In general, the Defense Department restricts enlistment to those 35 and younger. Prior enlisted service members can subtract their previous years of service from their age in order to extend eligibility. For example, the current age cutoff in the Air Force is 39.
ENLISTED. You must be 17–39 years of age, a U.S. citizen and have a high school diploma, GED with 15 college credits or GED.
The oldest you can be to enlist for active duty in each branch is: Coast Guard: 31. Marines: 28. Navy: 39.
Many potential candidates believe they are "too old" to serve if they don't join between ages 18-22. This could not be further from the truth. The age range for joining the military is quite large: 17 years old on the low end and up to 39 on the high end.
Most military branches allow citizens to join into their 30s and early 40s. Therefore, it's not too late to make a major lifestyle change if you want to join the military at 30. There are advantages and disadvantages to joining the military at 30, especially if you already have a spouse or family.
In general, the Defense Department restricts enlistment to those 35 and younger. Prior enlisted service members can subtract their previous years of service from their age in order to extend eligibility. For example, the current age cutoff in the Air Force is 39.
There are age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards that can exclude you from joining the military.
US Army tattoo policy 2022
They can have one tattoo — no larger than 2 inches — on the back of their neck. One, 1-inch tattoo is also allowed behind each ear. Additionally, tattoos between fingers are OK as long as the designs "cannot be seen when the fingers are closed," officials said.
Base pay for a new enlistee comes out to $20,340 per year, but they'll earn more as they gain experience and rank. Most service members also receive allowances for housing, food, uniforms, and job-specific bonuses, many of which are not taxed.
Requirements for Enlistment
All applicants for enlistment in the Armed Forces must be either a U.S. citizen, by birth or naturalization, or a non-U.S. citizen that is a Lawful Permanent Resident (informally known as a “Green Card” holder).
Can You Live Off Military Retirement Pay? The short answer is, yes, absolutely. But it takes a lot of planning to make this work. A good friend of mine, Doug Nordman, wrote the book, The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Early Retirement, and founded the website, The Military Guide.
Taxes, taxes, taxes
The biggest deduction from your civilian paycheck will likely be taxes. In the military, the federal government generally only taxes base pay, and many states waive income taxes. Other military pay—things like housing allowances, combat pay or cost-of-living adjustments—may not be taxed.
The highest-paid military job is a general or admiral.
Generals and admirals average approximately $197,000 regardless of the branch of the military. These high-paying salaries are quite plush compared to the roughly $20,000 a year that a private earns.
What can disqualify you at MEPS? Any disqualifications that appear during your MEPS physical exam or interview may prevent you from joining the Army. These disqualifications can include illegal drug use, alcohol dependence, not meeting height/weight requirements, having certain contagious diseases, among others.
"There has been no change in Army policy regarding beards, which can only be grown with the Commanding Officer's authority. Exceptions are usually only granted on medical or religious grounds, or where tradition permits." Hair is to be groomed such that its length does not reach to the collar or onto the ears.
Every member of the military, from the medic to the mechanic, is trained to fight and to kill, and the ongoing conflicts prove that fighting and killing can begin very suddenly. You may enlist to get job training or money for college, but eventually you may be faced with war.
20 Health Conditions That May Not Allow You To Join The Military. There are many specific medical conditions that may disqualify you from joining the U.S. Military. These include conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, heart issues, Asperger's, and PTSD.
The ideal height requirement for men in the military is between 60-80 inches / 152-203 cm. Anyone above or below this requirement is likely to get rejected.
The reasons the Army won't accept you are numerous; they include age and weight restrictions, medical and criminal histories, and even certain tattoos, according to the team at We Are the Mighty. Similar reasons exist for the other branches, as well.
Also called High-36 or “military retired pay,” this is a defined benefit plan. You'll need to serve 20 years or more to qualify for the lifetime monthly annuity. Your retirement benefit is determined by your years of service. It's calculated at 2.5% times your highest 36 months of basic pay.
Military personnel may retire after 20 years of service and must retire after 30 years of service in most cases.
Salary Ranges for Navy Seals
The salaries of Navy Seals in the US range from $15,929 to $424,998 , with a median salary of $76,394 . The middle 57% of Navy Seals makes between $76,394 and $192,310, with the top 86% making $424,998.
There is no requirement for family or friends to pay for the service member's leave and there are no processing/administrative fees involved with requesting leave.