United States Marine Corps Enlistment Requirements

When someone thinks about joining the United States Marine Corps they often first wonder what the enlistment requirements are. After that, comes the wonder of what the physical requirements are, especially to graduate from basic training. This is what all people thinking about joining the Marine Corps should know about the minimum requirements.

Dependents

A single person cannot have any dependents. A married person cannot have any more than two dependents. A spouse will not count as dependent if they have their own income.

Citizenship

You must be a United States Citizen or a permanent resident alien. If you were not born in the United States you will be required to prove your status.

Age

Applicants must be between the ages of 17 and 29 to enlist. Individuals under the age of 18 will require parental consent to enlist.

Law

You must pass a criminal background check and have no felony convictions. Depending on your desired MOS, or job title, there may be stricter regulations.

Health

If you have any diseases or conditions that are life threatening or contagious they are probably going to disqualify you from service. However, not all conditions are disqualifying.

You must be in good physical condition. You will be physically trained at basic training but you will have to pass a physical prior to enlistment.

Education

You must possess a high school diploma. There may be a few Marine Corps positions available to those with a GED but the Marines are generally only accepting high school graduates, or those about to graduate.

Vision

Your vision must be at least 20/400 or 20/200 corrected to 20/20 with contact lenses or eyeglasses. You will be tested for depth perception and color blindness as well, normally during your enlistment physical.

ASVAB

You must score a 32 minimum on the ASVAB, or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. Some jobs in the Marine Corp may require a higher score.

Weight and Height

Some of the Marine Corps positions will have different requirements, but the main requirements for height and weight are as follows:

Males: Height 5 ft. to 6 ft. 8 inches Weight 100 lb to 255 lb

Females: Height 4 ft. 10 inches to 6 ft 8 inches Weight 90 lb to 227 lb

Marine Corps Initial Strength Test

This is the initial physical fitness test that is taken prior to enlistment and basic training.

Males: A male recruit will be required to run one and a half miles in a time of thirteen minutes and thirty seconds or less. He will have to complete 35 sit ups within a two-minute time period as well as two pull ups.

Females: A female recruit will be required to run one and a half miles in a time of ten minutes and thirty seconds or less. She will also have to complete 35 sit ups within a two minute time period. She will not have to do any pull ups but will have to complete a flexed arm hang with a duration of twelve seconds.

Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test

This is the final physical fitness test when graduating from Marine Corps Basic Training. It is referred to most times as the PFT.

Three Mile Run

Males: The time limits for the three-mile run for males vary by age and are as follows:

Ages 17 to 26: 28 minutes

Ages 27 to 39: 29 minutes

Ages 40 to 45: 30 minutes

Ages 46 and over: 33 minutes

Females: The time limits for the three-mile run for females vary by age and are as follows:

Ages 17 to 26: 31 minutes

Ages 27 to 39: 32 minutes

Ages 40 to 45: 33 minutes

Ages 46 and over: 36 minutes

Abdominal Crunches

Male and female recruits will be required to complete the same amount of crunches. This also will vary by age group and the numbers are as follows:

Ages 17 to 26: 50 crunches

Ages 27 to 45: 45 crunches

Ages 46 and over: 40 crunches

Pull ups - Males Only

Pull ups are completed by male recruits only. To pass the PFT a male recruit will have to complete three pull ups.

Flexed Arm Hang - Females Only

The flexed arm hang is completed by females only. To pass the PFT a female recruit will have to stay in the position for a duration of fifteen seconds.

(For age restricted time limits and totals please keep in mind that the enlistment age maximum is just that, the enlistment age. It is not common for Marines over this age to be in basic training, but it could happen. Therefore, there are set PFT requirements for each age group. These requirements will be utilized later in the Marine's career as each year they are given a PFT)

sources:

http://www.marines.com/