“As of March 2026, the United States Army raised the maximum enlistment age to 42 for all recruits.”

Requirements to join as an enlisted Soldier. Be between 17 and 34 years old. To enlist, you must have a high school diploma, GED, or a plan to get one. The main difference when applying to be an Army Officer is that you need to have a bachelor's degree—not necessarily at the start of the process, but by the time you're commissioned as an Officer.

The Army increased its maximum enlistment age to 42 this month, bringing its accession policy closer in line with most of the other U.S. military services... Individuals up to 42 with or without prior military service can enlist in the Regular Army, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve, according to the updated Army Regulation 601-210 published March 20.

The US army has raised the maximum enlistment age to 42 years old and scrapped a barrier for potential recruits who have a legal conviction for marijuana or drug paraphernalia possession. People aged up to 42 can now enlist in the army, the army national guard and the army reserves, according to the new US army regulation, lifting the previous ceiling of 35 years old.

The U.S. Army is expanding its recruiting pool, raising the maximum enlistment age from 35 years old to 42, according to new service regulations reviewed by ABC News.

A major update to Army recruiting regulations this week raises the maximum age a recruit can join to 42, and removes a barrier to joining for recruits with a single legal conviction for marijuana or drug paraphernalia possession. The Army's previous limit was 35, though exceptions are occasionally made.

An official update to Army Regulation 601-210, dated March 20, did raise the U.S. Army's upper age limit for enlistment to 42, effective April 20, 2026. As of this writing, the official regulation raising the maximum recruitment age to 42 was not yet effective and U.S. Army websites still listed the maximum age as 35.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army is making several changes to its enlistment program, including raising the age limit to 42 and relaxing its cannabis conviction policy. The U.S. Army is lifting its enlistment age cap from 35 to 42 years old, which will align with the Air Force and Space Force, according to an unclassified U.S. Army memo dated March 20, 2026.

In a sweeping change to its enlistment regulations, the Army has raised the maximum age for eligible recruits to 42, the service announced. The announcement comes as the Army continues efforts to widen its recruiting pool after falling short of its Regular Army enlistment goals in 2022 and 2023 before rebounding in 2024.

The U.S. Army has officially increased its maximum enlistment age to 42, effective April 20, 2026... Effective April 20, 2026, any American up to age 42—with or without prior military service—can enlist in the Regular Army, National Guard, or Army Reserve.

The U.S. Army has raised the maximum enlistment age to 42 and has removed some obstacles for those with criminal records for marijuana possession or related items. According to the new military regulation, which comes into effect on April 20, 2026, individuals up to 42 years old can enlist in the army, National Guard, and Reserve, thereby extending the previous limit set at 35 years.

The maximum age for enlisted soldiers who want to join the army for active duty is 35 years. Federal law allows up to age 42 for any branch but the Army sets its own lower maximums with waivers available in certain cases.

The U.S. Army has officially increased its maximum enlistment age to 42, effective April 20, 2026, a significant policy shift aimed at broadening its recruitment pool amidst persistent challenges. While older recruits bring valuable experience and higher skill sets, their higher attrition rates in basic training present a trade-off that defense sector investors should monitor for long-term implications on readiness and specialized talent pipelines.

Army Regulation 601-210 governs enlistment policies; updates are published by the U.S. Army Publishing Directorate. As of prior knowledge up to 2024, max age was 35-42 with waivers in some cases, but no confirmed change to 42 effective before March 2026 without new regulation.