I've been thinking a lot about my post-high school life and I'm seriously considering enlisting. But here's the thing, I'm doing a GED instead of traditional high school. Does anyone know if this will limit which military branches I can join? Do all of them accept a GED, or are there restrictions?
Each branch of the U.S. military has different requirements for enlistment, and your GED could potentially limit your options, but it doesn't prevent you from enlisting altogether.
The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps do allow individuals with a GED to enlist, but they generally prefer recruits with a traditional high school diploma.
The Army, for instance, places individuals into one of three categories based on their education credentials. Typically, recruits with a traditional high school diploma are in Tier 1, while those with a GED are in Tier 2. The Army limits the percentage of enlisted recruits from Tier 2, so even though you can enlist with a GED, it might be more challenging.
The Navy, on the other hand, counts individuals with GEDs, 15 college credits, and those who are enrolled in an adult education program as Tier 1 candidates. This means that with some additional college classes, a GED holder might not face any restrictions in the Navy.
Similarly, the Air Force, while prioritizing high school diploma holders, does accept GEDs but only allows a limited percentage of GED holders each year.
The Marine Corps and Coast Guard are much stricter. In the Marine Corps, less than 5% of each year's recruits can have a GED. The Coast Guard rarely accepts GED holders.
To sum up, your opportunities within the military might be more limited with a GED compared to a high school diploma, but enlisting is not impossible. Consider speaking directly with recruiters from the branches you're interested in for the most current and accurate information. They could also provide insight into paths for becoming more competitive, perhaps through programs like the Army’s GED Plus or accruing some college credits.
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