What are the qualifications to join the Coast Guard? The following are the basic requirements for joining. You must:
Be a U.S. citizen or nationalized to be a Coast Guard officer. To enlist, you must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien. Be between the ages of 17-27. Seventeen year olds need parental consent. Have a high school diploma. Have no more than two dependents. Take and pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. Pass a Military Entrance Processing Station medical exam. Have a willingness to serve on or around the water.