To be eligible to join the military, you must meet certain age, citizenship, education, and health requirements. Also, different rules exist for enlisting versus commissioned officer programs.
This article explores those requirements, so you can see if you are eligible to join the military.
Key Takeaways
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Enlist vs officer: enlisted need HS/GED; officers require a college degree and competitive commissioning.
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Meet age, citizenship, education, medical and ASVAB score requirements to qualify for service.
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Branch standards, age limits and tests vary. Compare branches and consult a recruiter to find your path.
Enlisted Members and Commissioned Officers: What’s the Difference
Enlisted Personnel: Enlisted members make up about 82% of the Armed Forces. They are the backbone of the military, trained in a military specialty and filling specific job roles. To enlist, you must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
Commissioned Officers: Officers make up around 18% of the military, and outrank all enlisted personnel. They are the managers of the military, handling a variety of duties, such as planning missions, issuing orders, and assigning tasks. Becoming an officer requires a college degree as a minimum, and commissioning programs are very competitive.
Minimum Enlistment Qualifications
Before you visit your local recruiter, be sure you meet the minimum qualifications for serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Some qualifications are required by all six services:
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You must be a U.S. citizen or have a U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).
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You must be at least 17 years old (17-year-old applicants require parental consent).
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You must (with few exceptions) have a high school diploma or GED Equivalent.
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You must pass a physical medical exam.
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Earn a minimum Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.
Each branch has slightly different enlistment requirements:
Military Branch Requirements
Determining which branch aligns with your goals starts with understanding their baseline qualifications. From age caps and academic scores to physical fitness and background checks, each branch maintains distinct paths for enlisted service and officer commissioning. Explore the summary table below to compare branch-by-branch requirements side by side.
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To join the active duty…
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You must:
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Air Force
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Enlisted
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Be between 17 and have not reached their 42nd birthday. Applicants who are 17 need parental consent.
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Hold U.S. citizenship.
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Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
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Be free of any serious law violations or drug use.
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Meet the physical standards of the Air Force.
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Earn a minimum AFQT score of 31 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).
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Follow the Air Force tattoo policy: Some tattoos are allowed, but they cannot be extreme. See more details here.
Officer
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Be between 17 and 42 years old (17-48 to join as a health care or ministry professional).
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Have a four-year degree from an accredited university.
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Attend Officer Training School (OTS), Air Force ROTC or the Air Force Academy after completing college or a postgraduate degree.
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Hold U.S. citizenship.
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Be physically fit and of high moral character.
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Pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT), when required for your commissioning path.
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Hold additional academic qualifications for some career choices.
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Army
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Enlisted
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Be between 17-42 years old.
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Have a high school diploma, GED or plan to obtain one.
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Be medically and physically fit, and in good moral standing.
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Hold U.S. citizenship or be a permanent resident with a valid Green Card.
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Earn a minimum AFQT score of 31 on the ASVAB.
Officer
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Be at least 17, but under 31 in the year of commissioning as an officer.
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Be medically and physically fit, and in good moral standing.
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Hold U.S. citizenship by the time you are commissioned.
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Have a college degree by the time you’re commissioned.
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Complete a background check, fill out a questionnaire, be interviewed and provide records.
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Coast Guard
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Enlisted
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Be between 17-42 years old.
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Hold U.S. citizenship or be a legal permanent resident.
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Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
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Meet the Coast Guard physical requirements, as well as the mental and moral standards of the service.
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Earn a minimum AFQT score of 32 on the ASVAB test.
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Pass the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) medical exam.
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Pass criminal background and credit checks.
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Pass the English comprehension level exam or successfully complete the Coast Guard’s English proficiency training if English is not your native language.
Officer
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Be at least 21 years old to enroll in Officer Candidate School, but age requirements for different officer programs vary.
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Hold U.S. citizenship.
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Meet commissioning physical standards, including normal color vision.
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Marine Corps
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Enlisted
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Be between the age of 17 and 28 (Enlisted).
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Have a high school diploma or GED.
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Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
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Pass a criminal background check and have no felony convictions.
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Pass the Initial Strength Test (IST) to demonstrate physical fitness.
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Earn a minimum AFQT score of 31 on the ASVAB test.
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Pass the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) medical exam.
Officer
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Be a U.S. citizen.
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Be at least 20 at the time of application, and no older than 28 in most cases.
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Have a high school diploma and have a bachelor’s degree or be working toward one.
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Meet the branch’s moral standards.
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Pass the Physical Fitness Test (PFT).
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Have demonstrated potential for leadership.
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Navy
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Enlisted
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Be between 17 and 41 years old (Enlisted). Age requirements for officer programs vary.
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Meet the physical, mental and moral standards of the Navy.
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Hold U.S. citizenship or be a legal permanent resident.
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Earn a minimum AFQT score of 31 on the ASVAB test.
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Pass the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) medical exam.
Officer
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Be at least 19 years old generally, but age requirements for officer programs vary.
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Have a four-year degree from an accredited university.
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Meet the physical, mental and moral standards of the Navy.
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Hold U.S. citizenship.
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Earn a minimum score on the Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR) or Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB).
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Pass the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) medical exam.
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Space Force
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Enlisted
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Be between 17 and 42 years of age.
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Be a U.S. citizen.
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Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
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Earn a minimum AFQT score of 31 on the ASVAB test.
Officer
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Be between the ages of 17 and 42.
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Hold U.S. citizenship.
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Pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) if required.
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Have a clean background investigation.
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Pass medical examinations.
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Age limits vary based on active-duty, previous service or reserve. In addition, 17-year-old applicants require parental consent.
Where Will Your Service Take You?
Serving in the U.S. military offers clear career paths, educational benefits, and hands-on experience, if you qualify. Take the time to compare branch standards, talk with recruiters, and see how your qualifications fit into your service goals.
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