The term “soldier” is technically used to refer to someone who serves in the army, but it can also refer to members of other armed forces divisions. Every country, and even each branch of the military, has its own set of rules for joining, but many branches of the military share some characteristics. You must typically meet specific age, education, physical, and background requirements to become a soldier.
Before becoming a soldier, most armed forces require that you be of legal age. To sign up on your own in the United States, you must be at least 18 years old, or 17 years old with parental permission. In most branches of the military, there are age restrictions as well. If you are over 42 years old, the United States Army, for example, will not allow you to enlist unless you have a skill that they desperately need or have previously served in the military.
To become a soldier, you must also complete basic education requirements. While you can enlist while still in high school, you must have completed your high school diploma before leaving for training. Some branches of the military will accept a General Education Development (GED) certificate in lieu of a diploma if you dropped out of high school before finishing your education requirements.
To be a soldier, you must be in good physical condition and have good overall health. Because military training, also known as boot camp, is designed to prepare you for actual combat situations, it is extremely rigorous. You must pass a thorough medical examination and a series of physical fitness tests before being accepted into the military. If you don’t pass the fitness tests the first time, your military recruiter may be able to place you in a training program to help you get in shape so you can take the test again.
A criminal background check will be required before you can enlist as a soldier. In an ideal world, your criminal record would be completely clean. You may be eligible for a waiver if you have minor infractions on your record but have made significant progress in staying out of trouble. This is done at the military’s discretion and on a case-by-case basis.
After you’ve confirmed that you meet all of the basic requirements, the next step in becoming a soldier is to choose which branch you want to join, locate a recruiter, and sign up. Most areas have regional recruitment offices where you can walk in and meet with someone who can help you without making an appointment. Because the application process is lengthy, bring all of your relevant documents with you and go when you have plenty of time to speak with the recruiter and fill out all of the forms.