SubscribeMarine Corps Enlistment Requirements
Are you thinking about enlisting in the United States Marine Corps? Before you visit a military recruiter, you may wish to verify that you meet the basic enlistment requirements to avoid a disappointing outcome.
Before you enlist, you should read the Know Before You Go Guide to Enlistment from Military.com
Here’s an overview of the current requirements:
- Age requirement. Currently, the Marines will allow you to enlist in the active duty force if you are between the ages of 17-28. If you are 17, you must have written parental consent. IIf you have prior military service, you may be eligible for a waiver of this requirement.
- Exam requirement. You must take and pass the ASVAB Armed Forces Qualifying Test. Each service has different standards for passing the exam.
- Medical Eligibility. You must be able to pass a military physical and be medically qualified for worldwide service. You also must meet height and weight standards.
- Drug History. You will be asked to answer the following questions in writing before you enlist:
- Have you ever used or experimented with marijuana?
- Have you ever experimented with, used or possessed any illegal drug or narcotic?
- Have you ever been a supplier or distributor of or a trafficker in marijuana, or other illegal drugs or narcotics?
- Have you ever been treated or undergone rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse?
- Have you consumed hemp seed oil or any products containing hemp seed oil in the last 45 days?
Marijuana use alone is not necessarily disqualifying, depending upon the number of uses. You will be required to take a drug test before enlisting. - Moral History. Convictions for any of the following offenses will make you ineligible for military service:
- Aggravated assault
- Bribery
- Burglary
- Carnal knowledge of, or indecent acts with, a child under 16
- Draft evasion
- Extortion
- Kidnapping, abduction
- Manslaughter or Murder
- Perjury
- Rape
- Robbery
Exceptions may be made in some cases where the crime was not committed as an adult. Convictions for other crimes require a waiver. - Education. Generally speaking, you must be a high school graduate to enlist in the Marine Corps. They do accept an extremely small numberindividuals with a GED or equivalent. Those individuals must have high scores on the ASVAB AFQT.
- Dependents. You may not have more than two children if you are married. Single parents are not eligible for enlistment. If you are married to a military member and have children, you are only eligible to enlist if you obtain a special waiver.
- Financial Qualifications. If you have any dependents, are 23 years of age or older, or have a bad credit history, you must successfully complete a financial qualifications check. Basically, the military looks at your debts and financial responsibilities and compares it to your future military income. If you won’t be able to meet your obligations on a military salary, you’re ineligible to enlist.
- Residency. You must be a permanent resident of the United States to enlist in the Marines. You’ll be asked to prove this by providing either a green card or a permanent resident visa and proof that you’ve established a permanent home in the country. If you’re hoping to become a military officer, you must be a U.S. citizen.
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:20 pm
i am 28 years old and made the biggest mistake of my life……leaving the corps early when i was 20. i regret it everyday and would be honored to get a second chance to proudly serve our country. would it be possible to enlist again? i was to be discharged general under other than honorable.
March 15th, 2010 at 9:37 am
I am 27 years old, and about 6 months ago I tried to join the army and was DQ’d because I was busted for smoking pot when I was 17. They would not give me a waiver and told me that I was DQ’d from all branches of the service. Is this true? Do I have no chance of becoming a Marine also?
August 4th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Matthew:
In your case it is all dependent upon what exactly you were discharged for. There is a number of things that would cause you to be discharged under other than honorable conditions.
Steve:
I can assure you that almost anything in the Marine Corps is waiverable. A lot of times things that you did in your past will not hinder you from joining. Depending upon if it was a felony offense would be the only reason I could see why you would be disqualified, however if it was not a felony offense then I would just sit down with a recruiter and see what he says. A lot of things have changed since the 8 years I have been in.
If you need more information feel free to respond back and I will do a little bit more investigating.
August 30th, 2010 at 1:12 am
I’m enlisting with the Marine Corps, or trying to in this case. The recruiter alredy took me to take my ASVAB in which I scored well. The only hitch I am worried about is my not so great credit history. I am 25 yrs old now and I ruined my credit in ’07 when I was 23. 2 yrs of dealing with bad credit has made me a lot more responsible with money now than then. Will the military really deny someone the opportunity to serve his/her country due to some stupid mistakes he/she made in the process of “growing up”?
