GED Acceptance in Military Branches

I'm wrapping up my junior year and stuff's been kinda rough. I'm leaning towards getting my GED instead of finishing high school. That said, I'm really interested in the military but, you know, I wanna know if getting a GED might limit my options. Does anyone know which branches of the military are cool with recruits having a GED instead of a high school diploma?

All branches of the United States Military generally accept the General Educational Development (GED) credential, though each branch may have specific stipulations or limitations. Typically, a GED is considered to be of a lower tier than a regular high school diploma, and it might limit some opportunities within the military.

The Army, for instance, classifies recruits into three different tiers. Tier 1 represents recruits with high school diplomas and above, Tier 2 signifies recruits with a GED, and Tier 3 for those with proficiency certificates or home-schooled diplomas. Army reserves a small number of yearly recruitments for Tier 2 and Tier 3 candidates which fill up quickly, hence the spots for GED holders can be limited.

Similarly, the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force all, in general, give preference to those with a high school diploma over a GED. Competition for enlistment is often high, and given that less than 1% of the U.S. population serves in the military, the branches can afford to be choosy.

That said, many people with a GED have gone on to serve successfully in the military. It's a viable option if you're set on a military career, it might just require a little extra effort in the recruitment process. This could include scoring higher than the minimum requirement on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test which could potentially put you in a better position.

Also keep in mind that enlisting in the military is a big decision. Weigh your options carefully, speak with a recruiter, and consider all possible paths before you choose. If you're dealing with tough circumstances, there might be resources available to help you finish high school, which could give you more options down the road.