What branch is the easiest to get waivers for?

Asked by: Roslyn Bauch  |  Last update: April 26, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (70 votes)

Different branches have different personnel needs and may approve of your waiver. In general, the Army has the reputation of approving the most moral waivers, while the Air Force and Coast Guard approve the fewest. The Navy and the Marines fall somewhere in the middle. However, this is not always the case.

Which military branch has the most waivers?

Overall Medical Waiver Consideration and Approval Metrics

Overall, waiver approval rates ranged from 61% (Air Force) to 73% (Marine Corps).

Which branch is most lenient?

That being said, the Army is generally considered to have the most lenient standards among the branches. The Army offers more jobs—over 150 specialties—and therefore has a wide range of ASVAB scores they'll accept.

Which military branch is the easiest to get into?

That said, generally speaking perception of difficulty is based on factors like basic training toughness, physical fitness standards, occupational demands, and deployment rate. 1. Air Force: The Air Force often tops the list of "easiest" military branches due to its emphasis on technology and intelligence.

Which branch has the easiest PT test?

Each test consists of exercises measuring different physical attributes, and what one person may excel in, another may find challenging. That said, the Air Force's PT Test is often considered one of the "easiest" because the minimum requirements, in general, are less stringent compared to other branches.

Joining the Military with Waivers

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What branch has the least requirements?

For those who are not particularly athletic, the U.S. Air Force generally has the least physically strenuous requirements compared to the other branches. The Air Force's Physical Fitness Test consists of a 1.5-mile run, push-ups, and sit-ups.

Which branch has the easiest Asvab test?

The Army traditionally has the lowest entry standards in terms of ASVAB scores -- for high school diploma holders, a minimum Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score of 31 is necessary. Also, depending on the demand and time of year, sometimes this can drop lower.

What is the hardest military branch to join?

Marine Corps - The Marine Corps is often considered the toughest branch of the military both physically and mentally. It has the most rigorous basic training, known as boot camp, which lasts 13 weeks. Marines are trained not only physically but also mentally, to have a "first to fight" mindset.

What bootcamp is the easiest?

Even though each branch of the military has unique components to its basic training or "boot camp", it's often noted that the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard boot camps could be considered some of the 'easier' ones, in comparison to boot camps of other branches like the Army and Marine Corps.

Which branch is the least to go to war?

The Coast Guard is more often the "last" to go to war in a traditional sense, but remember that every individual's experience can vary. The Air Force and Space Force primarily deal with air and space respectively, and these fields might see less direct combat depending on the specifics of the conflict.

What branch is least likely to deploy?

The frequency of deployment can vary quite a bit depending on the specific career field and the current global situation, but generally speaking, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Coast Guard typically have lower rates of deployment compared to other branches.

What percent of Army waivers get approved?

Automatically push all applicants for a waiver

And it would give all applicants a chance to be evaluated holistically as to whether the potential risks they pose are outweighed by the value they bring to the military despite their medical conditions. Waiver approval rates are currently 60-70%.

What branch is most respected?

The Marine Corps is often considered the most respected branch of the military. Known for their elite fighting force and rigorous training programs, the Marines have a reputation for being tough, disciplined, and loyal.

What branch is the easiest to get a waiver?

The policies regarding medical waivers can vary between the branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard), and within them too. Typically, the Air Force is often perceived to be more accommodating, particularly if they have a high enlistment goal.

Which military branch is struggling to recruit?

The Navy is the only service that won't hit its goal this year. While the service was able to sign up 40,600 recruits as hoped, the crush of last-minute enlistments means it won't be able to get them all through boot camp by next month.

What disqualifies you from MEPS?

What can disqualify you at MEPS? Any disqualifications that appear during your MEPS physical exam or interview may prevent you from joining the Army. These disqualifications can include illegal drug use, alcohol dependence, not meeting height and weight requirements, having certain contagious diseases, among others.

Which branch accepts the most waivers?

Different branches have different personnel needs and may approve of your waiver. In general, the Army has the reputation of approving the most moral waivers, while the Air Force and Coast Guard approve the fewest. The Navy and the Marines fall somewhere in the middle. However, this is not always the case.

What branch has the shortest boot camp?

The different branches of the United States Military each have their own length and structure of basic training, commonly known as boot camp. As of now, the branch with the shortest boot camp is the U.S. Air Force. Their Basic Military Training (BMT) lasts 7.5 weeks.

Which military branch pays the most?

There is no branch that pays more. Base pay at a given grade and time of service is the same across the services. However, total pay and compensation can differ a lot due to allowances and special pays. But those are based on location and duties, not branch-of-service.

Which military branch is the riskiest?

That said, people often consider the Marine Corps to be one of the most dangerous branches, primarily because it's typically at the front lines during combat operations. Marines often engage closely in ground combat, which can present heightened risks. Similarly, the Army can also be considered dangerous.

Are navy SEALs harder than Marines?

Navy SEAL candidates endure a grueling program that most would agree is the toughest training in any branch of service. SEAL classes have an 85 percent dropout rate and the training to become a SEAL lasts for about a year compared to three months of Marine boot camp.

What branch has the hardest ASVAB?

1. Air Force: Known for its technical and intellectual emphasis, the U.S. Air Force has the highest enlisted cutoff scores for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), making it arguably the most difficult to join.

What branch takes the lowest ASVAB score?

Current minimum scores for each branch of the military are: Air Force—31; Army—31; Coast Guard—31; Marine Corps—31; National Guard—31; Navy—31. (Scores posted on August 26, 2024). Service Specific websites: Air Force.

What is the most lenient military branch?

The Army has the most lenient enlistment requirements among the military branches.