September 16th, 2010 at 8:40 am
I am 23 and want to enlist in the Marine Corp. I have passed the Asvab before and can pass the Pft. The only thing I am worried about is the fact that I was on medication from Jan 18 to ab mid April this year. I was not diagnosed as being Bipolar. I had a doctor that only cared about over medicating. I was on the meds bc of the emotional state I was in after a bad breakup with a long time boyfriend. During this I was in a psych ward for ab 3 days. I am not crazy or psychotic. It was just a rough time. I am also filing for bankruptcy and that will be filed in the beginning of November. I’m having to put my medical bills on there so I know that they will see that when I file. Does it seem like I will be able to join. I am not on any meds and after bankruptcy my financial situation will be fine.
September 18th, 2010 at 4:56 am
I first started checking out the different branches of the military when I was 16 and knew that my parents were planning on divorcing after I graduated high school and were selling the house, so I really needed to find a place to go. I had enough high school credits to graduate early because I went to summer school and attended community college part time in order to give me an edge on the SAT. My father had moved out due to the fighting and I thought the divorce might come a lot sooner than I thought. I wasn’t really prepared to live on my own and both my parents never really wanted to be parents in the first place, so I was really going to be on my own.
After speaking to recruiters, active duty and retired servicemen from all five branches, my understanding was that although you can be enlisted at 17, the military generally doesn’t like to do that unless you are going to turn 18 before you finish your formal training. It does happen, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
In any event, I didn’t enlist until about a month before I turned 18, though I would have liked to have gone in earlier. I doubt most, if not all recruiters will tell you that about enlisting at 17, but I wouldn’t be suprised if a lot of them use some excuse about taking some time for improving your ASVAB scores or something like that if you have more than 6 month before you turn 18, even if you already have a high school diploma.
That’s just my experence.
January 19th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
I was in the marines for about 6 years but i got kicked out for calling someone smoked salmon and a peice of bacon i was wondering if i could rejoin and i hope this letter hopes of lemons for the needy….
February 11th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
I have already done everything to get in the marines but i haven’t left for boot camp yet. I planned on waiting for me and my fiance to get married after i get out of boot camp but now we plan on getting married before i even leave for boot. I have a son and he is a dependent. But now my recruiter is telling me that if i get married before i leave for boot camp that i might get denied by the marines cuz it’ll make me have 2 dependents. Will i really get denied for having 2 dependents, Or is it just a bunch of crap?
March 28th, 2011 at 5:27 am
i graduated through an alternative high school program andwas to recieve a HSED. however, what they actualy handed me was an GED. yet, my hig school transcripts state that i have an HSED through an alternative program. i spoke to a recruiter, who sayd i would HAVE to have a Highschool diploma certificate, and that they would not accept transcripts.
also, when i whent to see him again he was no longer there, and i was told from a different recruiter that because i have a tattoo closer than two inches from the break of my wrist, i would not be able to get in.
are these things true/up to date regulations?
i want nothing more than to be a valuable addition to the united states marine corps, and know that i would be (hands down) if i could. any info would be greatly appreciated.
April 1st, 2011 at 10:33 pm
I am attempting to join the Marine Corps. I have a past possession marijuana charge that was nolle prosequi. (originally guilty) I was told by my recruiter that I was only eligible for Reserve duty. Is this information correct, or should I go see another recruiter?
April 4th, 2011 at 5:01 am
I would like to join the corps I’m only 16, but still would do anything to join and be apart of something big. How do I go about joining or do I have to wait till I’m 18 I have wanted to be in the military since I was four I talk to my mom about it every chance I get. I here of some boys doing it for the uniform if the want to do that than they can go buy one it makes me sick to here that. I want to do it to believe in my heart and mind that I’ve done something great for this nation that I so proudly call home. I will give it my all and every thing I have and more to be a United States Marine. I’ve had other older friends to go and fight and I want to do the same. I see these men going over seas all the time and I want to be part of that so please tell me how to go about doing so. Thank you sir or mama
May 19th, 2011 at 3:20 am
im 18 and was enlisted in the delayed entry program, i got 2 underage drinking infractions a dui and a public intoxication, will this stop me from being able to reinlist?
