For many individuals joining the military is a dream come true. They long to be able to serve their country. For them money, benefits or recognition aren’t the issue. They only want to join because of genuine patriotism. However, the days of the military accepting virtually anybody that turns 18 are over, even in the world of the volunteer army. There are several requirements a person must meet in order to be eligible for enlistment. If they don’t meet these requirements, they will not be able to become a soldier, forcing them to find other ways to express their patriotism. This article will discuss the main factors the military considers in determining whether or not a person is eligible for enlistment.
1. Age
The specific age a person needs to be will depend on the type of military unit they are joining. But generally, the military will allow people between the ages of 17 and 42 to enlist. It is important to note that there are some cases where individuals who are deemed to be too young for a position can have their age waived if they are deemed to possess credible experience.
2. Citizenship/Immigration Status
Ironically enough, a person does not have to be a citizen to join the U.S. military. However, they do have to at least be a legal immigrant. This means that they have a green card or an Alien Registration Receipt card. They must also live in an official residence with the United States being their primary home.
Legal immigrants will not be able to reenlist unless they become citizens. Fortunately, with military service in their record, the process of becoming a citizen is much easier than if they were regular civilians. However, not all legal immigrants will be able to enlist or reenlist. This is usually the case if they originated from a country that is deemed to be hostile against the United States. In these situations the soldiers must obtain a waiver to continue their careers in the military.
3. Children
If a person has two or more dependants under the age of 18, they will not be allowed to enlist. This is the case whether or not the person is married to the other parent and/or whether or not the children are living with them. The only way to get around this rule is by a waiver. In order to obtain a waiver, the military will evaluate the enlistees’ financial portfolio, in some cases even checking their credit report.
4. Education
The military requires some educational background of enlistees. This is usually in the line of a high school diploma or a GED, though there are some cases where a military will accept an enlistee with education that could be equal to these things. An example is a person that has completed a semester of college. Another example is if one obtains an ‘adult diploma’, though in this situation the military must deem that the diploma offered education that was valid enough. There are also situations where people with no education are allowed to enlist, (which are known as Tier III applicants), but this is relatively rare.
