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  While serving in the U.S. military is a patriotic act, not all would-be soldiers are accepted. There are certain requirements that the military has to ensure to perform its function adequately. While certain requirements regarding sexual preferences are considered politically controversial, most requirements for serving in the military are purely pragmatic. If a person is interested in serving in the U.S. military, he can contact a local recruiter who can provide information on whether he meets the requirements.
  
  

Age Requirements

• One of the most biggest requirements to join the military is that an applicant must be of a certain age. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or at least 17 with parental consent. Also new applicants cannot be above a certain age when they first enlist.
  
  

Immigration Status Requirements

• The U.S. military requires that an applicant be a citizen or a lawful permanent resident. It is possible for non-citizens to enlist but they cannot serve for more than one term before they are required to become naturalized citizens. For certain countries that are considered hostile to the United States, a waiver is required in order to serve.
  
  

Physical Condition Requirements

• The U.S. military has certain physical requirements that applicants must meet. These include certain height and weight requirements and certain medical conditions can disqualify a candidate. The reasons behind this are practical in nature, as the military can requires much physical activity. Every applicant must complete a medical exam before he or she goes off to boot camp.
  
  

Policies Regarding Marriage and Children

• The policies regarding dependants vary but typically the military avoids accepting applicants with more than two dependants under the age of 18 without a waiver.
  
  

Policies Regarding Educational Requirements

• In general, the military prefers to take applicants who have at least a high school education. A GED may also be accepted. Further education, such as a bachelor's degree, can help an applicant advance in the military.
  
  

Criminal History

• Certain types of criminal history can disqualify a candidate from military service. This decision is made based on the number and severity of the crimes which the applicant has on his criminal record.