The US Army announced new regulations on 25/3, raising the maximum enlistment age for the service from 35 to 42, ABC News reported. The minimum enlistment age remains 18, but 17-year-olds can enlist with parental consent.

The US Army also removed restrictions on recruiting individuals with a single prior conviction for marijuana possession or drug paraphernalia. Such cases previously required a waiver from the Pentagon, a 24-month waiting period, and passing a drug test before enlistment.

This is not the first time the US Army has made such a move. In 2006, the service also raised the maximum enlistment age to 42 during the peak of the Iraq conflict, before lowering it to 35 a decade later.

US soldiers participate in a training session at a Hawaii training ground on 1/3. Photo: US Army

These new provisions will make the US Army's recruitment regulations more similar to those of the Navy and Air Force. Both services limit the enlistment age to 41. The maximum age to join the US Marine Corps is 28, but older individuals can still join if granted special permission.

Two sources told ABC News that the decision had been planned for months and was not related to the conflict with Iran. Instead, the move reflects the US Army's effort to expand its recruitment pool amid a personnel shortage. The average age of new recruits increased from 21 in 2010 to nearly 23 last year.

According to the Pentagon, the main challenge to recruitment efforts is the shrinking number of eligible individuals. The agency estimates that only 23% of young Americans, aged 17-24, are currently eligible for military service. Reasons include entrance exam results, obesity, and criminal records.

Pham Giang (According to ABC News, Guardian, New York Post)