Does one need a high school diploma to join the armed forces?

[Duer 157099]

I can't believe I don't know the answer to this.

And I don't mean GED, just a regular high school diploma.

[mrmpa]

1. No........see below links

Is a High School Diploma Needed for the Military?




By Ngan Dam, eHow Contributor

High School Diploma Not Required for Military

A high school diploma is not required for joining the military. The military accepts a number of educational credentials equivalent to a high school diploma from enlisting candidates. Lack of a high school diploma can limit career options within certain service branches of the military


Read more: Is a High School Diploma Needed for the Military? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5920125_high-school-diploma-needed-military_.html#ixzz1uZi4Y1GN


http://www.ehow.com/how_7566279_join-marines-diploma.html

[Duer 157099]

3. OK thanks

DU: better than Google

[sarge43]

2. The last I heard a GED was sufficient.

However, these requirements change with the phases of the moon. Further, they're often different in each branch. If the manning is up to snuff, the standards toughen up. If not, a detectable heart beat can be enough.

I can also promise a GED just about guarantees assignment to one of the crappy MOS

[hack89]

4. The percentages of enlistees with GEDs are strictly limited

1% for the Air Force

5% for the Marines

10% for the Army and Navy.

Each of the services strictly limit the number of high school dropouts (which includes GED holders) who can enlist each year. This is because years of military enlistment statistics have shown that this category of enlistees fail to complete their entire first term of military service at about twice the rate of those with a high school diploma or those with college credits.

The Air Force is the most strict on this matter. The Air Force allows less than one percent of annual enlistments to be recruits without a high school diploma. The Marines have the next highest standards. No more than five percent of Marine recruits can be GED-holders. The Army allows no more than ten percent each year, and the Navy limits GED enlistments to no more than five to ten percent each year.

There are always many, many more GED-holders who want to enlist than there are available slots, so -- even to be considered -- a GED holder must score much higher on the ASVAB, than a high school diploma recruit.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/f/faqged.htm