United States Marines

Eligibility Requirements

To enlist as a Marine, you must obtain your high school diploma and be a legal U.S. resident between 17 and 28. To commission as a Marine Officer, you must be a United States citizen between 20 and 28 and have obtained both a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree. Both enlisted and officer candidates must pass a criminal background check and have no felony convictions. New recruits must pass The Initial Strength Test, or IST, to demonstrate their physical fitness. The IST consists of pull-ups or push-ups, plank pose, and a 1.5-mile timed run.

ASVAB: TESTING MENTAL FITNESS

The Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test is a multiple-choice test taken by all who aspire to become Marines. To pass the test, aspiring Marines must achieve a score of 31 or higher, and those with nontraditional degrees or a GED must score at least a 50. The test covers a range of subjects from arithmetic to electronics to mechanical comprehension. This measures the ability of aspiring Marines to adapt and overcome any threat or obstacle on current and future battlefields.

Select This Link To Request Information from a Marine Corps Recruiter

United States Army

Requirements to Enlist

The requirements to join the Army differ based on how you choose to serve; as an enlisted Soldier or an Army Officer. 

Enlisted Soldier

Be between the ages of 17 and 35.

Be medically and physically fit

Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a valid green card

Have a high school diploma or equivalent

Earn a minimum score on the Army's entrance test

Army Officers

Be at least 17 but under 31 in the year of commissioning as an Officer, or under 27 if commissioning from the US Military Academy at West Point

Be medically and physically fit

Be a U.S. citizen by the time you commission as an Officer

Be a college graduate by the time you're commissioned as an Officer

Complete a background check, questionnaire, and interview, and provide the required documentation for a security clearance

Select This Link to Reach Out To an Army Recruiter 

asBe between 17 and 35 years old

United States Navy

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A SAILOR

To join the Navy, you must:

Be a US citizen; or Legal Permanent Resident (Enlisted)

Be between the ages of 17 and 41 for Enlisted programs. Age requirements for Officer Programs vary

Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent, or have a four-year degree from a credited university (Officer)

Have a qualifying score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test or the Officer Aptitude Rating (OAR)  and Aviation Selection Test Battery (ASTB) (Officer)

Pass the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) medical exam

Meet the physical, mental and moral standards of the Navy

*The age requirements for joining the Navy depend on the path you take, and they exist mainly to ensure you are able to succeed in a challenging environment. If you are not yet 18, you need parental consent to join. 

Select this link to connect with a local Navy recruiter or to request more information 

United States Air Force

All prospective cadet candidates must:

• Be at least 17 years old and not have passed their 22 birthday by July 1 of the year they enter the Preparatory School

• Be eligible to be a U.S. citizen

• Be unmarried and have no dependents

• Meet specific medical standards for a commission in the Air Force

Step 1

Apply

Apply through an Air Force recruiter via your local recruitment office, over the telephone or online. Once you are confirmed to meet all our requirements, you’ll be moved into testing.

Step 2

Aptitude Testing

Before enlisting, you must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which covers four critical areas: arithmetic reasoning, work knowledge, paragraph comprehension and mathematics knowledge. This helps determine your ability to withstand the demands of the Air Force.

Step 3

Physical and Mental Screening

After you take the ASVAB, your recruiter will make an appointment for you at a nearby Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). There, you’ll be assessed based on physical and moral standards as set by the Air Force, the Department of Defense and federal law.

Step 4

Prepare for Basic Military Training

Once you’ve passed all the necessary requirements, tests and have been officially accepted into the Air Force, you’ll be placed into the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). Here, you’ll wait for your departure date for Basic Military Training (BMT). During this time, we recommend you work on your physical conditioning to meet the challenges of BMT.

Select this Link to Find a Local Air Force Recruiter