June 14th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
I failed a drug test in 09 for army the recruiter had told me not to say anthing about the meds i took the week before. I applied to marines all was good except i needed to remove a tatoo from my neck this was done at the end of 09 they said i would have to wait till it faded more. i am tring to get in marines but they said it is to late can i get a waiver?
July 4th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
I am 37 but workout regularly, am in excellent physical condition and can pass the APFT with a 270 or better. Will the USMC give me an age waiver and allow me to enlist? I currently can run 6 miles in 44 minutes every other day.
I want to enlist–would I be allowed an age waiver?
August 5th, 2011 at 8:23 am
i will like to joint the marine corp but i am not a resident of the usa. what shall i do .
August 17th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
I have enlisted in the marines before but opted out thinking i wanted to be young and party with my friends I passed everything but since i decided not to go i did some drugs and now I regret it even though I have never been caught on a drug charge or any other charge,am i still able to re-enlist?
August 23rd, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Im 25 and have 2 little girls but they both live with their father. i have 4 tatoos three are on my neck and one on my chest. My credit is bad because of a couple poor decision i made when i was younger. I would really love to join the military and serve my country. Is their really no possiable way to join.
August 28th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Karma because of your neck tattoos you will be DQ’d from the Marines. Spencer im sure you can re-enlist but the Marines are becoming very picky with who they take these days. Finally, Ronnie your are to old for the Marines. The oldest they allow for enlisted Marines is 28. You could probably get into the Army at that age though.
August 29th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
When i was in high school i decided to drop out my sphomore year.. I went back in 07, and graduated in 09, I am 25 now and would like to think wiser.. The recruiter told me that the diploma i have isnt good enough, that i would have to get 15 collage credits.. Is this true? I wanna join more than anything, even if i have to go to school again..
September 4th, 2011 at 11:13 am
I love to get ripped roaring stoned and drink a ton of beer. Can I do this during breaks in the military?
September 17th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
I am 16 years old and im in NJROTC for Escambia High School. I was convicted of * petty theft * and * battery * both were misdimeniers when i was 15. am i still eligible to join the Marine Corps……….. if so can i still try out for the Mrine Corps Scout Sniper trainning school? please help
September 18th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
I am sixteen years old. I turn seventeen in january, and have been thinking hard and research just as hard about the U.S Marine Corps for almost two years. I’ve already made my descision about going in. whether it be going in between january – march or after I graduate. Though I have heard of certain few contracts that recruiters can inform you of that allow you to go back to highschool after going through the expirience of boot camp. I’m not exactly sure of all of the requirements to obtain this contract, but I know that you have to be seventeen.(age to be eligable for the usmc.) I believe it was called an STO1 contract. I have done little researcgh on this, for I cannot find much descriptive information on it. Therefor, I was hoping I could get help from here about the differnt educational contract the U.S Marine Corps offers.
September 29th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
my name is quentin, im 16 years old and i really want to join the marine corps. But my parents have a problem with that. Im my dads only son, i have 5 sisters. So im the only one to carry on the family name…what should i do ?
October 8th, 2011 at 8:44 am
Hello, I am 29 years old. I have read that the cut-off for Reserve is 29. Does this mean that I can still enlist in the Reserve at age 29? Or does this mean that a prospective age 28 year old candidate can enlist? Also, if I can run a 300 PFT and execute a high score on the asvab; what is the likelihood of an age waiver? Any feedback is appreciated, thanks.
October 9th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Hi my names is James ive been waiting to join the marine corps since i was 7 i have a military family and i noe everything about the Marine Corps already and i have a brother that is waiting for me to get old enough to join and me and him have a dad and our mother passed away 4 years ago i was just wondering if he is fataly sick when im in the marines will i be discharged or sent back home for leave?
