Whether you’re planning on joining as an officer or a member of the enlisted corps, there are a few requirements that must be met before you can join the military. These requirements can vary depending on which branch you’re interested in, but there are a few requirements that are standard, no matter whether you’re joining the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.

1. Are You Ready
For Military
Entrance
Requirements?
Presented by USMilitary.com
http://www.usmilitary.com/

2. Do You Have
What It TAkes?
• Whether you’re planning on joining as an officer or a
member of the enlisted corps, there are a few
requirements that must be met before you can join
the military.
• These requirements can vary depending on which
branch you’re interested in, but there are a few
requirements that are standard, no matter whether
you’re joining the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine
Corps or Coast Guard.

3. Requirement #1:
Fitness
• If you’re not ‘fit
to fight,’ you
won’t be
allowed to join
any of the
military
branches.
• Recruits need to be in good health, have good
physical conditioning and pass a standard physical.

4. Requirement #1:
Fitness
• A common misconception is that military entrance
requirements require perfect vision.
• However this is untrue.Vision that can be corrected
with glasses, contacts or laser vision surgery will not
keep someone from joining the military.
• Even pilots and navigators can perform their jobs
with corrected vision.
• Color blindness will bar recruits from certain
positions, but it does not prohibit someone from
joining.

5. Requirement #2:
Stay In School
• Without a high school
diploma, it will be nearly
impossible to advance in
today’s military.
• Some branches will will
consider recruits with a
GED, but they may be ineligible for promotion.

6. Requirement #2:
Stay In School
• If you want to become a military officer, military
entrance requirements state that it’s necessary to
complete a bachelor’s degree.
In some special cases, •
officers will be
• commissioned before
completing their
degree. However, it must
be completed before
they can be promoted
to O-3.
Photo from http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/usmillogistics/officer_inter-compare.html

7. Requirement #3:
Age Limit To Join
The Military
• There is an age limit to join the military. Although
this age limit can vary according to whether you’re
interested in becoming Active Duty or joining the
reserves or National Guard, potential members
need to be at least 18.
• It is possible to join the military at age 17, but
parental permission is required.

8. Requirement #3:
Age Limit To Join
The Military
Army Age Air Force Navy Age Marine Corps Coast Guard
Limit To Join Age Limit To Limit To Join Age Limit To Age Limit To
Military Join Military Military Join Military Join Military
Active Duty 17-42 17-27 17-34 17-34 17-27
Reserve 17-40 17-34 18-39 18-39 17-39
Guard 17-35 17-40 -- -- --

9. CitizenShip
Military
Entrance
Requirements
• It’s actually not required to be a citizen of the United
States to join the military.
• Permanent resident aliens with a green card can join
and many use their military service to fast track
their citizenship.
• Non-citizen military members are not required to
give up citizenship to their home country.

10. The First Step
• If you’re interested in learning more about the U.S.
Military, visit USMilitary.com.
• Once you’ve determined which branch is the best fit
for you, consider meeting with a local recruiter who
specializes in your chosen branch.
• He or she be able to look at your specific situation
and help you determine the best way to meet your
goal of joining the U.S. Military.

11. About
USMILITARY.com
• USMilitary.com is an online resource that’s available
to help anyone who’s searching for a job in the
military.
• The website has an extensive library of information,
including information on the Army, the Air Force, the
Coast Guard, the Navy and the Marine Corps.
• To receive a free 2012 guide to the G.I. Bill, or to
learn more about the U.S. Military please visit http://
www.usmilitary.com/.