Right now, with an all "volunteer" military, I often hear people talk about just "joining up."

It's not that easy. 

There is a reason our military members are considered professionals, not only by Americans but most countries around the world.

Here are some general facts about enlisting in the US military.

They may help you decide for yourself, help a loved one, or just know when someone is lying like a dog about joining.  (Why do people lie?  I dunno.  But the guy across the street from us has been "going down to the MEPS" (where you take the physical etc) for the last three years...hahahaha.

The DOD (Department of Defense) sets guidelines for all branches of the military, but leaves room for each branch to set its own rules as well.

For example, the ASVAB is a written test every potential enlistee must take (DOD Policy).  Each branch sets their own accepting score levels.  So for instance, if I take the ASVAB and don't score high enough to make the AF cut off, I still may qualify for the Army, Navy, or Marines because the cut offs are lower. 

Now to standards....

First, the legalities.."..serving in the military is a privilege and sometimes an obligation, conferring neither the right to serve nor the right to avoid service... (see Kennedy v. Mendoza-Martinez 372 U.S. 144 (1963)).

Basically, some can serve, some can't.  The DOD and branch set the guidelines.  There are occasional "waivers" meaning the branch has decided the enlistee's worth is more than a single standard violation.  They look at the "whole" person versus the single sub-standard qualification.  (For example, someone who has traffic tickets (addressed below) may not be rejected outright even if the # of tickets exceeds the standard.  The military branch will look at the entire package and decide whether to "waive" that standard).

If you don't meet a couple criteria, in most cases, forget it.  The military is not desperate for recruits despite what some in the media claim.

The following are not all the standards necessary to enlist, just the ones which weed out the greatest number of applicants.

*Parents need not apply.  Have two kids?  Forget about it.  Even if you don't have custody, or sign away your parental rights.

"DOD prohibits the enlistment of any applicant who has more than two dependents under the age of 18. While the services are allowed to waive this policy, they often will not. In fact, most of the services are even more strict in their policies.

The Navy, for example requires a waiver for any applicant with more than one dependent (including the spouse). To receive a waiver, the applicant must show that they are financially responsible (which means the Navy will check their credit report).

In the Marine Corps, a waiver is required if an applicant has any dependent (only one) under the age of 18.

The Air Force follows DOD guidelines but will do a financial eligibility determination if the member has a spouse.

The Army requires a waiver if the applicant has two or more dependents (in addition to the spouse).

Before a dependency waiver is granted for any of the services, the recruiting service will conduct a financial eligibility determination."  (Meaning, if you have a child or two, or in the case of the AF just a spouse, and you can't support them in E-1 thru E-3 pay, they won't give you any type of waiver.)

Which leads too....

*Single Parent?  Sorry, the military probably doesn't want you.  And don't think about lying or giving up custody temporarily either.

"With the exception of the Army National Guard, single parents are not allowed to enlist in the military, period."

"In general, an applicant who has joint physical custody of a child by court order or agreement, and the applicant does not have a spouse, he/she is considered a "single parent."

"In the "old days," some recruits would try to get around this restriction by giving up legal custody of their child(ren) until after basic training and job school, but the military wised up.

For example, in the Marine Corps, one must give up legal custody (by court order) of their child(ren), and then wait one year or more before being eligible for enlistment. In the Army and Air Force, single member parent applicants who, at the time of initial processing for enlistment, indicate they have a child or children in the custody of the other parent or another adult are advised and required to acknowledge by certification that their intent at the time of enlistment was not to enter the Air Force/Army with the express intention of regaining custody after enlistment. These applicants must execute a signed statement testifying they have been advised that, if they regain custody during their term of enlistment, they will be in violation of the stated intent of their enlistment contract. They may be subject to involuntary separation for fraudulent entry unless they can show cause, such as the death or incapacity of the other parent or custodian, or their marital status changes from single to married."

*Married to a Military Member and have kids?  Nope.

"Like single parents, applicants who have minor dependents (under 18) and are married to a military member are a special concern, because of the possibility that both parents could deploy. While waivers are possible, they are relatively rare."

*Non-citizens may enlist (but not become warrant or commissioned officers) in all branches if: 

"(1) Entered the United States on a permanent residence visa or has an Alien Registration Receipt Card (INS Form 1-551/I-551 green card or stamped I-94), and

(2) Established a bona fide residence, and

(3) Established a home of record in the United States.

The visa and/or "green card" must have sufficient time remaining on it (expiration date) to be valid during the entire term on enlistment."

*Drugs and Alcohol?  Seems like a no-brainer right?  Each branch has their "addiction/dependency" criteria.  However, if you were ever on any legally prescribed narcotics there is a chance (depending on the strength and duration) you will be disqualified.  And anti-depressants?  That is 99% of the time an automatic rejection.  The 1% requires at least one year off medication and total psychological evaluation per DOD Policy....In general though it is safe to say:

"1. Dependency on illegal drugs is disqualifying.

