Regular components: qualifications, term, grade

The Secretary concerned may accept original enlistments in the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, Regular Marine Corps, or Regular Coast Guard, as the case may be, of qualified, effective, and able-bodied persons who are not less than seventeen years of age nor more than forty-two years of age. However, no person under eighteen years of age may be originally enlisted without the written consent of his parent or guardian, if he has a parent or guardian entitled to his custody and control.

(Added Pub. L. 90–235, § 2(a)(1)(B) , Jan. 2, 1968 , 81 Stat. 754 ; amended Pub. L. 93–290 , May 24, 1974 , 88 Stat. 173 ; Pub. L. 95–485, title VIII, § 820(a) , Oct. 20, 1978 , 92 Stat. 1627 ; Pub. L. 98–94, title X, § 1023 , Sept. 24, 1983 , 97 Stat. 671 ; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title V, § 511 , Sept. 23, 1996 , 110 Stat. 2514 ; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title V , §§ 543, 544, Jan. 6, 2006 , 119 Stat. 3253 ; Pub. L. 110–417 , [div. A], title V, § 531(a), Oct. 14, 2008 , 122 Stat. 4449 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(5)(A) , Jan. 1, 2021 , 134 Stat. 3822 ; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XVII, § 1717(b)(2) , Dec. 22, 2023 , 137 Stat. 655 .)