It also depends on the grade level you are in during the age of 16. If you are a Junior in H.S. then you should talk to the recruiter by all means, to get yourself set up and ready to enlist when you turn 17 (with parental consent for some branches-some you have to wait till 18). If you are a Sophomore, then wait until Junior year, but in the meantime you should be going through all the information you can find about the military, and not just one specific branch, unless that's what you have your heart set on. It's better to know something of what you're interested in doing before you start making contact with recruiters, but...if it's your Junior year, then it's ok to start talking with them. At least that's what I did....when I was 16 and still in my Junior year, I spoke with the Navy recruiter that came to my school and got some information and then after I decided I wanted the Navy, I contacted the recruiter months later myself, but of course by this time, I was 17. So I guess....it depends on a few things too...other than just age.