Redstate

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As some have already noticed, the requirements for entry to the US Army have changed somewhat since my last posting on this subject.
Most notable was aa Army Times article from24July2006 that stated that more criminals and drug users were being allowed into the Army. This last is patently false, as i hope to show you with the rest of this posting.
Changes will be shown in Italics

Sources: Army Regulation 601-210

www.GoArmy.com

Usarec Messages (known to change standards and benefits over the short term. Not accessible to those outside of US Army Recruiting Command)

Age: First thing that is looked at. All applicants must be between the ages of 17 (with parental consent) and 42 (this time last year, it was 39 and before that, 35). This is for Active Duty and the Reserves. If you have previously served, Prior Service, then subtract your years of duty from your age to see if you are still considered under the age of 42. For those who are physically fit, Age Waivers are considered and have been granted.
(This change has occurred after constant testing and research concluded that there is a Growing number of people in this age bracket that are capable of physically keeping up with the younger kids)

Education: The next thing that will be asked is what High School you graduated from and when. High School Seniors are More than welcome to join so long as a letter from the school stating that you are on track to graduate on time can be secured. There are also a limited number of training seats for High School Juniors every summer for Basic Training; the same letter must be secured. Additional education results most often in higher rank at time of enlistment. GEDs are occasionally accepted as sufficient education, but it is not year round and many years, there are no GEDs accepted.
(no changes)

Physical: Do you have any physical limitations? Do you need any medication to maintain normal, daily functions? Are you fat and dumpy? If so, you probably don't meet the requirements. However, always ask. Fat and dumpy can be corrected, you just have to work on it. Other physical issues will have to be approved on a case by case basis by the medical section of your recruiter's Battalion.
(no changes)

Moral: Legal, Criminal. Do you have an extensive criminal background? Are you a drug dealer? Have you killed or raped someone? If so, see someone else. You aren't welcome here. We are Professionals and take great Pride in being so.

However, for Other crimes that can be generally attributed to juvenile stupidity, we are far more forgiving. With the exception of drug charges of Any kind, including Marijuana and paraphernalia, and DUIs (while you can get in with 1 of these on your record, it is extremely difficult and you cannot get in with any more). We don't like those.
There has been a great deal of change here. The changes are not such as will allow in more drug users and criminals as before, as suggested by the Times article's headline. What is occurring is that there are a great many more Moral Waivers being permitted. Moral waivers are exceptions to policy that will allow an applicant to join regardless of some criminal history that would otherwise disqualify him. They are needed for such crimes as Drunk Driving, Possession of illegal substances and/or paraphernalia, Bad Checks, Petty Theft, and multiple Reckless Driving convictions. The change here was in making More petty crimes and traffic violations disqualifying, requiring More applicants who previously wold not have needed waivers to get said exceptions in order to join.

Citizenship: While you Can serve an entire 20 year career and retire from the US Army as a Permanent Resident Alien and never get your citizenship, why would you want to? It limits the maximum rank you will ever achieve, your job options, your assignment options...
(no changes)

Dependents: Single parents are not accepted into the US Army or Army Reserve. The reason being that while you are away for training and if you are deployed, someone needs to be around to care for the child. Paying Child Support is not considered as being a single parent, though that child Is considered your dependent. Other than that, if you can conclusively prove that your military salary, in conjunction with your spouse's non-military salary, s sufficient to support your dependents, have at `em.
(no changes)

Mental: This comes down to your ASVAB (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery) score. It is also the primary limiter of job options. You score a 15 on the ASVAB, it doesn't matter if you have a PhD, you won't get in. You're too stupid to know what part of the bayonet to hold, let alone how to hold an M16 while firing it.

31 is the lowest accepted ASVAB score for the US Army right now, though this changes with the wind.
(no changes.)

That's it, folks. The requirements, in short, for joining the Army. I'd go into the Benefits, the Bonuses and college money, etc, but they change daily and only your recruiter can tell you what they are at any given time.

Keep in mind, Everything listed here is subject to change as per the whims of Congress.

Note Shameless plug follows:

To contact a recruiter, you can reach Me at alexandertaran@hotmail.com

Have Paperwork, Will travel the entirety of the US.

Or locate one at the GoArmy.com website

Or call 1-800-USA-ARMY