We (my son, myself, at at HIS request) visited an army recruiter yesterday............

[Joanne]

Bottom line summary: he left the meeting as, if not more, determined to join the army.

 

More details for those interested:

 

The recruiter was a bit wiggy about his school (non accredited). My research leads me to conclude that the Level 1 or Level 2 determination ultimately comes down to the recruiter. Colleges accept our transcripts and credits without a problem, so I am going to rely on that.

 

Son is over the weight/body fat % limit. He left the office with a fitness planning book.

 

For those not on my Facebook, here is the conversation:

 

 

Mom to son: Well, what did you think?

 

 

Andrew: Well, it's a good thing, really, that I have to lose weight. I never had a real motive or incentive before now. I mean, even though I am big, I've always had smokin' hot girlfriends and everything, so I've never had a reason to lose weight........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(We've decided to lose weight together. :hurray: ). We discussed it over pizza. :laugh: :drool5:

[sassenach]

 

Mom to son

: Well, what did you think?

 

 

Andrew: Well, it's a good thing, really, that I have to lose weight. I never had a real motive or incentive before now. I mean, even though I am big, I've always had smokin' hot girlfriends and everything, so I've never had a reason to lose weight........

 

 

(We've decided to lose weight together. :hurray: ). We discussed it over pizza. :laugh: :drool5:

 

 

For real, could he have said a more teenage boy statement? That totally cracks me up.

 

My dh had to lose before going off to USMC boot camp. It's definitely motivating!

[elegantlion]

Well smokin' hot girls love a man in uniform too. :gnorsi:

 

Goals are good, best wishes to him in his new motivation.

[GWOB]

Awesome! I just love the boy response to his weight.

[catz]

Ha - cute! :hurray:

[BigMamaBird]

That's awesome! No lack of confidence in that child!

[Mrs Mungo]

If your son does 15 hours of community college classes, then he will be bumped back up to tier one. Any dual enrollment options there? You *want him* to be tier one. Is he planning a career or is this money for college...or....? Do you guys know all of his options?

[astrid]

I deal with recruiters all the time who don't understand the National External Diploma Program that I administer here in CT. It's an alternative to the GED, portfolio-based, and self-directed. So I often talk to recruiters who have former clients in their offices, holding their NEDP Diploma (which is an actual local diploma, not a state certificate like the GED is in most states.) Recruiters often need an explanation, etc. about the program because it's little-known but more rigorous than the GED. Some decide to accept it, some don't. BUT, I always tell students if they're having trouble with recruiters who may not accept their credential to just take the GED. In most cases (your son's included, I'm sure) it's pretty much a formality and they breeze through, which results in a credential that the recruiters are more familiar with and more likely to just rubber-stamp.

 

He's adorable-- "smokin' hot girlfriends." LOVE that adolescent mind! :-)

 

astrid

[Mrs Mungo]

But, taking the GED puts you in the tier two category. Because the army is now downsizing, those jobs are fewer. Recruiters are limited on the number of tier two recruits that they can accept in a given year. Being in the tier two category severely limits your MOS choices. I would strongly suggest that anyone in this boat do the community college thing for a year and then enlist to get back in the tier one category.

[LibraryLover]

He sounds sweet. :)

[Harriet Vane]

:laugh:

[bettyandbob]

:rofl:

 

I bet he could attract even hotter girls in uniform.

[astrid]

But, taking the GED puts you in the tier two category. Because the army is now downsizing, those jobs are fewer. Recruiters are limited on the number of tier two recruits that they can accept in a given year. Being in the tier two category severely limits your MOS choices. I would strongly suggest that anyone in this boat do the community college thing for a year and then enlist to get back in the tier one category.

 

oh well I know nothing about "tiers." Didn't even know there was such a thing. I just know that recruiters seem to nod and understand when they hear the acronym "GED" and get a puzzled, skeptical look when they hear "NEDP" or "homeschooled."

 

astrid

[swellmomma]

His comment is classic. Such a boy thought. Ds14 is considering joining the army and after last week's fitness testing at cadets knows he has a lot of work to do to lose weight and get in shape before he does. Tonight we find out if DD earned a medal from her testing, but we already know he did not.

[lifesadream83]

PLEASE READ THIS!!!!

 

I joined the Army after being homeschooled for the last year and a half of school. I tested very well and got the job in the Military Intelligence field I wanted. I was very educated about the Army and what I wanted and how things worked BEFORE stepping foot into the recruiters office. The former recruiter who had been stationed in the office I enlisted from had been in the Army for 12 years and just got out. He decided not to stay in only because he felt called to ministry and was then my Assistant Youth Pastor.

