Question about entering the military

[jenn&charles]

My son is graduating in May 2010. Currently we are enrolled in a charter school. Bear does all of his work at home and has no classroom experience.

After he graduates, he wants to enter the military with a preference on entering the Navy.

I'm looking into all of this and I'm kind of confused. It looks like he would have to enter as a Tier 2 recruit(?).

Our charter school high school counselor talk to a Navy recruiter and this is what she told me:

 

I called the Navy office and spoke with a recruiter. He said that due to the slowdown in our economy, the rules for how schools are classified have tightened since so many people are now seeking employment with the armed forces. Our school, CWCS, was reclassified about a month and a half ago and is no longer a clear cut Tier 1 school (now, only comprehensive high schools are Tier 1). So, they are taking our students individually on a case by case basis. They look at transcripts, there must be evidence/documentation that the student worked in a classroom environment. They then send it to their specialist who makes the decision as to whether or not the courses he took at our school qualifies him for Tier 1 or Tier 2.

 

Some recommendations by the recruiter:

 

• Take as many courses in a classroom environment as possible. This is because they have the hardest time qualifying our students who work strictly on Independent study. I described our program and how we offer courses at the learning centers. His advice was to take courses at the learning centers.
  
• Community College courses. That would also help in trying to get him classified as a Tier 1 recruit.
  
• If he qualifies for Tier 1, his ASVAB score would need to be 35 or higher to get in.
  
• If he qualifies as Tier 2 recruit, his ASVAB score would need to be over 50 to attempt to qualify (much more difficult to qualify as Tier 2)
  

 

I'm also reading things online that say a homeschooler is admitted as Tier 1:

THIS IS (supposedly) FROM THE MILITARY PERSONNEL PROCUREMENT MANUAL, VOL 2 (MARINE CORPS RECRUITING MANUAL):------------------------------

1. Home School A high school diploma or certificate, Diploma typically awarded by a local, state, or national accredited Home School Association, based upon certification by a parent or guardian that an individual completed his/her secondary education at home. The curriculum must involve parental instruction and/or adult supervision, and closely pattern the normal

credit hours per subject as used in public schools. The Home School Legal Defense Association has provided guidance to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, (OASD) that at a minimum the student should be home schooled for at least one (1) full school year. All home

school diploma graduates must complete the last academic year of education (minimum of

nine [9] academic months) in a home school environment. Individuals, in a non-home school curriculum, who disenroll from their school during their senior year, or who fail to graduate with their class (includes seniors in the DEP) are not eligible to enlist under the “H†education code heading. Home school diploma (if issued) and transcripts must be provided. This is considered a Tier 1 credential.

 

Should I have him continue at the charter school for his last year, or should I homeschool him without the charter school or ??

 

He naturally wants to go in as Tier 1.

 

I'm hoping someone with some experience can help me understand all of this a little more.

 

Thank you in advance. :001_smile:

[sarahli]

I can't say for sure, but I would recommend an ASVAB study guide. The ASVAB not only qualifies one for entry to the military, but often will give a list of what jobs you're qualified for based on your score.

 

I noticed that manual is from the marines- the services can vary in their requirements for entry, just something to keep in mind.

[asta]

You really need to contact a local recruiter.

 

While the ASVAB is indeed a "potential" test, it is not the be all end all for a recruit. The baseline level of fitness, any potential health issues, any police record (yes, even traffic tickets), and general attitude all play a role. The most important role of the ASVAB is to determine if a recruit has the intellectual chops to handle the training for various positions, as the training for some positions is equal to college level coursework in languages, physics, medicine, etc. It isn't classroom time per se that is the issue, it is the ability to handle a workload.

 

All of the armed forces now have great websites with tons of information for new recruits. The Navy's site, navy.com, says the following about home school:

 

Maybe you haven’t met the high school graduate requirements to enlist in the Navy. You may qualify under the high school equivalency requirements detailed below:

 

 

Test-based equivalency diploma graduate. You’ve earned a GED or other test-based high school equivalency certificate or diploma. Get complete details from your recruiter.

 

Certificate of attendance. This is an attendance-based certificate or diploma, referred to as certificates of competency or completion, based on course completion. Get complete details from your recruiter.

 

Alternative/continuation high school. If you do not meet the high school graduate criteria as described in the high school graduate requirements for alternative/continuation high school, you may meet the high school equivalency criteria. Get complete details from your recruiter.

 

Home study. You’ve earned a high school diploma or certificate of competency or completion at home. Get complete details from your recruiter.

 

Correspondence School diploma. You’ve obtained a high school diploma or certificate of competency or completion upon finishing correspondence school course work. Get complete details from your recruiter.

 

Occupational program certificate (vocational/technical school). If you have attended a vocational/technical or proprietary school for at least 675 clock hours and have earned a certificate of attendance or completion, you will have met the high school equivalency requirement. (Excludes correspondence schools offering vocational certificates.) Please note that the Navy highly encourages high school graduation. Less than 4 percent of Navy Personnel can enlist without high school diplomas.

 

I found that under "Enlistment Standards"

http://www.navy.com/about/before/enlistmentstandards/#highschoolgraduate

 

I would talk to a recruiter.

 

 

asta