I'm starting to look into US military service academies and was wondering if there's an age limit for joining. What are the requirements related to age, and do they vary by the academy?
Certainly, there are age requirements for joining US military service academies and they slightly vary by institution. Here's a brief overview:
1. U.S. Military Academy (West Point): Candidates must be at least 17 and not yet 23 by July 1 of the year they would enter West Point.
2. U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis): Applicants must be at least 17 and not past their 23rd birthday on July 1st of the entrance year.
3. U.S. Air Force Academy: Their age requirement states that an applicant must be at least 17 but not past their 23rd birthday by July 1 of the year they are admitted.
4. U.S. Coast Guard Academy: Applicants need to be between the ages of 17 and 22 on July 1 of the year they wish to enter.
5. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: Candidates must be at least 17 and not yet 25 years old on July 1 of the year they would enter.
Keep in mind, these are just the age requirements. There are other qualifications you must meet in areas like academics, physical aptitude, and character. Also, waiver requests for age are typically not considered. I hope this information is helpful and good luck with your decision process!
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