Military Offers Opportunities to Home School Graduates

The military once believed that the greatest indicator of a successful military career was a high school diploma from an accredited school. Now they are classifying home schooled applicants in the same educational category after several studies show that these candidates are just as likely to do well as their public school peers.

This change in policy makes home schooled applicants eligible for traditional enlistment bonuses. This includes cash bonuses for enlisting as well as eligibility for the Army College Fund, which offers up to $70,000 for college.

The policy change comes as the armed forces attempt to predict what people are most likely to have successful military service. This includes the ability to adapt to military life as well as complete their term of service.

Home schooled applicants scored just as high as traditionally educated applicants on the Armed Forces Qualification Test and their attrition rates remained as low as public school graduates.

The Army was the first branch of the armed forces to classify home schooled applicants as Tier I applicants, or the same as public school graduates beginning in 1995. The other branches of the armed forces, such as the Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard continued to classify home schooled candidates as Tier II. This meant that the amount enlisted had to be limited and applicants were classified the same as those that had finished the GED.

Later other branches of the armed forces changed their policies to allow the altered classification as the practice became more common. However, if you intend to apply, often many recruiters recommend that potential candidates spend a year at a community college or traditional college to help individuals increase their chances of adapting to the military.

For those seeking to apply to a military academy, a candidate must score at least 31 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test and present a transcript of home school coursework completed. This transcript must be formatted like a traditional transcript with grades, GPA, and credit hours assigned to the work completed. Applicants must also show evidence of extra curricular activities and submit to a panel review.

As home schooling becomes more popular, many military admissions officers and recruiters have become more adept at dealing with the unusual circumstances home schooling represents. For candidates without traditional diplomas considering the military, it is recommended that they contact a recruiter early to find out what classes they should take.