To be eligible to enlist in the Coast Guard, an applicant must:
Be between the ages of 17 and 39
Be a U.S. citizen or legal, permanent resident
Have a high school diploma, GED with at least 15 college credits, or GED
Earn the minimum score required on the ASVAB test
Pass a medical exam at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)
Pass a physical fitness test
Pass criminal background and credit checks
Meet the Coast Guard’s mental and moral standards
Coast Guard trainees undergo basic training for eight weeks at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey.