US Army raises enlistment age to 42: West is lowering the bar as it has no choice

The US Army has raised the maximum age of military enlistment from 35 to 42 and has also relaxed rules on recruiting people with drug convictions, as the country tries to expand its hiring pool.

The new rules, according to an Army Regulation 601–210, will go into effect on April 20. The changes in enlistment age come amid the ongoing Iran war.

The minimum age for enlistment, however, has not changed and is still 18 years old, while individuals who are 17 years old need their parents' permission to enlist.

The move is described as reflecting "changes in society," but is widely seen as a response to persistent recruitment shortfalls.

UK army misses recruitment targets

The British army has been missing recruitment targets for quite some years. Statistics for the year 2023-24 show that the army was only able to hire 6,720 recruits against a target of 10,450.

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Meanwhile, as of April 2025, the full-time strength of the UK Armed Forces was approximately 147,300 personnel, leaving the services about 8,590 below their combined trained-strength targets, a shortfall of 6 per cent. The Army was 3 per cent under its target, while the Royal Navy and Royal Marines were 8 per cent below theirs.

The shortfalls are caused by delays in recruitment procedures and the complex procedures of enlisting.

Germany's behind too

In 2024, Germany’s Bundeswehr continued to shrink despite a surge in recruitment. By the end of the year, active troop numbers stood at around 181,174, down slightly from 2023 and well below the long-term target of about 203,000 by 2031. While over 20,000 new recruits joined in 2024, a rise compared to the previous year, this increase was not enough to offset retirements, resignations, and high dropout rates among new personnel.

Officials point to structural challenges as the main reason for the decline. The military faces an ageing force, with many experienced soldiers reaching retirement age, while Germany’s strong civilian job market makes retaining younger recruits difficult.

As a result, even with heightened interest in joining due to regional security concerns, the Bundeswehr continues to struggle with personnel shortages, which now pose a bigger constraint on expansion plans than funding or equipment.

Other European countries

France, Italy, and Spain are all grappling with similar personnel shortfalls in their armed forces. France’s military has struggled to meet recruitment targets despite sustained outreach programs, with retirements and attrition leaving key units understrength.

Italy faces chronic gaps in both its army and navy, driven by early retirements, slow recruitment, and a highly competitive civilian job market.

Spain is also dealing with understaffed units, particularly in specialised roles, as younger recruits often choose private-sector opportunities over military service.