Difference between having a military approved high school diploma and a regular one

Hey y'all. I've recently heard about something called a military approved high school diploma and I was curious to know how this varies from a regular high school diploma? Is it more respected or does it provide any advantage when it comes to enlisting or applying to ROTC programs?

The difference between a regular high school diploma and a military-approved high school diploma mainly lies in the acceptability and prestige of the certificate. A regular high school diploma is typically recognized across different contexts, such as college admissions and the workforce. It's the standard diploma issued to students who complete the required coursework at a certified public or private high school.

A military-approved high school diploma, on the other hand, has specifically met the educational criteria established by the U.S. Department of Defense. It's a type of diploma that the military will accept when considering an individual's eligibility to enlist.

In theory, all "regular" high school diplomas should be military-approved, as long as they are from a regionally accredited school. However, some alternative high school completion credentials, like a GED (General Education Development) or online correspondence programs, may not be as favorably viewed by the military. The military prefers an actual high school diploma over a GED or other equivalent because they've found that those with high school diplomas tend to complete their service obligations at a higher rate.

However, the military has tiers of acceptability for enlisting that do include GEDs and other equivalent certifications, as well. It’s not necessarily that a military-approved high school diploma is 'more respected', but there are statistical reasons why the military has, at times, given preference to those with regular high school diplomas.

To your question about ROTC programs, most ROTC college programs typically require a traditional high school diploma for entrance. They focus on your academics, leadership abilities, physical fitness, and the teacher evaluations, but they do not specifically look for a 'military-approved high school diploma'. They're seeking students who can handle the rigor of the coursework and the demands of the program.

So, the type of diploma you have can matter for military enlistment, but what's generally more impactful are your grades, your involvement in extracurricular activities (especially anything related to leadership), and your physical fitness levels.