal record issues common to the Department of Defense, the Navy takes a dim view of people with bad credit histories. Candidates with debt well beyond their means or a past bankruptcy will likely be disqualified from recruitment. The minimum aptitude score is 35.

Marines Corps

The Marines Corps has a lower maximum age for enlistment. They only accept recruits between the ages of 17 and 29. The minimum aptitude score is 32.

Air Force

The Air Force accepts no one older than 27. The minimum aptitude score is 40.

Coast Guard

The Coast Guard maximum age is higher than the standard, and they will accept recruits up to 39 years old. Its minimum aptitude test score is also higher at 45.