U.S. Army RAISES Enlistment Age to 42, DROPS Marijuana Restrictions

The U.S. Army has officially raised its maximum enlistment age from 35 to 42 and scrapped key restrictions tied to marijuana-related offenses.

According to newly updated Army regulations, Americans in their late 30s and early 40s can now enlist across active duty, the National Guard, and reserves.

At the same time, recruits with a single marijuana or drug paraphernalia conviction will no longer need a waiver to join, eliminating a major barrier that previously required a lengthy approval process.

The changes will take effect on April 20, 2026.

Army Times reported:

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 upper limit of the Army’s previous allowable enlistment age was 35, but waivers were sometimes granted for older enlistees.

The Air Force and Navy allow recruits over 40, while the Marine Corps caps enlistment at 28 but allows hopefuls who are 29 or over to request waivers.

The average age of Army recruits is currently higher than previous years, with new recruits entering the service with an average enlistment age of 22.7, according to Army data.

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The change comes as more states legalize cannabis, even though its use remains prohibited for service members.

Applicants with more serious drug-related offenses will still need waivers.

This isn’t the first time the Army has pushed enlistment age limits this high.

During major operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army previously increased the age limit to 42 to meet high personnel demands. It was lowered back to 35 in 2016.

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