Botswana
18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the
official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown
(2001)
Brazil
21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 9 to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for
voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are
"long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve
in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army
became the first army in South America to accept women into career
ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve
Corps (2001)
Brunei
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service;
non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007)
Bulgaria
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; as of
May 2006, 67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professional
soldiers; conscription ended January 2008; Air Forces and Naval
Forces became fully professional at the end of 2006 (2008)
Burkina Faso
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women
may serve in supporting roles (2009)
Burma
18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes;
forced conscription of children, although officially prohibited,
reportedly continues (2007)
Burundi
military service is voluntary; the armed forces law of 31
December 2004 did not specify a minimum age for enlistment, but the
government had previously specified that each recruit would need to
have a primary school leaving certificate (2009)
Cambodia
conscription law of October 2006 requires all males between
18-30 to register for military service; 18-month service obligation
(2006)
Cameroon
18 years of age for male and female voluntary military
service; no conscription; the government makes periodic calls for
volunteers (2009)
Canada
17 years of age for male and female voluntary military
service (with parental consent); 16 years of age for reserve and
military college applicants; Canadian citizenship or permanent
residence status required; maximum 34 years of age; service
obligation 3-9 years (2008)