Military Workers, Enlisted

Certification or Licensing

The need for certification or licensing will depend on the job you have. Pharmacists in the military, for example, must hold a license, the same as civilian pharmacists. However, it is important to note that the military does not offer certification or licensing for many jobs that require these credentials in the civilian sector. If you are interested in receiving training in the military for a certain job and plan to transfer your skills to an equivalent job in the civilian sector, find out if additional training and/or certification or licensing is needed in the civilian workforce.

Other Requirements

To join any branch of the military you need to be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency status (that is, hold a green card). You must be at least 17 years old to enlist in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The maximum age to enter the Army is 35; the Navy, 41; the Air Force, 42; the Coast Guard, 41; and the Marine Corps, 28. (The maximum age limit is subject to change depending on such factors as the nature of the military service and the demand for recruitment.) Enlistees cannot have a criminal record. There are height and weight standards that you should ask your recruiter about since they may vary among the services. Some jobs have special requirements, such as certain vision standards, which you will also need to find out from your recruiter.