ListNook

B-Z_B-S Mar 25, 2026 +86

They needed the second part to justify Pete Hegseth being the Secretary of Defense.

86

cypher_su3de Mar 25, 2026 +14

Exactly, when recruitment numbers fall, the military has to get creative. These changes reflect the challenge of maintaining enough personnel.

14

absentmindedjwc Mar 25, 2026 +10

My conspiracy theorist moment: Combine this with them demanding voter information from different states, and they're going to try and draft predominantly democrats.. raising the age to 42 mostly covers the millennial generation - gen x leans far more republican than millennials do.

10

gollumaniac Mar 25, 2026 +2

This is for voluntary enlistment, not the draft. The Selective Service Act is only ages 18-25.

2

wanderlustcub Mar 26, 2026 +1

For now. The WWII conscription/draft ages were 21 to 35 before Pearl Harbor, and 17-45 after Pearl Harbor. Those ages can change on a dime. If the U.S. wants to go to war in Iran, Greenland, Cuba (and likely others) you’ll need a lot of folks.

1

yearningforlearning7 Mar 26, 2026 +1

Robert McNamara lowered the standards to allow the mentally challenged and physically unable to be drafted to primarily combat roles. They died at a higher rate than their “qualified” counterparts. Shit can always change. Apparently, like needing to get approval from congress to enact war.

1

AnonEMoussie Mar 25, 2026 +1

So does then selective service still accept women and LGBT volunteers?

1

AnonEMoussie Mar 25, 2026

As a Gen X-we, I refute that. We tend to be anti-establishment. Boomers still slip into Gen X ranges from time to time. Especially when they inherited their father’s factory and took an offer from private equity to liquidate the factory.

0

MelpomeneAndCalliope Mar 25, 2026 +4

Gen X went more heavily for Trump in 2024 than any other generation. (I’m an elder millennial who grew up looking up to the Gen X “big kids,” so yeah, it sucks.)

4

No-Problem49 Mar 26, 2026 +1

Gen x voted for Trump more than boomers. They think Trump is anti establishment. You know the type.

1

arizonadirtbag12 Mar 25, 2026 +4

Yes and no. Both of these were routine waivers (particularly the single marijuana conviction). So this just saves the time (and money) processing waivers that we basically always grant. It’s not as big a shift as it’s being made out to be.

4

No-Mousse756 Mar 25, 2026 +3

Then why are they doing it on 4/20?

3

SeenItAllHeardItAll Mar 25, 2026 +6

My understanding is that they are following Russian best practices.

6

Lowspark1013 Mar 25, 2026 +18

Time for all those near middle age MAGA bros to sign on that line and support their dear leader in his 'peace' operations abroad.

18

Throwawayaccountdell Mar 26, 2026 +1

I agree but the MAGA women should sign up as well. It's not fair to the men that voted blue.

1

GoodMornEveGoodNight Mar 25, 2026 +34

High school to private prison pipelines in the red states are about to ratchet up to a whole new level

34

___coolcoolcool Mar 25, 2026 +7

High School to private prison to prisoner of war, amiright.

7

Cute-Ad2879 Mar 25, 2026 +20

ASVAB waivers, Drug addicts, convicts, high school dropouts. The four horsemen of the warrior ethos.

20

news5555 Mar 25, 2026 +3

Cant have the gays in there /s

3

TheGooch01 Mar 25, 2026 +16

So…the Army is embracing DEI?

16

Spottswoodeforgod Mar 25, 2026 +17

So Kegsbreath's idea of warriors is now 41 year old former drug addicts?

17

arizonadirtbag12 Mar 25, 2026 +15

We’re calling people with a *single* charge for marijuana “drug addicts” now? Because those are the only ones for whom policy changed.

15

DoTheFooka-Fooka Mar 25, 2026 +7

41 year old *current* drug addicts.

