Commitment & Qualifications

HEIGHT & WEIGHT

The Air Force requires you to maintain a minimum/maximum weight based on your height to enlist. If you are underweight, let your recruiter know as you may still qualify with a Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement. If you are over the max weight for your height but in very good muscular shape, you should also talk with your recruiter to potentially qualify using a Body Fat Measurement (BFM). Unless you fall into one of the previous weight scenarios, you will not be authorized to process at MEPS unless you are 5 pounds below the max weight for your height. Your weight will be measured with your shoes off. 

AGE AND EDUCATION

The Air Force enlists people ages 17-42. You can start at 17, with parental consent. You must be at least a high school junior (ask about the Soft book Program!) or any grade after. Although you do not have to have a high school diploma to join, the minimum ASVAB score required without a diploma is significantly higher. Required forms for proof of education include high school diploma, GED (also requires a higher ASVAB score), and college transcripts/degrees. If you have enough college credit, you may qualify to join at a higher rank.

DEPENDENTS

Single parents require a waiver, which can be approved by the recruiting squadron commander, to join. Part of this process requires that they provide proof of an assigned caretaker for their children while away for basic training and tech school. Married individuals with more than 1 child may also need a dependency determination. For females, you cannot join until at least 6 months after giving birth or a voluntary interruption of pregnancy. You are not required to give up custody to join and should contact a recruiter with any specific questions you have.

MEDICAL

The medical standards are the same for all military branches and can are found in DODI 6130.03 and MEPCOM Regulation 40-1. If your medical condition is or isn't listed in this document, you still need to talk to a recruiter. Don't self-diagnose medical problems, don't disqualify yourself from military service because you have a condition in this document, and also don't assume that you will get a waiver or an all-clear based on this document.

Everyone's medical situation and history are different. That is why we always encourage you to speak with a recruiter about your particular medical history or condition. Even if someone else with the same condition says they got a waiver or didn't, it doesn't mean you will or won't. It is ultimately up to the doctors at MEPS or the surgeon general to approve your waiver request.

TATTOOS

Air Force Instruction 36-2903 defines strict policy on tattoos. Any tattoo that can be considered offensive in nature aka: nudity, profanity or gang affiliated is disqualifying. Some tattoo policies have recently changed. You can find the most up to date tattoo policy by looking up AFI 36-2903 or asking your local recruiter! 

CRIMINAL HISTORY

The Air Force is a conglomerate of the most intellectual, integrity sound and a trustworthy pick of the United States population. Whereas we would prefer applicants to have a clean history of law violations, we understand that history is history. Even if it has been expunged, dismissed, or sealed, it must be disclosed to your recruiter. You will undergo an intense background investigation where EVERYTHING, to include juvenile violations, will need to be justified. Habitual law violators will be disqualified from enlistment, and others might require a waiver approval from Command.

DRUG USE: 

Marijuana use restrictions have been relaxed recently. Recruiters will have the most up-to-date info, but basically, if you weren't addicted to it or weren't involved in any law violations as a result of marijuana use, you can still join.

Use of any other "harder" drug such as LSD, Heroin, Ecstasy, PCP, mushrooms, cocaine, etc. even one time makes you permanently disqualified from military service with no hope for a waiver.

All applicants will undergo a drug test when they go to MEPS. Applicants who refuse to test will not enlist in accordance with 10 USC § 978. The Air Force will permanently bar an applicant who tests positive on the drug and alcohol test, which is administered as part of the accession physical. Alcohol dependence, drug dependence, alcohol abuse, or other drug abuse is incompatible with military life and does not meet military standards. The pre-accession screening process is structured to identify individuals with a history of drug (including pharmaceutical medications, illegal drugs and other substances of abuse) and alcohol abuse. Persons are ineligible who are intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or drugs any time during the accession process and will not be processed according to 10 USC § 504. All applicants for accession will complete an AF Form 2030 with the exception of those currently holding status in an air component. Drug use after signing AF Form 2030 makes the applicant ineligible for accession or waiver consideration.