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Military

πŸͺ– Requirements to Join the U.S. Military

Every branch of the military sets its own standards for enlisting. Learn about the specific requirements for each, including the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Learn more at Today's Military.


πŸ“ž Contact a Military Recruiter

Military Branch Contact Information
✈️ Air Force

Air Force: 1-800-423-USAF (1-800-423-8723)
Air Force Reserve: 1-800-257-1212
Air National Guard: 1-800-TO-GO-ANG (1-800-864-6264)

πŸͺ– Army Army and Army Reserve: 1-888-550-ARMY (1-888-550-2769)
Army National Guard: 1-800-GO-GUARD (1-800-464-8273)
🚀 Coast Guard Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve: πŸ’¬ Chat with a recruiter
πŸ¦… Marine Corps Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve: 1-800-MARINES (1-800-627-4637)
βš“ Navy Navy and Navy Reserve: 1-800-USA-NAVY (1-800-872-6289)
πŸ›°οΈ Space Force Contact the Air Force to join: 1-800-423-USAF (1-800-423-8723)

πŸ›‚ Citizenship and Residency

U.S. citizens and some non-citizens can join the military. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must:

  • βœ… Have a U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)

  • βœ… Speak, read, and write English fluently


πŸŽ“ Education and Testing Requirements

πŸ§ͺ ASVAB Testing

Everyone who wants to enlist must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

Use ASVAB online resources to:

  • πŸ“ Find out where to take the test

  • 🧠 Get tips for taking the test

  • πŸ“˜ See sample questions from the 10 sections

  • πŸ“Š Understand ASVAB scores

πŸ“ž Contact a recruiter to help you schedule your test and understand the scores you'll need.

πŸ“²ASVAB Practice App Available


πŸ“˜ Education Requirements

To enlist, you must have:

  • A high school diploma or high school equivalency (HSE)

πŸŽ“ To join as an officer, you must have a four-year college degree.


🩺 Physical and Medical Requirements

A medical exam is part of the enlistment process. It determines whether you are healthy enough to serve.

πŸƒ‍♂️ Each branch requires physical fitness. You must pass a physical fitness test as part of your enlistment.

πŸ“ž Speak with a recruiter for the physical standards required by the branch you're interested in.