Hello everybody, I'm a rising junior, currently enrolled in an online high school program due to personal circumstances and I'm considering the military as a path after graduation. Would my online high school diploma be acceptable for the military branches, or will I face any issues during my recruitment process?
When considering high school graduates for enlistment, the U.S. military categorizes educational credentials into three tiers, with Tier 1 being the most preferred. Traditional high school diplomas fall into Tier 1 and are readily accepted by all branches of the military.
Online high school diplomas can be a bit tricky, as they may fall into either Tier 1 or Tier 2 depending on specifics. If your online high school is regionally accredited and the program you're attending is college preparatory, it should place you in Tier 1 along with traditional high school graduates.
However, if your online high school program doesn't meet these standards, it could be classified as a Tier 2 credential, which is less preferred. Each military branch has a limited number of Tier 2 recruits that they are allowed to enlist each year.
Therefore, it's essential to ensure that your online high school is regionally accredited and provides a solid, college-prep curriculum. If you're unsure, you could reach out to your school counselor or directly to the recruiter from the military branch you're interested in joining to double-check. They should be able to verify where your specific diploma would fall in the military's tier system.
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