What are some automatic disqualifications for joining the Navy?

Answer 1

Most are Medical DQ's, but some are related to criminal activity as well. Educational requirements are also a factor, as are substance abuse issues. Age (both young and old), as well as Parental / Dependent status can also be a factor in automatic DQ for service.

Medical DQ's are the most common - if you're in other-than-good health, it's a good bet you might be DQ'd before they let you enlist. Asthma or Reactive Airway Disease is one common DQ, as is Cancer. Vision requirements must also be met for certain rates - for example, you cannot be color blind and work in any Electrical or Electronics rating (you need to be able to see the colors of the wires). This also goes for EOD for obvious reasons.

Age - you must be at least 17 and not older than 34 for Active Duty, 39 for the Reserves. For 17, you need parental permission to join. Medical - Essentially, if you have any serious medical problem, disability, or infectious disease, Allergies, etc. it's a no-go. Even then, if it's borderline, the MO can give a thumbs down based on his/her own opinion. The list of questions and DQ's is pretty long - I've added the links to the various pages on Military.com that deal with those questions below.

Height and Weight are factors too.

Drugs and Alcohol - you'll be required to take 2 urinalysis tests, once at the induction station and the other before you report for Boot Camp. If you think you can beat the system, forget it. The military justice system has no sense of humor - you are not subject to the same rights and priviliges you have as a civilian when it comes to infractions.

Legal and Moral Standards - While you can request a waiver for any legal abnomaility (convictions, fines, etc.), essentially what they want is no criminal background, you must be a U.S. Citizen (for most rates - some rates are open to Foreign Nationals, but not many, and only those from U.S. Territories, like Puerto Rico, etc.

Traffic Violations - anything other than minor traffic violations (speeding, etc.) can get you DQ'd. If you have any convictions for anything, forget it without a waiver request.

Education - You must have either a High School Diploma or a GED. While you can be accepted without either, it is extremely rare, and you must score high enough on the ASVAB (military entrance exam) to impress the Navy enough to let you in without one or the other.

Financial Obligations - Financial Debt and Security Clearances are directly related, and the military, and other security agencies that require Background Investigations, see too much debt as a security risk. If you wish to join and your starting pay would be less than you can handle your debt with, it's likely they'd DQ you.

Parental - If you are a Single Parent, you cannot join. The only way you could get around this is if your former spouse or someone else took full legal custody of your kid.

What it boils down to is this - the military wants recruits who are relatively in good health, haven't any major financial obligations, haven't been in trouble, and meet basic educational and citizenship standards. In the past, standards were a lot lower, but things have changed in the past 30 years. The sheer magnitude of complex technology required to run Naval vessels and equipment today require a much higher grade of individual than was previously okay. It's also an investment issue - it costs the Navy a lot of money to train a person in the rate they choose, and they need to make sure they get a good ROI on whoever they let in.

Answer 2

Check out the related link i posted. I think it should help. Congrats on wanting to serve btw.

Answer 3

The link to the disqualifiers for the Navy are below (Military.com).