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By Rhonda Campbell Updated July 01, 2018
Some men and women join the U.S. military to serve their country and to work at a job that provides a steady income. Others sign up for the opportunity to travel the world. Each of the four major military branches has qualification requirements in areas such as height and weight, age and academics. You can work to meet some of the requirements while you’re still in high school.
U.S. Navy
You can join the Navy as an enlisted member or officer. To join as an enlisted member, you must be between the ages of 17 and 34. However, if you're only 17, your parents must consent to your joining the Navy. United States citizenship or permanent resident alien status is required. If you don’t have a high school diploma, a general equivalency diploma is acceptable. The minimum Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB, score to join the Navy is a 35. Additionally, before you join the Navy, you must pass at least two drug tests. To become a Navy officer, you must generally be at least 19 and not older than 35. Only United States citizens are allowed to join the Navy as officers. Regarding education, you must complete at least a bachelor’s degree before you become a Navy officer. To enter the officer program, you must also pass two drug tests. Both enlisted and officer members must meet height and weight and physical and mental health standards, and complete basic training, which lasts approximately seven to nine weeks.
U.S. Army
In addition to being a United States citizen or permanent resident alien, you must have a high school diploma or GED to join the Army as an enlisted member. You must also meet height, weight and overall physical health standards. The minimum score you can get on the ASVAB test is a 31. You have three hours to complete the test that covers science, math, electronics and reading comprehension. You can become a commissioned officer in the Army if you are a United States citizen. You must also generally be between the ages of 18 and 35 years, have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited postsecondary school and complete a 12-week training program to join through Officer Candidate School, or OCS. Furthermore, you can join the ROTC on a four-year scholarship if you are between 17 and 26 years old. The minimum high school GPA allowed is 2.5. You must score no lower than a 920 on your SAT and at least 19 on your ACT.
Air Force
If you’re a United States citizen or legal, permanent resident, you may be able to join the Air Force as an enlisted member. You must be between 17 and 39. If you don’t have a high school diploma, a GED is accepted if you have at least 15 college credits. You must score at least a 36 on the ASVAB if you have a high school diploma, or at least a 65 if you have a GED. Additionally, you must meet height, weight and physical standards. After you pass the ASVAB and physical examinations, you must complete basic training, a rigorous eight-week field and classroom training program. You can generally become an Air Force officer by joining and graduating from the Air Force ROTC. In addition to being a United States citizen, you must be between 18 and 34. To join the ROTC, you must graduate from high school and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA while you’re in college. If you receive an ROTC scholarship, you must have at least a 2.5 GPA in college. As a scholarship recipient, you also must generally complete at least four years of service in the Air Force after you graduate with your degree.
Marine Corps
Candidates for the Marine Corps enlisted ranks must be U.S. citizens or legal residents between 17 and 28 years old, with their high school diploma. You must also meet physical requirements and take and pass the ASVAB test with a minimum score of 32. In addition, you must complete and graduate from the 12-week basic training program at Parris Island, South Carolina or San Diego, California. To become a Marine Corps officer, you cannot be younger than 18 or older than 28. In addition to being a United States citizen, officers must have a bachelor’s degree at the minimum. After you meet height, weight and other physical requirements, you must attend the 12-week OCS, where you will complete classroom courses and physical regimens, including 15-mile endurance hikes.
FAQs
Disqualifications at MEPS can include illegal drug use, alcohol dependence, not meeting the height/weight requirements, having certain contagious diseases, and more. Law violations can also prevent you from enlisting, such as being convicted of a crime that prohibits you from carrying a firearm.
What disqualifies you from joining the military? ›
Disqualifications at MEPS can include illegal drug use, alcohol dependence, not meeting the height/weight requirements, having certain contagious diseases, and more. Law violations can also prevent you from enlisting, such as being convicted of a crime that prohibits you from carrying a firearm.
What are 3 requirements for enlisting in the military? ›
ENLISTED. You must be 17–42 years of age, a U.S. citizen and have a high school diploma, GED with 15 college credits or GED.
