At what age can you enlist in the military?

I'm starting to think about my future options and wondering about the age requirements for enlisting in the military. Is there a specific age range, and do these vary for different branches?

To enlist in the U.S. military, you must meet certain age requirements. For all branches, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, the minimum age to enlist is 17 with parental consent, or 18 without parental consent. It's important to note that enlisting at 17 means you will begin your training, but you won't be deployed until you are 18.

The military branches also have varying maximum enlistment ages. For the Army, the maximum age is 35. The Navy, and Coast Guard cap enlistment at 41, for Marines, it's 28, and for the Air Force, it's 42. The recently established Space Force follows the same standards as the Air Force. Keep in mind that these are the ages at which you can initially enlist, but once you're in, you can stay in as long as you continue to meet the standards and requirements of your specific role.

Just remember, meeting the age requirements is just one aspect of joining the military. There's also a physical fitness test, educational requirements, and a moral character assessment as part of the enlistment process. Best of luck as you consider your future options!