Today, the United States Armed Forces is comprised of four branches, each with its own age limits. While some of the requirements are more lax than others, every branch has different age limits for joining.
The Army’s age limit is 17 years old to join as a recruit or 35 years old to join in an active duty capacity. The Marine Corps requires you to be at least 17 years old, but only requires you to be a minimum of 18 years old and no older than 29 years old in order to enlist as an active duty member. The Navy’s age limit is 17 – 34 years old depending on your position and the Air Force allows you to join at 17 but will not accept you until after your 18th birthday.
The American Armed Forces
are open to all American citizens who meet the age requirements. There is no age limit for joining the American Armed Forces. The only prerequisite is that you must be a citizen of the United States.
The United States Marine Corps
It is open to all male and female citizens of the United States who are between the ages of 17 and 34. There are some exceptions to this rule such as if you have already served in the Armed Forces, then you may be eligible for enlistment at an earlier age. Also, if you have been accepted into a college or university with a military scholarship and are under 18 years old, then you can join prior to your 18th birthday as long as you meet all other requirements such as having good eyesight and hearing etc. Other exceptions include being married or having children, although in these cases, there could be additional requirements such as being able to live on your own without any parental supervision for example.
The United States Navy
It is open to all male and female citizens of the United States who are between the ages of 17 and 34. There are some exceptions to this rule such as if you have already served in the Armed Forces, then you may be eligible for enlistment at an earlier age. Also, if you have been accepted into a college or university with a military scholarship and are under 18 years old, then you can join prior to your 18th birthday as long as you meet all other requirements such as having good eyesight and hearing etc. Other exceptions include being married or having children, although in these cases, there could be additional requirements such as being able to live on your own without any parental supervision for example.
The United States Coast Guard
It is open to all male and female citizens of the United States who are between the ages of 17 and 34. There are some exceptions to this rule such as if you have already served in the Armed Forces, then you may be eligible for enlistment at an earlier age. Also, if you have been accepted into a college or university with a military scholarship and are under 18 years old, then you can join prior to your 18th birthday as long as you meet all other requirements such as having good eyesight and hearing etc. Other exceptions include being married or having children, although in these cases, there could be additional requirements such as being able to live on your own without any parental supervision for example.
The United States Air Force
It is open to all male and female citizens of the United States who are between the ages of 17 and 34. There are some exceptions to this rule such as if you have already served in the Armed Forces, then you may be eligible for enlistment at an earlier age. Also, if you have been accepted into a college or university with a military scholarship and are under 18 years old, then you can join prior to your 18th birthday as long as you meet all other requirements such as having good eyesight and hearing etc. Other exceptions include being married or having children, although in these cases, there could be additional requirements such as being able to live on your own without any parental supervision for example.
The United States Army
It is open to all male and female citizens of the United States who are between the ages of 17 and 34. There are some exceptions to this rule such as if you have already served in the Armed Forces, then you may be eligible for enlistment at an earlier age. Also, if you have been accepted into a college or university with a military scholarship and are under 18 years old, then you can join prior to your 18th birthday as long as you meet all other requirements such as having good eyesight and hearing etc. Other exceptions include being married or having children, although in these cases, there could be additional requirements such as being able to live on your own without any parental supervision for example.
Conclusion
If you have a strong desire to serve America, then serving in the Armed Forces is one of the best ways to do so. It can be challenging at times, but the rewards are well worth it and you will never regret making this important decision. You will receive an excellent education for free and get paid for your service as well. If you have any further questions about serving in the military or joining one of these branches, then contact your local recruiter or visit their website.