What makes you eligible for the military? ›
Be between the ages of 17 and 35. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Be at least a junior in high school, or have a high school diploma or a GED certificate. Achieve a minimum score on the ASVAB test.
Can I join the US Army as a foreigner? ›
Citizenship and residency
U.S. citizens and some non-citizens can join the military. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must: Have a U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) Speak, read, and write English fluently.
At what age will the military not accept you? ›
Unfortunately, the age limit for joining the military currently ranges from 17 to 41 years old. The age limit differs based on branch and type of enlistment. Below we break down military age limits by active duty, then take a look at National Guard and Reserves age limits.
How much does the military pay? ›
Rank
| Rank | <2 Years Experience | 8 Years Experience |
|---|
| Private First Class (E3) | $28,530.00 | $32,162.40 |
| Specialist or Corporal (E4) | $31,604.40 | $38,368.80 |
| Sergeant (E5) | $34,466.40 | $46,184.40 |
| Staff Sergeant (E6) | $37,627.20 | $51,030.00 |
2 more rowsThe 1/3 - 2/3 rule means that the commander and staff should use a maximum of one third of the available timie Page 8 (time is calculated from the receipt of the higher headquarters order at the planning headquarters, to the time when the subordinate unit starts movement) to plan, prepare, and issue an order and ...
What military branch pays the most? ›
There is no branch that pays more. Base pay at a given grade and time of service is the same across the services. However, total pay and compensation can differ a lot due to allowances and special pays. But those are based on location and duties, not branch-of-service.
What is the US Army age limit? ›
Here are the requirements to become an enlisted Soldier: Age: Between 17-35 years old. Medical, Moral, Physical: Medically and physically fit, and in good moral standing. Citizenship: A U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a valid Green Card.
WELCOME TO BASIC
You're ready to start becoming a Soldier. In 10 weeks, you'll be physically and mentally stronger than you've ever been, and ready to join the team that protects America. Most recruits are curious about Basic Combat Training (BCT).
How much money can you make joining the military? ›
Base pay for a new enlistee comes out to $20,340 per year, but they'll earn more as they gain experience and rank. Most service members also receive allowances for housing, food, uniforms, and job-specific bonuses, many of which are not taxed.
How long is boot camp? ›
Recruit basic training, also referred to as boot camp, is 6-13 weeks of extremely intense military training that, depending on the service branch, is conducted at one of the several military training centers throughout the U.S., from California to New Jersey.
Can you have tattoos in the military? ›
The Army tattoo policy was updated and relaxed in 2022 but is still one of the most strict in the military. It prohibits any tattoos on the head, face, neck, wrists, hands, or above the t-shirt collar. Essentially, any visible body tattoos are prohibited.
Can I join the military if I'm undocumented? ›
To join the U.S. military, non-citizens must be living permanently and legally in the United States. Non-citizens must also have permission to work in the United States, possess an I-551 (Permanent Residence Card), have obtained a high school diploma and speak English.
Is it hard to get into the Army? ›
The entry standards are not overly difficult, but being cleared medically, academically and physically can be an uphill battle for many. Significant preparation may be needed to reach the level of acceptance to join, but enduring the training also requires a higher level of preparation depending on the job you seek.
What does the military check in a background check? ›
The investigation focuses on character and conduct, emphasizing such factors as honesty, trustworthiness, reliability, financial responsibility, credit, criminal activity, emotional stability, and other pertinent areas.
Can you join the military with a bad background? ›
While the US military has rigorous moral character standards regarding recruits, having a criminal record doesn't automatically disqualify you from enlisting. However, your eligibility depends on the gravity of the offenses committed and when the incident/s occurred.
What does the military background check look for? ›
What Is Included in Background Investigation. The background investigation will include credit and criminal history checks, records checks to verify citizenship of members, verification of date of birth, education, employment history, and military history.
Is anxiety a military disqualifier? ›
Current or a history of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, simple phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, acute reactions to stress, and posttraumatic disorder are disqualifying conditions.
