Enlistment in the Reserves is open to eligible
males and females with no prior service (NPS) who have passed their 17th
birthday but who have not yet reached their 35th birthday, and to men and
women between the ages 17 and 59 for those having prior service (PS) and
are able to complete 20 years of creditable service for retirement by age
60.
Current enlistment qualifications for NPS individuals with no prior service
are as follows:
(1) must be a U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident alien;
(2) must be between the ages of 17 and not have reached their 35th birthday
at time of enlistment (those under age 18 must have parental approval);
(3) must pass an Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and
Standard Armed Forces Physical Examination, and be of good moral character;
(4) must be available for initial active duty training; and
(5) must agree to participate in an initial tour of active duty training
of at least 12 weeks.
For those joining the Reserves with no prior service (NPS), the military
service obligation is eight years. The goal is to fill the Individual Ready
Reserve (IRR) to required levels.
For Prior-Service (PS) men and women, Guard enlistment requirements are
as follows: (1) must be a U.S. citizen, or a permanent resident alien; (2)
must be between the ages of 17 and 59 years of age; (3) pass the Standard
Armed Forces Physical examination and attain certain ASVAB test standards;
(4) have served in an Armed Force of the United States or any Reserve Component
thereof, if under age 45.
Applicants over 45 must have prior Reserve service or service in a regular
component (Service in the Coast Guard is not considered a regular component
unless performing duty under the Secretary of the Navy). They must have
enough prior military service to attain a total of 20 creditable years by
age 60; and (5) have a favorable reenlistment eligibility code.
