What to know about the Army's updated enlistment age guidelines
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A U.S. soldier with the 2nd Infantry Division participates in a joint river-crossing drill with South Korean forces during Freedom Shield exercises in Yeoncheon, South Korea. Photo: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The U.S. Army updated its enlistment regulation to include an existing policy set in 2023 as the country remains at war with Iran and as President Trump has been threatening military action worldwide.
Why it matters: The Army Regulation 601-210 guidelines increase the maximum age for enlistment while also giving Americans charged with marijuana crimes more chances for eligibility.
- The regulation update, which the Army described in a document published on March 20, aligns more closely with the Navy and Air Force. It could help the Army with recruitment, which has declined in recent years.
- "The Army simply codified a policy that was in practice since 2023. The policy is in compliance with both the Department of War policy and Title 10," an Army official told Axios Wednesday in a phone interview.
New enlistment requirements for U.S. Army
The updated regulation focuses on:
- Age shift: The new regulations allows people up to and including 42 years old to enlist in the Army, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.
- Marijuana convictions: The new rules remove the need for a waiver for those who have a single conviction of marijuana possession or possession of paraphernalia, like bongs or pipes, to enlist in the Army.
How the new Army enlistment rules are different
The previous age ceiling for enlistment was 35 years old, giving Americans seven more years than before.
- The Air Force and Space Force have a maximum enlistment age of 42 years old. The Coast Guard and Navy set their maximums at 41, and the Marine Corps maximum age is 28.
- There were some exceptions to the rule with some soldiers allowed to enlist after taking breaks or waivers.
Under the previous marijuana rules, a conviction of possession of the drug or associated items would require a waiver from a Pentagon official. Recruits would then need to wait 24 months to enlist and pass a drug test.
Do the new rules say anything about a military draft?
Reality check: Despite what social media was buzzing about Tuesday night, the regulation does not mention any sort of draft requirements.
- The U.S. requires American men aged 18 to 25 to register with the Selective Service System, an independent government agency that keeps a database of men eligible for the military in the case of a draft.
- Even in the case of a draft, men would be selected through a random lottery and birth year. They would then be examined for mental, physical and moral fitness.
Zoom out: Trump has not mentioned a military draft amid increased tensions with Iran.
- White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News in early March that putting troops on the ground — draft or otherwise — was "not part of the current plan right now, but the president, again, wisely keeps his options on the table."
- The White House referred Axios to Leavitt's remarks when contacted for comment on Wednesday. The Army did not immediately respond to Axios' Wednesday afternoon request for comment.
The bottom line: The Army is allowing more people to enlist, but that doesn't mean a draft is coming.
Go deeper: What the 82nd Airborne does and why it could play a key role in Iran
Editor's note: This story and its headline were updated to reflect that the Army has included an existing (not a new) policy in its enlistment regulation, and to add a clarifying comment from an Army official.
