Hey everyone, I'm curious about the ratio of high school graduates who opt to join the military. Has anyone come across such statistics? Any credible sources you guys could share?
You're asking a great question about an alternate path after high school graduation. Based on a report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), for the graduating class of 2020, it was reported that around 4% of high school graduates enlisted in the military. This figure represents both graduating seniors and those who completed their GED or equivalent.
Obviously, this percentage can change over time and may depend on various factors such as geopolitical circumstances, changes in military recruitment efforts, and shifts in societal attitudes towards military service. The NCES is a reliable source for education statistics, but please bear in mind that the numbers are constantly updated and subject to change over time.
Another source to consider is the Department of Defense's annual report on the military's demographics, although you'll need to dig a bit to find the exact percentage of recent high school graduates. In any case, these sources should give you a decent ballpark figure.
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