Under Age

It is illegal to enlist if you are under age 17. But if the recruiter took you anyway, simply provide proof for your age, and your enlistment should be automatically voided. Proof of age can include a birth certificate, a certified copy of your earliest school records, or a notarized statement from the doctor or midwife who assisted your birth.

To enlist people between ages 17 and 18, a recruiter must get written consent from your parents or legal guardian. If you are still 17 and you want a discharge, your parent(s) or legal guardian must request your discharge within 90 days of your enlistment. They should state either that they never gave their written consent (if that is the case) or that they have changed their minds and wish to withdraw their consent. If more than 90 days have passed since your enlistment, you may still be able to get a discharge if you can show that you protested your enlistment early on, but were told by military superiors that a discharge would be impossible; that your parents did not know you enlisted; or, that your parents did not know an early discharge was possible for you.

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