Army ups maximum enlistment age to 42, relaxes rules on recruiting drug convicts

The U.S. Army has raised the maximum enlistment age to 42 and also relaxed rules on recruting individuals with drug convictions as the service continues to widen its recruiting pool. 

The maximum age for eligible recruits is a bump up from the previous enlistment age of 35 and will go into effect on April 20, according to an Army Regulation 601–210, which was published on March 20. 

The changes come amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran and as the Pentagon is preparing to send more troops to the Middle East. 

The minimum age to join the Army is still 18 years old, while those that are 17 years of age still need parental permission to enlist. 

The document also outlines that prospective recrutis do no need to secure a waiver if they have one conviction of possession of marijuana or one conviction of possession of drug paraphernalia.

The guideline change comes as more states have legalized cannabis, although those applicants with more serious drug-related violations will still need a waiver. 

Both the Navy and Air Force permit recruits over the age of 40, but the Marine Corps’s cutoff is at 28, although age waivers can be requested. 

The average age of Army recruits is higher than in previous years.

A RAND Corporation report found that older recruits “score higher on enlistment qualification tests than those who join before age 20, have attained higher levels of education or have greater life experience and, once in service, are more likely than younger recruits to reenlist and to be promoted.” 

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