2. Any history of drug use is potentially disqualifying.

3. Any history of dependency on alcohol/drug is disqualifying"

*Traffic Tickets?  Criminal Activity?

"Army. The Army divides criminal offenses into one of four categories. Applicants with six or more minor traffic offenses (where the fine was $100 or more per offense), or three or more minor non-traffic offenses, or two or more misdemeanors, or one or more felonies, requires a waiver.

Air Force. The Air Force divides criminal offenses into five categories. Category 1 offenses are considered the most serious (felonies), and category 5 offenses are the most minor. Applicants with one or more convictions or adverse adjudications from category 1, 2, or 3 offenses require a waiver.  More here.

Marine Corps. The Marines divide criminal offenses into one of six categories. In general, a waiver is required for: five to nine minor traffic offenses; two to five more serious traffic offenses; two or more Class 1 minor non-traffic offenses; two to nine Class 2 minor non-traffic offenses; two to five serious offenses; or one felony. Individuals with ten or more minor traffic offenses, six or more serious traffic offenses, ten or more Class 2 minor non-traffic offenses, six or more serious non-traffic offenses, or more than one felony are not eligible for a waiver.

Navy. The Navy divides criminal offenses into four separate categories. Applicants with six or more minor traffic violations, three or more Minor Non-Traffic Violations/Minor Misdemeanors, one or more Non-Minor Misdemeanors, or one or more felonies, require a waiver."

You can find more info on these at each branch's website (google'em) or a local recruiter.

*I joined to keep from going to prison!  Nope.

"Applicants may not enlist as an alternative to criminal prosecution, indictment, incarceration, parole, probation, or other punitive sentence. They are ineligible for enlistment until the original assigned sentence would have been completed."

*Openly Homosexual?  Need not apply.

"(1) Applicants for enlistment will not be required to reveal their sexual orientation. However, homosexual conduct may be grounds for barring enlistment. Homosexual conduct is any homosexual act, a statement by the applicant that demonstrates propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts, or a homosexual marriage or attempted marriage." 

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=2171

*Too Short?  Too Tall?  Sorry.

"..male applicants is height less than 60 inches or more than 80 inches. The cause for rejection for Armed Forces female applicants is height less than 58 inches or more than 80 inches. The Marines are more restrictive. For the Marines, height standards for male applicants range from 58 to 78 inches. Height standards for female applicants range from 58 to 72 inches."

*Chunky Chicken?  Waif? 

AF Weight Standards

Army for Males

Army Females

Navy

Marine Male

Marine Female

*By federal law (10 U.S.C 505), the minimum age for enlistment in the United States Military is 17 (with parental consent) and the maximum age is 35 (Note: Congress changed this to age 42 in 2006).

BUT, (isn't there always one) the DOD allows each branch to set the max. age for non-prior enlistees, and they are:

Active Army - 42
Army Reserves (Including National Guard) - 42
Active Air Force - 27
Air Force Reserve (including National Guard) - 34
Active Navy - 34
Naval Reserves - 39
Active Marines - 28
Marine Corps Reserve - 29
Active Duty Coast Guard - Age 27. Note: up to age 32 for those selected to attend A-school directly upon enlistment (this is mostly for prior service).
Coast Guard Reserves - Age 39

The standards I listed above are usually the ones which affect a majority of applicants, and the ones you can pretty much look at and know right away if you, or someone you know, is actually qualified to enlist.

This list is not exhaustive, not even close.  The DOD has policy on tattoos (gang/hate), and where any tattoo is located on the body.  Face tattoo, neck?  Nope.

Back in the 1980s when I enlisted, females could not have more than 3 abortions or they were rejected.  I can't find any information on official policy concerning abortion now.  But I have to wonder if it is implicit in recruiter training?

Because reading between the lines of all the DOD Policy, if the recruiter decides for whatever reason a person lacks "moral character" the person is generally rejected.  So, going to a recruiter is like going to an interview.  Most people don't think of it that way, but its a good thing to keep in mind if you or someone you know is checking into it. 

A few years ago the advice recruiters gave people not meeting standards was, "lets just apply for a waiver and see what happens."

At the time, each branch decided which standards they would waive and by how much, so it was literally a crap shoot.  For example, one guy who was overweight would get in, while the next guy wouldn't.

The DOD changed that, and decided waivers need to be more formal for continuity, less easy to get.  So if the AF won't waive it, the Army won't waive it either (though the initial standards may be different like the ASVAB test scores discussed above).

I looked at many DOD sites when writing this article, but the best summary of all that information (and the site most quoted) is ironically, heh, a civilian site found here.  I fact-checked and cross referenced so the information provided has at least two sources.  Where there is an abundance of additional information on one subject I tried to put in additional links.

The reason I took the time to cross reference with DOD Policy (some linked above) is because invariably someone will give a story about how so and so enlisted and they blah blah blah.

There are standards to enlist in the US Military.  If a person does not meet them, or would require more than a very basic waiver, they are not enlisting.  Hey, they're not my rules.

So, if you wanted to enlist today, would you qualify?

I wouldn't.