October 21st, 2011 at 11:30 am
My name is Wes and ive known i was planning on joining the U.S marine corps since i was 15. When i was 17 i made mistakes and got caught distributing a small amount of marijuana, but was charged as an adult. Im currently serving a probation sentence for 3 years. When my sentence is up, i plan to enlist. The felony will be expunged, will this keep me from being eligable to enlist in the marines? any feedback would be very much appreciated. Thankyou
October 25th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Im 21 and I have a son and im married but my wife is pregnant and im really devoted into going into the marine corp but im worried cause would I be eligable to still go if I have 3 dependents
October 27th, 2011 at 1:00 am
Hey I recently applied to join the marines and the army but apparently I’m disqualified from joining either branch because of marijuana posession charges (misdemeanors). It is my understanding that waivers are supposedly given to people like me however even the marines refused to grant me a waiver. I would very much like to serve in the marines and if theres anything I can do to earn a way in I’d like to know what it is. There was once a time where felons could get in and now I can’t get in because of some previous pot use?
November 4th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
**Zack**
You and I are in the same boat. I, too, have a possession of marijuana charge (misdemeanor)that happened back in 2005 and before, you were able to get a waiver for things like that. One of the recruiters told me that it was because of the economy and since there are a lot of applicants, they are going to go with people who don’t have those issues. I really don’t understand it myself. However, I have a national guard recruiter, and she just told me that I could get a waiver and that all I needed was 3 reference letters and that I needed to write one myself and that I could join. After a year or two, if I wanted to, I could join active duty in the Army. I don’t know how true this is but so far, I am eligible as far as I know. I JUST now talked to the active duty Army recruiter and she straight out said no, that I do not qualify so I think that part of it is because they just don’t want to deal with it. Maybe if you get the right recruiter, things will be different and you will be able to join.
November 9th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
What if I a 28yrs old, and married to a marine & would be interested in enlisting but have three dependents. Would I b able to get a waiver for the third dependent?
November 11th, 2011 at 3:18 am
I am 18 years old. i enlisted in the Marine Corps when i was still in high school. I have been wanting to be a Marine ever since i could remember. I was suppose to leave in august of 2011 but i went to the emergency room cause i had a clicking noise in my jaw. My recruiter is now telling me im not leaving till january of 2012, and thats not forsure i might get discharged cause my dep is running out. The Marine Corps is very strick on medical crap. My best advice to anybody who is interested in the fleet. KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT UNLESS ITS ABSOULUTLY REQUIRED AND YOU KNOW THEY WILL EVENTUALLY FIND OUT ABOUT LIKE CRIMINAL RECORD. Besides that there not going to look at your medical records.
November 13th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
I am 16 and was wondering if the marines also provide basic training over the summer break if I enlist when I am 17 and still I’m high school? A army recruiter told me the army has that.
November 16th, 2011 at 8:30 pm
im planning on becoming a marine wen im old enough but im sorta on the scrawney side do u think i could even make it through basic training or am i waisting my time?
November 17th, 2011 at 1:57 am
I got a tattoo because I changed my mind about joining so would I still be able to now that I want to again and is there still a buddy system for basic training?
November 29th, 2011 at 9:40 am
I am 16 and am extremely sure I want to be a Marine. I take my ASVAB next year. I failed 2 classes my freshmen year, can I still enlist? Semper Fi!
December 2nd, 2011 at 6:03 pm
ok so im 18, im not in the greatest shape but i would really like to join the marines im still finishing up high school. I wanted to know if i should just enlist now or should i get in shape starting now and then enlist in july when i graduate?
December 6th, 2011 at 2:36 am
My boyfriend is wanting to join the Marines, I just had our baby and we aren’t married. Is he eligible to join?
December 8th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
im very nervous about this. i am 16 years old, and plan to enlist with the marines once i complete high school. i have never been charged with anything, and have pretty good grades in school. i have done minimal experimentation with one prescription drug (used a total of 3 times over a period of a month) and have consumed alcohol a total of 5 times over a period of a year. i have never been physically or psychologically dependent on anything, and have been clean for at least 3 months. the drug in question is hydrocodone, it is a schedule 3 drug. the time i will enlist is about 1 and 3/4 a year from now. am i eligible?
December 9th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
I have ADHD. Will that in any way make it so I can’t join the marines?
December 10th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
I’m 17, I’m the last of a family name, can i join any form of military?
December 12th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
i was in the dep not to long ago i went to the mot and said that i smoked weed three time this was back in june from then i was discharged now ive come back trying to join again will i be able to
December 12th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
Im 15 and very interested in the corp, and have been for a while, the problem is i smoked pot. do you think if i stoped they would accept me in 3 years
December 13th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
I inlisted into the Army once before, i was gettin ready to ship out in May2011 but caught a DUI on the way. Just a month prior to.I still want to go, i was told id have to do a waiver for it but had to wait a year. Is this true? will i still be able to?
