# Maximum ages for enlisting in the various US Armed Forces? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 7, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088 "2003-09-07T13:31:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/1 "2003-09-07T13:31:18Z")
Once upon a time, there was a website that listed the then maximum permitted ages for enlisting in the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marines. Said site is lost to me, and google thwarts me. Anybody know the oldest permitted in each branch? Thanks, **Brutus** ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/2 "2003-09-07T13:41:23Z")
Branch Maximum Age Air Force 28 years Army 35 years Coast Guard 27 years Marine Corps 29 years Navy 34 years From here [http://icpac.indiana.edu/careers/military/qualify.xml](http://icpac.indiana.edu/careers/military/qualify.xml) Reserve units differ ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/3 "2003-09-07T14:22:24Z")
You rock, **jimmmy**. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![corndog\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@corndog\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corndog_man)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/4 "2003-09-07T14:27:04Z")
This is the only time that I am happy that I am too old to do something. ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/5 "2003-09-07T15:01:42Z")
Interesting. The AF must have changed. In '79 an uncle joined at age 37. He got a very early discharge at the convenience of the Govt., during boot camp if not soon after. He was happy, the AF was very happy. That could explain it. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/6 "2003-09-07T15:45:25Z")
From my understanding, the limits were changed so that a person could enlist in one of the branches, and complete a full 20 years, in theory, before being forced to retire. My contract is up in a several months, and I have been running the idea of enlisting through my head. As I am 28, the Coast Guard is out, but water scares me anyways…Oh well, there is always the Navy. What? ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/7 "2003-09-07T16:40:16Z")
Those numbers are off a bit **Jimmmy**. When I was in the Air Force the maximum age for enlistment was 27. A Google search shows that that is still the age. Also, Marines-28 Army-34 ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/8 "2003-09-08T01:01:30Z")
**x-ray** I have got to ask you for a cite … I found a second semi-logical site saying Marines 29, Army 35 … nothing on Air Force on this one. IANASR (Service Recruiter) or trying to pass as Jimmmy the expert in this area : but Indiana U and NC State have both dished out essentially the same info, they of course are not the end all last word on this – but the aren’t horrible places to look for info … So, (_meant in a freindly way_ 🙂 ) X-ray show us what you got and dispel my ignorance [http://www4.ncsu.edu:8030/~cblevow/ecd533/military/comparison.html](http://www4.ncsu.edu:8030/~cblevow/ecd533/military/comparison.html) BTW note to the Armed Services: it astounding that the official sites have nothing on this on them ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/9 "2003-09-08T01:17:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jimmmy \* > \*\*\*\*x-ray\*\*BTW note to the Armed Services: it astounding that the official sites have nothing on this on them \*\* I too thought it was 35, but maybe I remember it as “have not yet reached your 35th birthday”. Not sure what regulation [this](http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/julqtr/pdf/32cfr571.2.pdf) is from (31 CFR part 571?), but it’s at the top of the second column on the first page. For entry into the Regular Army, age must be between 17 and 34, inclusive. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/10 "2003-09-08T01:28:01Z")
I know it’s older for the Army because I had a friend who enlisted in her early 30s. I’m 27 and if it weren’t for medical issues I’d seriously consider going into the Air Force; there’s nothing else going on my life either and God knows that’d keep me busy. My brother is going in this next February and I’m a bit jealous just because I don’t even have the option. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/11 "2003-09-08T02:35:30Z")
[From usmilitary.about.com](http://usmilitary.about.com/library/weekly/aa082701a.htm) Age. One would think that age would be a simple category. One is either old enough, or too old, right? Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite work that way. By federal law (10 U.S.C., 510), the minimum age for enlistment in the United States Military is 17 (with parental consent) and the maximum age is 35. This is to ensure than anyone who enlists on active duty can be eligible for retirement (20 years of service) at the mandatory age of 55 (60 in some cases). However, DOD policy allows the individual services to specify the maximum age of enlistment based upon their own unique requirements. The individual services have set the following maximum ages for non-prior service enlistment: Army - 34 Air Force - 27 Navy - 34 Marines - 28 Coast Guard - 27 However, according to the http://www.afreserve.com/faq.asp?tid=13&t=Eligibility&fid=21]Air Force reserves website: > [@](#): > > Q: Is there a maximum age at which I can join? > A: Yes and no. Thirty five is the age limit for those with no prior military service. Age requirements for healthcare professionals and those with prior military experience vary. An Air Force Reserve recruiter can answer your age related questions more thoroughly. So maybe you can try the reserves **Brutus**? I’d call a recruiter of the branch of your choice anyways. There’s a waver for everything these days. Perhaps you can get an age waver. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/maximum-ages-for-enlisting-in-the-various-us-armed-forces/200088/12 "2003-09-08T23:47:27Z")
Your site is better X-ray. FWIW I chatted on-line w an Army recruiter (in a Costanza can’t leave it alone Moment) & he said without prior service you cannot have passed your 35th b-day (Horseflesh’s idea). I bet that is what those sites I posted meant – can not have passed x-b-day. That is not what they/I said tho. While X-rays sites answered the OP “maximum age to join”(with the exception of the Navy/CG which was strangely the same on all sites). Thanks again x-ray