The term “required enlistment age” refers to how old a person must be before being eligible for military service. There is a compulsory enlistment age in some countries, at which point every citizen is required to perform military or civil service. The age of enlistment varies from country to country, but it is frequently linked to the age of majority. In the United States, a person must be 18 years old to join the military, though parental consent can allow for enlistment as early as 17 years old. Other countries have different requirements, ranging from 16 to 22 years old, and some even require a high school diploma.
The two types of military enlistment are voluntary and compulsory, with different age requirements on occasion. Some countries require compulsory enlistment at the age of 18 or 19, but allow people to join earlier if they wish. Anyone who enlists early in these circumstances will typically avoid the compulsory process once they reach the appropriate age. Early enlistment may be permitted in other countries that allow voluntary enlistment. Canada has a voluntary enlistment age of 18, allows early enlistment at the age of 17, and allows individuals to enroll in military colleges once they turn 16.
Many countries have programs similar to Canada’s that allow people to join the military early or get a head start on enlistment. The United States allows young people as young as 17 to enlist, though younger people can participate in reserve officer training corps (ROTC) programs. Junior ROTC is a military program for high school students sponsored by the United States military. Although it does not provide the same structure and training as military enlistment, it does provide some of the same benefits. It can also be used as a springboard into college ROTC, a military academy, or enlistment at the age of 17 or 18.
A change in enlistment age regulations can occur due to a variety of factors. When there is a shortage of soldiers or when there is a war, the required age can be lowered, and some countries have laws that specify this. Bolivia has an 18-year-old compulsory enlistment age, with the option of conscripting people as young as 14 if necessary. Despite having a compulsory age of 19, Greece has a provision that allows the required age to be reduced to 17 during times of war. Some countries enlist children as young as five years old, though these actions are frequently neither official nor legal.