US Army quietly raises enlistment age – and removes some criminal convictions restrictions – to bolster struggling recruitment

The U.S. Army has raised its maximum enlistment age by seven years, moving it up from 35 to 42 years old, in an effort to spur greater recruitment.

The changes to the enlistment rules also include adjustments to existing factors that could rule out potential recruits, such as those having a single marijuana or drug paraphernalia conviction.