Many people would like to join the U.S. military, but what about the requirements? Do you need a degree to serve in the various branches of the military? In this article, we will explain the academic ability, physical ability, and age requirements that you will need to meet to become a member of the US Armed Forces! Some branches are easier than others to join.
How to enroll in the Air Force
Enlisted members of the Air Force may be eligible to join if they are United States citizens or lawful permanent residents. You have to be between the ages of 17 and 39. If you do not have a high school diploma, a GED will suffice provided that you have at least 15 college credits under your belt. To be considered for military service, you must score at least 36 on the ASVAB if you have a high school diploma, or at least 65 if you have a GED... In addition, just like for the other Armed Forces branches, you must fulfill certain physical requirements, such as height, weight, and physical appearance. Following successful completion of the ASVAB and physical tests, you will be required to undergo basic training, which is a tough eight-week field and classroom training course. In most cases, by entering and graduating from the Air Force ROTC, you will be able to pursue a career as an Air Force officer. In addition to being a United States citizen, you must be between the ages of 18 and 34 to be eligible to join the ROTC. You must also have graduated from high school and have maintained a minimum 2.0 GPA throughout college. (Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is a score that indicates how well you performed in your classes during a semester or a term, or for the year). As you can see, the Air Force is not for everyone as it requires more studies and a year of school, but it’s worth it if you are eager to join. It’s a great career!
The Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces
To join the Marine Corps enlisted ranks, you must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident between the ages of 17 and 28, and you must have earned a high school diploma. In addition, you must meet the physical criteria and pass the ASVAB test with a minimum score of 32 to be considered. As a last requirement, you must successfully complete and graduate from a 12-week basic training program at either Parris Island, in South Carolina, or San Diego, in California. To be admitted into the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS), you must be at least 18 years old and no older than 28 years old. In addition to being United States citizens, officers are required to hold a Bachelor’s degree at the very least. The OCS is a 12-week compulsory program in which you must complete classroom courses as well as physical regimens. Before being allowed to attend the program, you must meet the required height, weight, and other physical standards.
United States Navy
You can join the Navy as either an enlisted member or as an officer. You must be between the ages of 17 and 34 to join the military as an enlisted member. If you are under the age of majority (17), your parents must provide their consent before you can join the Navy. You must have U.S. citizenship or permanent resident alien status to be eligible. Even if you don’t have a high school diploma, you may be accepted with a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). A minimum score of 35 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) (a test that measures a young adult’s strengths and potential for success in the military) is required to apply to become a member of the Navy. In addition, you must pass at least two drug tests before you can be accepted into the Navy. To be admitted as a Navy officer, you usually need to be at least 19 years old and no more than 35 years old. In order to serve in the Navy as an officer, you must be a United States citizen. Permanent residents do not qualify. When it comes to education, you need at least a Bachelor’s degree before you can apply to be a Navy officer. You must also pass two drug tests before being admitted into the officer program. Both enlisted and officer personnel must fulfill minimum height and weight requirements, as well as physical and mental health requirements before proceeding to basic training, which lasts between seven and nine weeks.
United States Army
In order to join the Army as an enlisted soldier, you must be a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien, and you must have earned a high school diploma or a GED from an accredited institution. You must also meet the minimum requirements for height, weight, and overall physical health. A minimum ASVAB score of 31, which is the lowest possible score, is required to join the Army. Three hours are allotted for completing the test, which includes questions in Physics, Mathematics, Electronics, and Reading Comprehension. To be eligible to serve as a commissioned officer in the Army, you must be a United States citizen. For Officer Candidate School, or OCS, you must also be between the ages of 18 and 35 years old, hold at least a Bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution, and have successfully completed a 12-week training program. Furthermore, if you are between the ages of 17 and 26 years old, you can apply for a four-year scholarship to join the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC). The minimum high school grade point average required is 2.5. To be considered for admission, you must have an SAT score of no less than 920 and an ACT score of at least 19.
You should now have everything you need to know for deciding which branch of the Armed Forces to join and, above all, for taking the necessary steps to get there!