7

ShartingEnU Mar 26, 2026 +1

The way people on this subreddit talk about those struggling with addiction, even those who have recovered, is gross

1

Sknowles12 Mar 25, 2026 +11

And some people laughed when I expressed concern re the draft coming back.

11

lifting_cardio Mar 25, 2026 +3

The army is just playing catch up to the navy Air Force and coast guard upper age limits over the last few years. Nothing really ominous in terms of a draft. All branches more than met their quotas in 2025 iirc after severe misses in the early 2020’s as a result of COVID and other factors

3

No-Problem49 Mar 26, 2026 +1

Iran alone is going to take 3 million boots on the ground. We got like 400,000ish for the whole world. Those 3 million will need 12 million to support them. The quotas aren’t based on a war with Iran ; so forget about the quotas. Here’s a quota : Iran has 90 million people and it’s pretty well accepted that one needs about 1 soldier for every 30 or so civilians. 3 million boots on the ground in Iran : there’s ya quota

1

lifting_cardio Mar 26, 2026 +1

That ain’t happening. Lol Red states are already seeing conservatives push against their elected officials… it’s going to result in a blue wave that makes 2018 look small. Congress will limit any thing Trump is trying to do. Trump may have lit a match and thrown it in the tinderbox but it doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to reduce the damage being done.

1

Voderama Mar 25, 2026 +5

That sounds specifically like they’re planning a meat grinder. Just like Russia does

5

TheHipsterBandit Mar 25, 2026 +14

Next up is the draft.

14

GoodMornEveGoodNight Mar 25, 2026 +10

Surely Barron Trump will lead the infantry

10

TheHipsterBandit Mar 25, 2026 +7

I doubt pampered Barron could even lift a rifle, let alone a rucksack.

7

JaronJervis Mar 25, 2026 +5

he's a 7 foot oaf. And not too bright from what i've read about conversations people had with him. Whereas Trump chickened out of Vietnam, I think Barron may legitimately be ineligible for the military. [His own mommy said not too long ago, that he needs nonstop supervision. ](https://www.irishstar.com/news/politics/melania-barron-trump-military-draft-36853076#google_vignette)

5

TheHipsterBandit Mar 25, 2026 +1

I agree, but I would still like to see him as an 88M. No hate to my 88M brothers and sisters, it's just by far one of the most dangerous jobs.

1

Z-Factor19 Mar 25, 2026 -1

He has Asperger’s so autism is nothing to sneeze at or deride.

-1

i_hate_ketchup777 Mar 25, 2026 +5

also, no one will listen to him screech orders with his thick Slovenian accent. there is a reason we never hear him speak.

5

bananastand512 Mar 25, 2026 +2

He can turn on a computer though.

2

NAU80 Mar 25, 2026 +2

His dad said he is a whiz with computers. You don’t believe him?

2

non_Beneficial-Wind Mar 26, 2026 +1

Not with that bone - joint structure

1

AgentJackSmith Mar 25, 2026 +1

Bone spurs are hereditary.

1

DoTheFooka-Fooka Mar 25, 2026 +4

Biggest social media fad of all time incoming, the TikTok "Burn Your Draft Card" challenge.

4

Earthpig_Johnson Mar 25, 2026 +5

In a few years, my oldest and I can both get drafted! Just normal father/son activities.

5

TheHipsterBandit Mar 25, 2026 +3

Not if you both go out and get a quick felony. I recommend bank robbery without a weapon or threats. I only did three years and now I'm draft proof.

3

Earthpig_Johnson Mar 25, 2026 +3

Hahaha, I’ll keep that bit of advice in my back pocket, thanks.

3

TheHipsterBandit Mar 25, 2026 +2

Better than avoiding the draft. That's five years and $250,000 in fines.

2

rat_penis Mar 25, 2026 +2

What a deal!!

2

TheHipsterBandit Mar 25, 2026 +1

Better than the five years and $250k in fines for avoiding the draft.

