How Your Credit Score Affects Your Chances of Getting Into the Army

An individual's financial health is one of the factors taken into consideration if he decides to join the United States Army. Other factors examined include age, health, citizenship status, moral character and family size. Educational background is also considered as are an applicant's scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery exam, commonly known as the ASVAB.

Financial Obligations

A low credit score alone is not enough to bar someone from serving in the United States Army. Poor overall financial health, however, may be. Before joining, people who have poor credit or dependents must undergo a financial health check. Recruits aged 23 and older must also undergo a financial examination. If the Army determines that your military salary will not be high enough to meet your financial obligations you will not be allowed to enlist.

Residency & Citizenship

United States citizens are eligible for Army enlistment. Noncitizens may also enlist in the Army but only if they are legal, permanent residents. Although the Army can enlist those who are already considered citizens and permanent residence, it cannot help anyone enter the United States, obtain citizenship or grant permanent resident status. All citizenship and resident status issues must be dealt with through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services offices. It should be noted that only United States citizens can become officers.

Drugs and Criminal Convictions

All those wishing to join the United States Army must answer a set of questions about drug use in writing before being accepted into the service. These questions essentially ask Army applicants whether or not they currently use or have ever used, sold or possessed marijuana, hemp or narcotics. Applicants with a history of drug use or possession may be disqualified from the Army, but experimenting with marijuana alone is not generally cause for rejection. Recruits will have to pass a drug test. In addition to drug testing, recruits must undergo a criminal background check. Those convicted of aggravated assault, bribery, burglary, draft evasion, extortion, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, perjury, rape, robbery or of indecent acts with a child under 16 may be barred from service. Crimes committed as a minor, however, may be granted an exception.

Physical Fitness

Army has strict height and weight guidelines for both men and women wishing to enlist. Because muscle is heavier than fat, applicants who exceed the weight requirements may still be eligible for enlistment if they qualify under the Body Mass Index standards instead of the height and weight requirements. Army recruits must also be able to pass a physical fitness test consisting of push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run is also administered to Army recruits. Each section of the test is scored. To pass, recruits must score at least 60 points in each section of the test and have a combined total score of at least 180.