Army raises enlistment age to 42, drops marijuana conviction rule
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: U.S. Army soldiers raise their right hands as U.S. President Donald Trump conducts the U.S. Army Re-enlistment Ceremony on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Army is marking its 250th birthday with the military parade
The United States Army has updated several rule changes for their enlistment qualifications, including the maximum age requirement as well as eliminating a marijuana conviction that impacted some potential recruits.
In a revised Army Regulation 601-210 document released last week, individuals up to and including age 42 can now enlist for non-prior service applicants and applicants with prior military service.
The new revision applies to the regular Army, the Army National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves.
More changes include marijuana convictions, mental health language and major conduct waiver
The change also removes the waiver requirement that was needed for a single conviction for possession of marijuana or possession of drug paraphernalia.
Additional changes to eligibility were made to eliminate the stigmatizing language regarding mental health conditions, updates on documentation that can be used as proof to verify social security numbers and an adjustment to major misconduct waiver approval authority.
Dig deeper:
Up from age 35, this new change brings the Army closer to other military branches, including the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, all of whom accept recruits up to age 41, according to the Department of War. The maximum age for the Space Force is 42, while the Marines remain at age 28. The minimum age remains at age 18, or 17 with parental permission.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by the United States Army and Today's Military. This story was reported from Orlando.