Has the U.S military ever accepted High school dropouts?

Question

I know they're really strict on it now, but did they ever accept dropouts?

Answer 1

There are plenty of dropouts that enlist today. They have GEDs and college credits to make up for the fact that they don't have a high school diploma. A few years ago the Army offered a program called the GED Plus, which allowed dropouts without a GED to enlist and spend a month in Fort Jackson, SC (Little Rock, AK for National Guard) and test for the GED. If they passed, they would move on to basic training. If they failed they would get one more chance and if they failed a second time they were discharged.



Other posters have already bought up that farther down in the past, people were allowed to enlist without a diploma as well. Obviously, a need for more troops can cause enlistment standards to change. If a major war broke out and we had to reinstate the draft obviously dropouts would be included. If not, people that didn't want to fight that were still in high school would just drop out on purpose and wait until the war is over to get their GEDs.

Answer 2

The average education level in WWII was 10 years, up from 8 during WWI. At the start of WWII only the high school dropout rate was about 50%, down from about 92% in 1920. The military got a lot of people from that segment of society. Dropouts were drafted through the end of the draft but it takes a high school diploma or GED to join now.

Answer 3

My Dad was 20 years Air Force enlisted with a College Degree. FIVE SONS all served in the military and

my younger brother dropped out of High School SIX Weeks before graduating! The Army accepted him

with no problem in the late '70's. He later got the GED to be considered for promotion.



AGE has little to do with GED; can't everyone study, apply for the test, take it and pass and say PHOOEY!

to even attending High School? The only limitation I'm aware of is the 18-year-old age limitation on Legal

Contract prohibitions. THINK about it; study and pass GED then study and take the SAT - with a high

enough score COLLEGE can start for anyone at 15, 16, 17 years of age. THAT'S a Leapfrog Start before

'peers' even think about the SAT!

Answer 4

After having departed ways with the educational system in the 10th grade, I joined the Marines in 1985. I scored a 96 on the ASVAB, and missed out on a substantial signing bonus due to my lack of diploma. I retired in 2007 at the rank of Master Sergeant.

I had to join as an Open Contract in which the Marine Corps assigns your MOS at the end of boot camp based on what they need and not you you want. Because of my ASVAB scores they were going to make me a Combat Photographer, but after much pleading they relented and I was given Infantry. The Admin personnel certainly had a hard time understanding that choice.

Although the military worked out very well for me, and did wonders for my self discipline, I know that there is no way I would have been allowed to join today with the higher requirements.

Answer 5

The standards on what is needed to join changes as the number of people needed change. When more people are need in the military, the standards are lowered to allow more people to qualify, and when they are over-manned, the standards are tightened to allow fewer people to join.



So yes, when the was a high demand for more people, they accepted high school drop outs. But since they are downsizing now, the requirements are tightened, and if you are a highschool dropout, you need a GED with so many college credits (15, I believe).

Answer 6

Even High School drop outs have been known to score very high on the ASVAB. Abraham Lincoln split rails and lived in a log cabin and walked barefoot but begged for books and self-taught himself to pass the Illinois Bar.

Answer 7

Certainly. During WW II and before, one didn't even need a high school diploma. That changed in the 1950s.

Answer 8

Yes



When they need people in times of good economies, they drop standards. The most recent of such peaks was during the early years of the Iraq War when they basically would take morons with prison records.

Answer 9

I met a few during my Army service from 1978 to 1985. The Army gave them a chance to get GEDs.

Answer 10

many decades ago. hell a goodly number of foot soldiers on WW2 were dropouts who lied about their age to get in.



these days, the military knows better.

Answer 11

In the years of 2003-2006. 106,750 moral waivers were issued for SERIOUS crimes(A misdemeanors and felony's up to manslaughter) for all branches of the military. These waivers also included HS dropouts.



Please, my fellow Vets. Before you start blasting me. Please note these stats come from the DOD.



Note- That a--hole from the Army that raped the 13 year old girl in Iraq with his two buddies. And killed and burned her and her parents. Was a HS dropout that got a moral waiver.

Answer 12

Most recruits are drop outs, from something. The infantry in particular recruits the scum of society. After all, who in their right mind would want to join the US military today? I would rather join the SS in May 1945.

Answer 13

They certainly were taking guys w/o H.S. diplomas during Vietnam...and trust me, the next time we get in a real shooting war where the enemy is inflicting heavy losses on our boys the same will be true.

Answer 14

Yes, certain branches will but you will also need to get your GED or you won't pass the ASVAD. Usually if you don't have a GED, thats a rebellious attitude towards society and they don't want rebels.

Answer 15

My brother, a high school drop out, joined the Navy in 1965. He retired as a Senior Chief...................

Answer 16

at least GED or HS Diploma(which you can get from attending adult school) or not entering Military Service

Answer 17

Yes but in very small numbers and not at all in many years.

Answer 18

once upon a time, a long time ago...like when there was a draft, and recruiters were having a HARD time getting recruits... in other words, maybe 30 years ago

Answer 19

Of course

Answer 20

as mrsjvb said, my dad did that when he ran away from home, but i have just a ged and am enlisting

Answer 21

Used to be prevalent