(AURN News) — The U.S. Army is raising its enlistment age again. Under Army Regulation 601-210, effective April 20, 2026, non-prior service applicants can enlist from age 17 up to and including age 42. Applicants who are 17 still need parental or guardian consent.
The change comes as concerns grow over the escalating conflict in the Middle East and renewed public discussion about whether the United States could return to conscription.
The Army became an all-volunteer force in 1973, and the last draft took place that same year.
This is not the first time the Army has set the maximum enlistment age at 42. The service previously raised the cap during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars before lowering it again in 2016.
Questions about a possible draft have also intensified after a March remark from the White House. When asked about conscription, the White House said President Donald Trump “does not remove options off the table,” while also saying a draft was not part of the current plan.
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