Military Requirements for Joining | Today’s Military (2024)

FAQs

Military Requirements for Joining | Today’s 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.

These disqualifications can include illegal drug use, alcohol dependence, not meeting height and weight requirements, having certain contagious diseases, among others. Additionally, law violations can prevent you from enlisting, such as being convicted of any crime that prohibits you from carrying a firearm.

The ideal height requirement for men in the military is between 60-80 inches / 152-203 cm. Anyone above or below this requirement is likely to get rejected. The height limits are standard, and anyone within this height range can get accepted as long as their weight corresponds to the correct weight limit.

The Army and Navy accepts applicants with a high school diploma or GED. The Air Force, and Coast Guard generally require a high school diploma, though they may accept GED holders under certain conditions. The Marine Corps focuses on high school diploma holders but considers GED applicants more selectively.

How much does it cost to get into the army? I costs no monetary quantity to enlist in the United States Military. It will cost the enlisted person eight years of their life. Usually four full time years and four more in the ready reserve; it can be six years full time with two in the ready reserve.

The Army offers a variety of benefits including financial stability, education and training, health care, family benefits, and more to support you and your family.

Who cannot join the military? ›

All interested individuals must clear a criminal background check and have no felony convictions. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony as an adult or juvenile for offenses involving violence, domestic violence, illegal drugs or sexual misconduct will be disqualified.

But not everyone would be right for the army, although others could be drafted in to help out in other ways. Serious medical conditions like leukaemia, deafness and missing limbs might be expected to prevent people from serving in the army. But milder conditions might also rule you out.

There are several reasons why the military might not accept your application. These include your age, weight, medical condition, criminal history, and even select tattoos. Serving in the military is a privilege, not a right. Hence, you're not entitled to military service just because you're an American citizen.

Different branches have different personnel needs and may approve of your waiver. In general, the Army has the reputation of approving the most moral waivers, while the Air Force and Coast Guard approve the fewest. The Navy and the Marines fall somewhere in the middle. However, this is not always the case.

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.

Basic training, also known as Basic Military Qualification (BMQ), will teach you the core skills and knowledge to succeed in a military environment. Throughout this course, you will be mentored by leaders who have diverse experiences and background.

Currently, all branches of the military require at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some do accept a G.E.D. but it comes with added requirements such as an official transcript for 15 units of college credits or a higher minimum score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.