 

The Army does not care that he was homeschooled. They WILL take him if they want him and that will all come down to the day they take him to take the test. Once he takes the test they will have his scores and they will sit down with him and choose a job field. Here is where the problem comes in for homeschooled students that Recruiters do not know how to deal with. For whatever reason there are Recruiters and Recruiting Commands that unless you have a STATE ISSUED DIPLOMA they look at a Homeschool diploma as a GED. Thus, any monetary incentives offered for the job he chooses you can toss out the window. For example, I had to take 3 tests at the time to get the job I wanted because it was so specialized and landed me an almost 6 figure salary when I got out as a civilian. There was a $20k bonus for signing up for that job that I could have gotten because the command I recruited through viewed Homeschool Diploma's in this fashion.

 

Even if the Super Intendent of your local school preforms the evaluation and signs off on your graduation it is not sufficient. I am NOT saying that he should not join. If I didn't I would have never gotten a college education, met my husband or had either of my children. I also would not be traveling the world following my DH as he continues on serving until retirement. We both enlisted at the same time. He continued on and became a warrant officer and will retire in 8 years. I got out worked as a civilian for the federal government until we moved and now I take college classes paid for by the Army in return for my former service, homeschool my beautiful children and have a very fulfilling and rewarding life.

 

I just want him to know what he could end up missing out on as well as you. I have heard that there are some states that issues Homeschool Diploma's or will let homeschoolers take their last semester or two in the local public school my advice to you if you live in one of those states is to let him go to school for the last semester or two and have them issue him an actual diploma. Make sure all your records are straight so that they will count everything he has done thus far. But if he is serious put him in public school to graduate BEFORE he signs/tests with the Army. That way he will get ALL that is applicable to him. For the job he wants there may not be that incentive but at the same time he won't know until he tests.

 

This is just my recommendation. And trust me I know how impatient a teenager can be... I remember! Even knowing what I wanted there were times I wanted to switch jobs just so I could leave sooner for basic. LOL.. I signed on the dotted line in July 2001 and didn't ship out until Oct 2001 because of the way the school lined up for the job I wanted. You know what it was like to sit through 9/11 and not be there!

 

Anyway good luck to you and him in whatever decision he makes!

[fraidycat]

My DH just got off recruiting duty. Mrs. Mungo is correct. Even a GED isn't always accepted and requires additional college credits for enlistment purposes. Because the military is downsizing they are VERY picky about who they let in. Enlistment numbers may have gone down, but the "bar" has risen to an incredibly high standard for recruits. They want "the best of the best".

 

The military is no longer a viable "back up plan" for many, as it has been in years past. Thorough background checks, education requirements, ASVAB scores and physical requirements are high.

[Joanne]

But, taking the GED puts you in the tier two category. Because the army is now downsizing, those jobs are fewer. Recruiters are limited on the number of tier two recruits that they can accept in a given year. Being in the tier two category severely limits your MOS choices. I would strongly suggest that anyone in this boat do the community college thing for a year and then enlist to get back in the tier one category.

 

 

My son will have a transcript from a brick and mortar school, and a diploma.

 

He attended public school nearly all of his high school years.

 

He is not homeschooled; and a GED would be a step back.

 

It *might* be okay. My research indicates it comes down to the recruiter and how they process/code the application.

 

I get, and agree, he wants Tier 1. He'll likely do fine on the ASVAB. He'll test clean, and he has not had any legal issues.

[KungFuPanda]

I do have to comment that those weight limits can be nuts. Dd had five AROTC scholarships (and West Point asked her to apply again) and she was a pound over the limit. She's just gotten done with state swimming (butterfly) and there wasn't an ounce of fat on her. When talking to her colonel about having passed her DoDMERB and I mentioned that she was overweight. He looked at her and asked, "Where???". He marched her down the hall, weighed her and commented that she'd just grown a half inch. :laugh: Muscle weighs a LOT!

 

 

Being overweight doesn't matter if they can pass a tape test. If their measurements pan out, they're good to go. MOST super-fit, but muscle-dense folks pass the tape test with no problem. (Unless it's different now and I just dated myself.)

[Joanne]

Being overweight doesn't matter if they can pass a tape test. If their measurements pan out, they're good to go. MOST super-fit, but muscle-dense folks pass the tape test with no problem. (Unless it's different now and I just dated myself.)

 

 

He's got a small neck and not "so big" waist. The body fat test was also a fail, but will probably be the first to qualify.

[Mrs Mungo]

 

 

My son will have a transcript from a brick and mortar school, and a diploma.

 

He attended public school nearly all of his high school years.

 

He is not homeschooled; and a GED would be a step back.

 

It *might* be okay. My research indicates it comes down to the recruiter and how they process/code the application.

 

I get, and agree, he wants Tier 1. He'll likely do fine on the ASVAB. He'll test clean, and he has not had any legal issues.

 

Ah, I think if he has a diploma, then he will be fine.