What's behind the US army's decision to raise enlistment age to 42?

"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."

"The updated version of Army Regulation 601210 officially takes effect on Monday, April 20, and applies to the Regular Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard."

"The new age limit was announced during the US-Israel war on Iran, towards which young people have expressed widespread opposition."

The US Army is raising the maximum enlistment age from 35 to 42 years to expand its recruitment pool. This change is part of an updated Army Regulation 601210, effective April 20. Additionally, the Army has removed the requirement for waivers for individuals with a single conviction for marijuana possession or drug paraphernalia. Despite meeting recruitment goals in the past two years, the Army fell short in 2022 and 2023, particularly in the Army Reserve. These changes aim to address ongoing recruitment challenges.

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