Is there an age limit for joining the service?

Question

I always thought that it was 30.

What is the oldest you can be and enlist in the military?

Answer 1

One would think that age would be a simple category. One is old enough, or too old, right? Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work that way. By federal law (10 U.S.C., 510), the minimum age for enlistment in the United States Military is 17 (with parental consent) and the maximum age is 35. This is to ensure than anyone who enlists on active duty can be eligible for retirement (20 years of service) at the mandatory age of 55 (60 in some cases). However, DOD policy allows the individual services to specify the maximum age of enlistment based upon their own unique requirements. The individual services have set the following maximum ages for non-prior service enlistment:


Active Army - 42
Army Reserves - 42
Active Air Force - 27
Air Force Reserve - 34
Active Navy - 34
Naval Reserves - 39
Active Marines - 28
Marine Corps Reserve - 29
Active and Reserve Coast Guard - 27

However, prior service enlistees can receive an "age waiver." In most cases, the amount of age that can be waived depends upon the amount of time the individual previously spent in the military. For example, let's say that an individual has four years of credible military service in the Marine Corps and wants to join the Air Force. The Air Force could waive the individual's maximum enlistment age to age 31 (Maximum age of 27 for the Air Force, plus four years credible service in the Marines). For the Marine Corps, the maximum age of enlistment for prior service is 32, after computing the prior-service age adjustment.

God Bless You and Yours, our men and women along with the Southern People.

Answer 2

Ok, there are some misconceptions.

You can enlist at age 17 with parental permission, though at 18 you're allowed to enlist on your own.

The age cap varies per branch:

Active Army - 42
Army Reserves - 42
Active Air Force - 27
Air Force Reserve - 34
Active Navy - 34
Naval Reserves - 39
Active Marines - 28
Marine Corps Reserve - 29
Active and Reserve Coast Guard - 27

If you don't trust those numbers from About, you can easily go to each branch's site and look up the enlistment information.

Answer 3

as of a few years ago, the Marine Corps age limit was 31 (34 with a waiver and physical fitness test) for an enlisted rank and 35 for the officer candidacy school. the army, navy, and air force might be a little older.

Answer 4

The oldest you can be is 42 years of age to enter the military for the first time. If you can pass the physical and Physical Training test, still do your duties, you can stay as long as you want to provided your job is still needed. I'm glad Congress raised the age limit, those may be the only jobs left for American Citizens and I'm going back in. I'm sick and tired of civilian life!

Answer 5

the age limit for the Army is 42 years old. It is still 35 for the other branches.

Answer 6

Used to be around 34. But I elieve that they recently raised the maximum age for joining the army by a few years. Can't tell you how much, though.

edited to add:
Haha, another poster before me said it. 42.


Go with God.

Answer 7

18

Answer 8

42 Years Old


This is no joke....I swear it to be true. Just check out the link. I am in the Army and know this to be true.

Ok...I stand corrected as to the other branches having different limits but at least Jonathon agreed with me on the Army being 42. lol

Answer 9

There is no limit as long as you are not a virgin.


and to jar jar:
I gave that answer thumbs up. I don't know if you made that up but that really is excellent writing. Only one in a million people will appreciate that story. Everyone else couldn't even begin to understand the genious involved.

Answer 10

I thought it was 32, but i am seeing ads in the jobs section of our news paper that say 34.