1

shelbys_foot Mar 25, 2026 +4

At this rate, it won't be long before joining the Army will be a retirement option.

4

ErinFiqsette Mar 25, 2026 +4

Or an option to to attending high school...

4

silentwind262 Mar 26, 2026 +1

That's actually why it's capped at 42 - can still serve 20 before hitting mandatory retirement age. It was that high back during OEF for a while and they lowered it when we were supposedly drawing down.

1

HT_redux Mar 25, 2026 +3

I’m never fighting for the pedos illegal war! Let the magats die for their pedo king!

3

Xeroxenfree Mar 25, 2026 +5

Nothing says we value citizens lives by saying we now think you are good enough to die for our profits

5

fxkatt Mar 25, 2026 +10

As so-called humanity regresses.

10

JaVelin-X- Mar 25, 2026 +3

60 in Canada less contract time so usually 56

3

ToadP Mar 25, 2026 +2

More meat for the Grinder... Come on Barron get in the Game.

2

Typical_Intention996 Mar 25, 2026 +2

I thought it was always around that age. Hasn't navy and air force been in the 40s for a while too?

2

arizonadirtbag12 Mar 25, 2026 +2

With waivers, or prior service. Believe 35 was standard across the board for initial entry. That said this story and in particular this headline are *vastly* overstating how big a change this is.

2

smurfsundermybed Mar 25, 2026 +2

That's for later. They'll run through the kids first. Guess a bunch of parents are going to start planning their escape to the welcoming arms of Canada and Mexic....oh no.

2

barktwiggs Mar 25, 2026 +2

Guess ICE took all the low-hanging mall cops and proud boys.

2

timesuck47 Mar 25, 2026 +2

So now the army will be a bunch of old stoners?

2

Zestyclose-Finish778 Mar 25, 2026 +2

We are going to War Jesus fu k

2

ObjectiveApricotJr Mar 26, 2026 +2

McNamara’s morons all over again.

2

Beer-Me Mar 26, 2026 +1

They wouldn't be doing this if that war they started in Iran was going as well as they day it is

1

Specialist-Mud4150 Mar 26, 2026 +1

Is there any part of the typical ICE/CBP contract that would allow for their deployment to Iran? Asking for a friend…

1

EffectiveHamster3893 Mar 25, 2026 +2

Sounds like more war on the horizon. I thought this guy wanted the Peace Prize?? 🤦🏻‍♀️

2

Moveyourbloominass Mar 25, 2026 +2

Under the Bush Cheney Cabal they did the same thing. My husband got quite a few harassing phone calls to reup. He told them to get fucked.

2

lancer-fiefdom Mar 25, 2026 +2

So old junkies.. thats what Russia did in the first year of its war with Ukraine.. sent the old, the sick and the addicted to meet Ukraine's drone army for cannon fodder

2

ErinFiqsette Mar 25, 2026 +1

Finally ready to answer that Call of Duty, boys?

1

Z-Factor19 Mar 25, 2026 +1

Lowering their standards as fast as they can tsk tsk tsk

1

tzugrrl Mar 25, 2026 +1

They've been ignoring drug use in the ranks for a long time.

1

PureSetting4518 Mar 25, 2026 +1

No way in hell I could go through basic in my 40s.

1

Copy_Of_The_G Mar 26, 2026 +1

It’s a move to set a precedent that they can force conscription on convicts and those past prime procreation age. I’m pro Ukraine but they’re the framework for the draft of the new American Regime.

1

Builderwill Mar 26, 2026 +1

Wasn't it just a few weeks ago the Trump was bragging about how great military recruitment was going under his administration?

1

734576788653454356 Mar 26, 2026 +1

After Trump's bullshit all the US armed forces will have a hard time keeping enlisted signed on and getting new blood.

1

Army ups maximum enlistment age to 42, relaxes rules on recruiting drug convicts

💬 Send a Message

74 Comments