The United States army announced last month that it would raise the maximum age at which Americans can enlist from 35 to 42 years to expand its pool of eligible candidates amid recruiting challenges in recent years.An updated version of US Army Regulation 601–210, dated March 20, outlined the changes, including the elimination of rules requiring anyone with a single conviction for marijuana possession or drug paraphernalia to obtain a waiver to enlist.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listGovernment data shows that while the US army has met its recruitment goals over the last two years, it fell short in 2022 and 2023 and has consistently failed to meet targets for the Army Reserve, shortcomings that analysts have attributed to several possible factors.The new age limit was announced during the US-Israel war on Iran, towards which young people have expressed widespread opposition.Here’s what you need to know about the changes. New recruits participate in the Army’s future soldier prep course that gives lower-performing recruits up to 90 days of academic or fitness instruction to help them meet military standards, at Fort Jackson, a US Army Training Center, in Columbia, South Carolina, on September 25, 2024 [File: Chris Carlson/AP Photo]When does the regulation go into effect?The updated version of Army Regulation 601–210 officially takes effect on Monday, April 20.What has the military said about the changes?The US army announced updated enlistment regulations on March 20, with the changes scheduled to take effect one month later on April 20 and applying to the Regular Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard. Advertisement …
