United States Army Enlistment Requirements

How do you know if you are eligible to serve your country in the United States Army? There are some basic requirements that are usually well known. Other requirements, however, are normally overlooked until it is time to sign the contract. Here is what you should know about enlisting in the United States Army.

Dependents

In the event you are a married person seeking to join the United States Army, you will not be able to have more than two dependents. If your spouse provides his or her own income they will not be considered dependent.

A single person should not have any dependents and therefore in most cases a single parent will not be eligible for enlistment. However, the Army National Guard is currently the only branch of the Armed Forces that will allow a single parent to enlist.

Citizenship

Many assume that you must be a United States Citizen, and that is true, but you are also eligible for enlistment if you are a permanent resident alien and are able to prove your status.

Age

With parental consent, a person as young as 17 is eligible to enlist in the United States Army. Applicants are also accepted up to the age of 41. However, the maximum age often fluctuates between 34 and 42 and will often depend on overall health and physical condition.

Health

You must be in overall good physical condition. You will be required to pass a physical prior to enlistment as well as pass an initial strength test prior to being shipped to basic training.

Conditions or diseases are not always going to make you ineligible for service. Those conditions that are life threatening or contagious will, however, most likely render you ineligible for enlistment in the United States Army.

Education

The United States Army accepts enlistment from both those with high school diplomas and those with a GED. Some jobs with the Army will require a diploma and enlistment bonuses may be higher with a diploma.

ASVAB

Your Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB, must be scored with a minimum of 31. Many jobs within the Army will require a higher test score. The ASVAB score could also affect any enlistment bonus as well.

Commitment

You must be willing and able to sign a commitment to service. The minimum commitment is a two-year enlistment. The present maximum is six years. This does not include any future reenlistments. Any enlistment bonuses may fluctuate greatly depending on your enlistment term signed with the United States Army.

United States Army Initial Strength Test

This initial physical fitness test is taken prior to shipping out the basic training. However, it is not taken prior to enlisting and arriving at your basic training duty station.

Males: A male recruit will be required to run one miles in under 8 minutes and 30 seconds, complete 17 sit ups, and 13 pushups.

Females: A female recruit will be required to run one miles in under 10 minutes and 30 seconds, complete 17 sit ups, and 3 pushups.

sources:

http://www.goarmy.com/