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Last september i signed on as a medical corpsman for the navy, with the hopes of going greenside. i failed my drugtest at meps for cocaine. ive changed my ways and am devoted to joining the Marine Corps. is there any chance of this? or am i no longer eligible?
December 25th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
So like most of tha folks on here, i have decided on joining tha marines. I went to tha recruiting office, and took their practice asvab and tha only score they showed me was tha AFQT score, on which I scored a 73.. can anyone tell me if this is a good/bad score and where I should be as far as an AFQT score?
December 27th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
Hey, my name is Megan. My boyfriend has some REALLY bad back issues, but he goes to PT for the marines and he is planning to enlist in his senior year of high school. I want him to go see a spinal surgeon because I honestly think all the pain in his spine, (which he tells me it is sometimes, not all the time.) So, if it is something serious, if he decides to go in, will be still be allowed in the marines? He won’t go in because he’s worried it’ll mess up his carrier in the marine core. Please, someone give me an answer as soon as you can. Thankyou.
December 28th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
if you are 16 & pregnant when you have your baby can you enlist in the corp? I truly love it and i really need to know
January 3rd, 2012 at 12:43 pm
I’m 17, currently enlisted in the Army reserves. I’m on split ops and during this period of time i have gotten a deferred sentence of petty theft. My Sgt. told me if they wanted they could kick me out even though this is the first time i’ve ever done anything criminal related. Is this true?..
January 3rd, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Also, I was charged as an adult when this happened. Thank you,
January 7th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
what is my possibility chance to join the marines if i’m willing to get my sleeve tattoo removed, is their any chance for me to be approve and wavier?
January 13th, 2012 at 12:50 am
I’m 19 years old and im planning on joining an infantry division of the marine corps. But I’m still trying to graduate high school. Things are getting hectic in my house and I may need to drop out and get a job. Last time I took the ASVAB I got a 97 if I score that good but only have a GED what are my chances of getting in?
January 14th, 2012 at 11:41 am
I have adhd and I also take medications for it. Is can I still join the Marine Corp?
January 16th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
ill be 17 in aprill and I already have my G.E.D. I wanted to know if I can enlist and where to do I would give my all to serve my country. (please respond)
January 16th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
If my mom enlist me into the military does that mean I have to go even if I don’t want to?
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:04 pm
I’ve recently tried to apply for the USMC. I was recently denied permanent entry into the the military all together.After appealing this with my recruiter, MEPS finally decided to let grant me entrance to perform the physical BUT I’d be denied ahead of time and my app. to join will be sent to BUMED. All of this is a result of an concussion I had 6 yrs ago that I’ve been cleared from for almost 5 yrs,(I HAD these tiny “invisible” seizures from headaches) I also just had my wisdom teeth removed as well. After I am fully recovered, I will be able to leave for MEPS. If you know from experience, what are my chances of me being granted a waiver from MEPS ?
January 25th, 2012 at 8:04 pm
I am 20 years old and I was wondering if there was anyway the marine corp can help me through my ged. If there was any classes I can that to help me speed the process up of getting my ged so I can enlist and become a US Marine.
January 31st, 2012 at 4:11 pm
for all the people with ADHD the military will not allow you to enlist if you have it…. best option is to not say anything about it stop taking meds but only if it is well controlled… i have it/ had it and joined they navy i leave 7feb2012 and my recruiter told me that if i took my meds i would be dqd…so if joining the Corps is your goal i recommend to stopped taking the meds and try
January 31st, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Just wondering… your mother can’t enlist you nor can you be forced to join
February 3rd, 2012 at 12:08 am
hello i’m 20 about to be 21 in July, and i wanted to know if i’m still eligible to join the marines even tho i don’t have a GED or high school diploma please let me know if i am i really wanna join the MARINE CORPS
February 3rd, 2012 at 12:51 pm
How can you check to see what is on my profile that the army is looking at. Have a great day! I have had a DUI and some problems that might be on my medical record because of my brother passing and my dad was diagnosed about the same time as his pasasing.
Thank you!