SubscribeArmy Enlistment Requirements
Are you thinking about enlisting in the United States Army? 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 Army will allow you to enlist in the active duty force if you are between the ages of 17-34. If you are 17, you must have written parental consent. If you hope to enlist in the Army Reserve or National Guard, you may be up to 34 years old. If 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 Army 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 Army. They do accept some individuals 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 Army. 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.
The Army PT Field Manual (FM 21-20) provides instructions for those responsible for conducting Physical Training (PT) in the Army. It includes sections on:
Study… cram… test… wait. So goes the enlisted promotion process. Whether testing for the first time or the fourth time, Airmen endure this process every year. The purpose of promotion testing is to measure Airmen’s specialty and general military knowledge—in conjunction with other weighted criteria—to determine promotion to the next rank. Here are some things Airmen should consider about the enlisted promotion process: