Join the Air Force
Active Duty
Opportunities Await
When you enlist in the Air Force, you'll get hands-on training to grow in an integral role to our defense and opportunities to earn a degree and lead others along the way.
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step 01
Apply
Apply through an Air Force recruiter via your local recruitment office, over the telephone or online. Once you are confirmed to meet all our requirements, you’ll be moved into testing.
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step 02
Aptitude Testing
Before enlisting, you must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which covers four critical areas: arithmetic reasoning, work knowledge, paragraph comprehension and mathematics knowledge. This helps determine your ability to withstand the demands of the Air Force.
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step 03
Physical and Mental Screening
After you take the ASVAB, your recruiter will make an appointment for you at a nearby Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). There, you’ll be assessed based on physical and moral standards as set by the Air Force, the Department of Defense and federal law.
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step 04
Prepare for Basic Military Training
Once you’ve passed all the necessary requirements, tests and have been officially accepted into the Air Force, you’ll be placed into the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). Here, you’ll wait for your departure date for Basic Military Training (BMT). During this time, we recommend you work on your physical conditioning to meet the challenges of BMT.
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step 01
Apply
Apply through an Air Force recruiter via your local recruitment office, over the telephone or online. Once you are confirmed to meet all our requirements, you’ll be moved into testing.
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step 02
Qualifying Test
To become an Air Force Officer, you must first pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT)—a multiple-choice test with topics ranging from verbal and math skills to specific fields of interest. It can only be taken twice, so it’s essential to study and prepare wisely.
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step 03
Physical and Mental Screening
Your recruiter will make an appointment for you at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to have your physical and moral standards assessed to ensure they meet the physical and mental standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.
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step 04
Passing the Selection Board
Every officer application is reviewed by either the Officer Training School Selection Board or Air Force Recruiting Services, depending on your path and career.
Selection boards are typically held biannually in February and August. Contact your local line officer recruiter to learn more about the upcoming selection board schedule.
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step 05
Enlist and work toward becoming an officer
Once you’ve passed all the necessary requirements and are accepted into the Air Force, you’ll enter the Delayed Entry Program while you wait for your departure date to Officer Training School.
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step 01
Apply
Apply through an Air Force recruiter via your local recruitment office, over the telephone or online. Once you are confirmed to meet all our requirements, you’ll be moved into testing.
Prior-service members interested in applying through the Voluntary Retired Return to Active Duty (VRRAD) program can apply below. This program allows eligible, retired, enlisted members to return to active duty into the AFSC they last served. The program is open between February 8, 2023, and January 31, 2026.
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step 02
Aptitude Test
ENLISTED: If you’re retraining and your last Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test is expired, you must retake the test. The test covers four critical areas: arithmetic reasoning, work knowledge, paragraph comprehension and mathematics knowledge. This helps determine your ability to withstand the demands of the Air Force.
OFFICER: If you’ve already taken and passed the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT), then you should apply without any issues because AFOQT scores don’t expire.
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step 03
Physical and Mental Screening
If you are coming from an Air Force component, you will need to obtain an AF Form 422, Notification of Air Force Member’s Qualification Status, with a mandatory eligibility statement to assess your physical and mental standards.
If you are coming from a sister service, your recruiter will make an appointment for you at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to have your physical and moral standards assessed to ensure they meet the physical and mental standards set by the Air Force, Department of Defense and federal law.
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step 04
Prepare for Retrain Tech School or Direct Duty
Once you’ve passed all the necessary requirements, and have been officially accepted into the Air Force, you will either prepare for Direct Duty or Retrain Tech School.
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Age requirements vary depending on the path you choose:
- To join the Air Force as an enlisted Airman, you must be between the ages of 17 and have not reached your 42nd birthday.
- To join as a healthcare or ministry professional, you must be between 17 and 48 years of age.
The Air Force maintains height and weight requirements to ensure our Airmen are physically capable of carrying out their tasks. These vary slightly depending on your desired position.
We utilize a Body Mass Index (BMI) range of 17.5 to 27.5 to determine height-to-weight ratio for body composition. When a recruit is outside of this BMI range, recruiters will use a body fat measurement (BFM) with a maximum range of 26% for males and 36% for females.
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Air Force careers are often physically and mentally demanding, and Airmen must be in good health to meet our strict standards. If you have a preexisting health condition, your recruiter can help you consider the general guidelines for medical conditions and your eligibility for entrance.
Additionally, your vision will be fully evaluated during your pre-entry qualification physical. You may have an eye refraction level of no worse than + or - 8.0. Note that some careers, like pilots, have stricter vision requirements to meet. -
ENLISTED:
All female applicants must be a minimum of six months postpartum to be eligible for enlistment.
Please check with your local recruiter for specific eligibility requirements regarding applicants with dependents.
OFFICER:
Pregnant applicants are authorized to apply but must obtain a qualifying commissioning physical within 14.5 months postpartum before OTS scheduling.
Please check with your local recruiter for specific eligibility requirements regarding applicants with dependents.
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If you wish to enlist as a non-citizen in the Air Force, you must be a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) with a valid Permanent Resident Card (INS Form I-551), commonly known as a “Green Card.” LPRs are immigrants admitted for permanent residence to live and work in the United States. The requirements for being an officer are a little more strict, and you must be a native-born or naturalized United States citizen.
U.S. Residency Requirements
Enlistment into the Air Force by non-U.S. citizens is limited to foreign nationals who are legally residing in the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). LPRs must possess a valid Permanent Resident Card (INS Form I-551), or “Green Card,” for two years (conditional) or 10 years (without conditions) and have at least six months or more remaining before expiration. Applicants must be between 17 and 42; meet the mental, moral and physical standards for enlistment; and speak, read and write English fluently.
Becoming a U.S. Citizen
As a member of the Air Force, Lawful Permanent Residents may qualify for naturalization based on military service. Speak to your local recruiter to learn more about opportunities to become a U.S. citizen through military service.
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There are multiple ways to become eligible for a career in the U.S. Air Force. You can enlist with a high school diploma, a GED, or 15 college semester hours.
The minimum Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) score for entrance depends on your current education level and ranges from 31 to 65. Alternatively, if you do not possess any of the education requirements you may enter with a minimum score of 65 on the ASVAB.
High school seniors may start the enlistment process with a statement from their school showing that they have or will have enough acceptable credits to receive their high school diploma.
Upon applying, all Air Force applicants must complete the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) entrance exam.
To join as an officer, you must have a four-year college degree or be within 365 days of attaining your bachelor’s degree when you apply. If you plan to attend college or are already in college and are looking for financial assistance, the Air Force can help.
Officer candidates are not required to take the ASVAB, but most must pass the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT). Similar to the SAT, this is in a multiple-choice format and covers topics ranging from verbal and math skills to pilot and navigation aptitude for those interested in flying. Scores are reported as percentiles ranging from 1 to 99.
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Law violations can heavily impact your eligibility for enlistment. Even an excessive number of traffic-related law violations within a 365-day period could negatively impact your eligibility. If you have concerns about your record, contact your recruiter to discuss your situation.
The Air Force also strictly prohibits illegal drug use. In most cases, it’s disqualifying, but preservice marijuana use without exposure to legal proceedings in itself doesn’t disqualify you. Your specific circumstances may be discussed with your recruiter to accurately determine your eligibility. -
If you’re interested in applying to the Voluntary Retired Return to Active Duty (VRRAD) program, there are a few things to consider:
- You must be under the age of 58.
- You cannot have been previously medically retired.
- You must have retired with a rank of Staff Sergeant (E-5) through Senior Master Sergeant (E-8).
- You can not have retired in lieu of pending administrative, nonjudicial, and/or judicial adverse actions (e.g. discharge, demotion, nonjudicial punishment or court martial).
- You must be able to obtain a security clearance (waiver standards still apply).
Find your strengths
FAQs
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The Air Force has strict requirements and restrictions regarding body modifications. If you plan to get a tattoo or other body modifications, carefully consider placement, size and content before you proceed.
Tattoos, brands or piercings anywhere on the body that are prejudicial, or of a nature that may bring discredit to the organization, are prohibited.
There are no size or area limitations for authorized tattoos on the chest (below an open collar), back, arms and legs. Tattoos, brands and body markings are prohibited on the head, face, tongue, lips and scalp. One neck tattoo is allowed, but it cannot exceed one inch in measurement in any direction and must be placed behind either ear.
Hand tattoos are limited to one single-band ring tattoo, on one finger, on one hand and must not exceed ⅜ of an inch below the knuckle and above the finger joint (portion closest to the palm). In addition, a single tattoo is allowed on each hand and must not exceed one inch in any direction.
In some cases, certain exceptions may apply.
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Yes, enlisted members can apply for the Voluntary Retired Return to Active Duty (VRRAD) program. Selected applicants will return to active duty in the AFSC they served upon retirement. See the requirements section above for more information on eligibility.
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No, applicants are neither asked nor required to reveal their sexual orientation. Furthermore, statements about sexual orientation will not bar anyone access to admission for any component of the Air Force. All applicants will be evaluated according to the same criteria.
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Both officer and enlisted applicants may be married at the time they join. However, plan to be away from your spouse during your period of military training, and in the case of enlisted Airmen, during technical training as well. After that, your spouse may live with you on the Air Force base where you are assigned. If your spouse is also an Airman, assignment to the same base is not guaranteed.
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To enlist, all female applicants must be a minimum of six months postpartum to be eligible.
Those who are pregnant and pursuing a career as an officer must obtain a qualifying commissioning physical within 14.5 months postpartum before Officer Training School class scheduling.
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Airmen are free to exercise their religious beliefs as they choose and are not subject to any requirements. The only thing that may keep you from qualifying is a sincere objection to participating in war of any kind, or to the bearing of arms.
