Requirements to join the United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the coastal defense and maritime law enforcement branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country’s seven uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the U.S. military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set.

The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It’s responsible for maritime law enforcement, including drug smuggling. It manages maritime search and rescue and marine environmental protection. It also secures ports, waterways, and the coasts. Service members are known as Coast Guardsmen, nicknamed Coasties. The reserve component is Coast Guard Reserve.

Requirements to join the United States Coast Guard (USCG)

Candidates wishing to join the United States Coast Guard (USCG) must meet the following requirements.

Must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien
Must be between 17 to 27 for active duty and 17 to 39 for reserve duty (17-year old recruits require parental consent)
Have no more than two dependents
Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test (minimum AFQT score: 40)
High School Diploma is required, however, sometimes a GED is accepted
Background check (security and financial checks) must be passed
The “whole person” personal evaluation considers your attitude, professionalism, honesty, respect, language proficiency, weight/physical abilities and work ethic
Recruits must be in good health and pass a physical fitness test at basic training
Have a willingness to serve on or around the water
All recruits must know how to swim before completing basic training
Members of the Coast Guard must remain fit for full duty by maintaining their Maximum Allowable Weight (MAW) according to specific guidelines

Height and weight requirements

Members of the Coast Guard must remain fit for full duty by maintaining their Maximum Allowable Weight (MAW) according to specific guidelines. The Coast Guard is the only US Armed Force service that considers an individuals weight with respect to gender, height and frame size. All Coast Guard military personnel are screened against MAW standards at least every April and October. Applicants to join the Coast Guard that exceed their MAW will not normally be allowed to join. Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) will make all official weight determinations for applicants.

Here are the U.S. Coast Guard’s height and weight requirements for recruits to enlist.

For men

U.S. Coast Guard Weight Chart
Height	Frame Size Code
	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	J	K	L	M
60	140	144	148	152	16	159	163	167	171	175	179	183
61	144	148	152	156	160	164	167	171	175	179	183	187
62	148	152	156	160	164	168	172	176	179	183	187	191
63	152	156	160	164	168	172	176	180	184	188	191	195
64	157	160	164	168	172	176	180	184	188	192	196	200
65	161	165	169	172	176	180	184	188	192	196	200	204
66	165	169	173	177	181	184	188	192	196	200	204	208
67	169	173	177	181	185	189	193	196	200	204	208	212
68	173	177	181	185	189	193	197	201	205	208	212	216
69	177	181	185	189	193	197	201	205	209	213	216	220
70	182	185	189	193	197	201	205	209	213	217	221	225
71	186	190	194	197	201	205	209	213	217	221	225	229
72	190	194	198	202	206	209	213	217	221	225	229	233
73	194	198	202	206	210	214	218	221	225	229	233	237
74	198	202	206	210	214	218	222	226	230	233	237	241
75	202	206	210	214	218	222	226	230	234	238	242	245
76	207	210	214	216	222	226	230	234	238	242	248	250
77	211	215	219	222	226	230	234	238	242	246	250	254
78	215	219	223	227	231	234	238	242	246	250	254	258
79	219	223	227	231	235	239	243	246	250	254	258	262
80	223	227	231	235	239	243	247	251	255	258	262	266

Maximum Body Fat percentages allowed
Age	Body Fat Percentage
Less than 30	23%
Less than 40	25%
40 or greater	27%

For women

U.S. Coast Guard Weight Chart
Height	Frame Size Code
	N	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
58	122	126	130	134	137	141	145	149	152	156	160	164
59	125	129	133	137	140	144	148	252	155	159	163	167
60	128	132	136	140	143	147	151	155	158	162	166	170
61	131	135	139	142	146	150	154	157	161	165	169	172
62	134	138	142	145	149	153	157	160	164	168	172	175
63	137	141	145	148	152	156	160	163	167	171	175	178
64	140	144	147	151	155	159	162	166	170	174	177	181
65	143	147	150	154	158	162	165	169	173	177	180	184
66	146	150	153	157	161	165	168	172	176	180	183	187
67	149	152	156	160	164	167	171	175	179	182	186	190
68	152	155	1159	163	167	170	174	178	182	185	189	193
69	155	158	162	166	170	173	177	181	185	188	192	196
70	157	161	165	169	172	176	180	184	188	191	195	199
71	160	164	168	172	175	179	183	187	190	194	198	202
72	163	167	171	175	178	182	186	190	193	197	201	205
73	166	170	174	178	181	185	189	193	196	200	204	208
74	169	173	177	180	184	188	192	195	199	203	207	210
75	172	176	180	183	187	191	195	198	202	206	210	213
76	175	179	183	186	190	194	198	201	205	209	213	216
77	178	182	185	189	193	197	200	204	208	212	215	219
78	181	185	188	192	196	200	203	207	211	215	218	222
79	184	188	191	195	199	203	206	210	214	218	221	225
80	187	190	194	198	202	206	209	213	217	220	224	228