non diploma enlisted options

[jacquelineM16]

I have noticed that most of the posts were in reference to the Navy, Marines and AIR Force; My question is, My 19 year old wants to join the Military (Army, Marines or Navy). He wants to follow in my footsteps! Most of our family members have been either in the police force or military. The fact that i kept relocating, caused him to get placed the following years in the previous grades. For example he would finish the 7th grade, then i'd move to lets say P.R., and the principal of the school would want him to repeat the grade. He had ADD, and the teachers never had patience nor training to deal with this. Long story short, He no longer has Add because usually in males and females, when they go through hormonal changes in their teens, this will cause Add symptoms to disappear! I know this because i am a nurse and he was fortunate for the symptoms to cease! He had become insecure about his studies and dropped out of school. When i found out he was making beleive he was going to school and had dropped out, i placed him in Job Corp, in San Marcos, where he took printing and obtained a certificate. They were not supposed to release him from Job Corp until he obtained his G.E.D (now they work on High School Diplomas); but, they had came to my home and made me signed a release agreement so that he could travel home by himself, for he was 16 at the time. When i asked if he passed his G.E.D., they told me he passed it and i cried from being overwhelmed with joy. They helped him obtain a printing job, here in Killeen, TX. But, something told me that something wasn't right when 4 months later, his certificate for his G.E.D., never arrived through the mail. So i had him enrolled at CTC (college), to prepare for the G.E.D. he passed the pre-exams at CTC, but failed the G.E.D. original exam, 3 times. He is now 19 working for the water company in Killeen, as a favor that the hiring boss did for me; He knows that David loves to work, isn't lazy and is determined to progress; He is a friend of my husband and i for many years now! My husband had heard in the news, a couple of months ago, that the Army was going to start recruiting civilians whom did not possess a G.E.D. When we took him to the recruiting office they said that they haven't heard of this and they haven't received any orders to recruit members without their high school diploma. My mother and other family members live in N.Y.C. and after the incident on Sept. 11, my son really developed an urge to fight for his country. I am still advising him to take the G.E.D., BUT he has a girlfriend and a mortgage to pay, and he sees that his priority is to maintain his home and bring home the bacon! He still constantly talks about his love for the Army and fighting for his country, despite of recognizing the dangers involved with doing so! Does anyone know about this new possibility of accepting new recruits, without their diploma (and giving them the chance to obtaining it while in the Military?) Please, advise me on this issue. Thank you-jacquelineM16.

 

[wink]

I have noticed that most of the posts were in reference to the Navy, Marines and AIR Force; My question is, My 19 year old wants to join the Military (Army, Marines or Navy). He wants to follow in my footsteps! Most of our family members have been either in the police force or military. The fact that i kept relocating, caused him to get placed the following years in the previous grades. For example he would finish the 7th grade, then i'd move to lets say P.R., and the principal of the school would want him to repeat the grade. He had ADD, and the teachers never had patience nor training to deal with this. Long story short, He no longer has Add because usually in males and females, when they go through hormonal changes in their teens, this will cause Add symptoms to disappear! I know this because i am a nurse and he was fortunate for the symptoms to cease! He had become insecure about his studies and dropped out of school. When i found out he was making beleive he was going to school and had dropped out, i placed him in Job Corp, in San Marcos, where he took printing and obtained a certificate. They were not supposed to release him from Job Corp until he obtained his G.E.D (now they work on High School Diplomas); but, they had came to my home and made me signed a release agreement so that he could travel home by himself, for he was 16 at the time. When i asked if he passed his G.E.D., they told me he passed it and i cried from being overwhelmed with joy. They helped him obtain a printing job, here in Killeen, TX. But, something told me that something wasn't right when 4 months later, his certificate for his G.E.D., never arrived through the mail. So i had him enrolled at CTC (college), to prepare for the G.E.D. he passed the pre-exams at CTC, but failed the G.E.D. original exam, 3 times. He is now 19 working for the water company in Killeen, as a favor that the hiring boss did for me; He knows that David loves to work, isn't lazy and is determined to progress; He is a friend of my husband and i for many years now! My husband had heard in the news, a couple of months ago, that the Army was going to start recruiting civilians whom did not possess a G.E.D. When we took him to the recruiting office they said that they haven't heard of this and they haven't received any orders to recruit members without their high school diploma. My mother and other family members live in N.Y.C. and after the incident on Sept. 11, my son really developed an urge to fight for his country. I am still advising him to take the G.E.D., BUT he has a girlfriend and a mortgage to pay, and he sees that his priority is to maintain his home and bring home the bacon! He still constantly talks about his love for the Army and fighting for his country, despite of recognizing the dangers involved with doing so! Does anyone know about this new possibility of accepting new recruits, without their diploma (and giving them the chance to obtaining it while in the Military?) Please, advise me on this issue. Thank you-jacquelineM16.

I know the Navy will take a very small number of non GED guys a year. It requires very high ASVAB scores and a waiver from the Recruiting District C.O. These few quotas are usually filled soon after the new goaling comes out for the fiscal year. On any given day if you just walk in to a recruiting office they will not be able to do anything for you. If the timeing is right and his scores are very good he may get a shot at it. Because he would be competing for one of a very few slots and will interview for the waiver it is essential that he not have any financial problem, not have any dependants, absolutely not problems with the police, and have no excuses!! It would be easier to get a GED and not have to get the waiver.

 

[nateb]

jacqueline-
Have you tried with the Texas National Guard? I don't know what their policy is, but my wife's cousin was in a similar situation and found his way into the Alabama National Guard. His enlistment was contingent on his completing the GED at a school funded by the Guard prior to his beginning basic training (where he is now at, at Ft. Leonard Wood). Sure it starts out as only a Guard commitment, but from my understanding there is the possibility of transfering into the regular Army at a later date with some sustained good performance(not to mention there are some good benefits that come with a Guard enlistment). Just a thought. If you have any specific questions you can PM or E-mail me.

-Nate

 

[Birdman]

You can join the army and they will accept you without a GED, but they will make you go and study and eventually take the GED test. If you fail the GED test they will kick you out again. You said your son has already failed to get his GED 4 times, do you think he can get it now?

 

[Ex Rigger]

I enlisted in the Navy in 1998 without a GED. I was 17 at the time and dropped out at 16. I had pretty much aced the ASVAB and had to get interviewed at MEPS. The only kicker is that your not allowed to use your GI Bill if you do not get your GED within the first 4 years of your enlistment. I took the test in the Persian Gulf on deployment. It wasn't difficult, but if your son needs extra help he will need to take the initiative to get some help through the Navy College office.

It's all worked out pretty good for both the Navy and me considering 8 years later I'm a commissioned officer on my way to Corpus Christi for Primary.

*Things may be different now with the Navy downsizing and since you said in your post that he constantly professes his love for the Army then maybe he needs to go talk to them.*

 

[Birdman]

I'm almost positive that the army is the only branch currently taking in college dropouts.

 

[goosegagnon2]

I'm almost positive that the army is the only branch currently taking in college dropouts.

Duh.

Are talking about officer or enlisted programs? All colleges REQUIRE a GED/Diploma to get accepted into their programs, common sense dictates if you get into a college ANY service will take you as an enlisted, so long you pass the asvab and what not. BUT thats not what we're discussing here, we're talking about getting into the Army without a GED. I would goto here for a better detailed discussion about joining the Army without a GED. Good luck,

 

[Birdman]

Its just Rigger was talking about joining the Navy w/o a GED or diploma, and i'm saying the army was the only way to do that

 

[Ex Rigger]

I'm almost positive that the army is the only branch currently taking in college dropouts.

This is what you said and it's not true. All of the branches will let you enlist as a college dropout. However, it has no bearing on the subject at hand as she said her son doesn't even have a GED.

Its just Rigger was talking about joining the Navy w/o a GED or diploma, and i'm saying the army was the only way to do that

Obviously not.

 

[Birdman]

hmmm, i think i'm saying this wrong and not realizing it. Dyslexia maybe. High school diploma has been what I have been thinking that I have been saying.

 

[HueyCobra8151]

I hate to be Mr. Negative, but there are quite a few redflags here...

First and Foremost:

When we took him to the recruiting office they said that they haven't heard of this and they haven't received any orders to recruit members without their high school diploma.

I do not believe there are any active enlisted recruiters who are active on this forum - so advice given is:

a) Heresay and/or Conjecture
and
b) Meaningless. None of these people can get your son into the armed forces.

The only people who can get your son into the military are recruiters of the various services - you need to talk to them. If you believe your son can get in without a GED and the recruiter is saying that he cannot, then talk to the recruiter's boss, and his boss's boss if necessary.

Also, a cursory glance at this thread gives me the impression many of the people chiming in are themselves either not enlisted (and so probably do not have a complete grasp of the enlisted recruiting process - no offense to those who may) or they are not even in the military at all.

This would be equivalent to me giving advice on how to fly a Huey helicopter based on my experience as a mechanic...
--
The military is a huge commitment. No offense, but if your son is uncommited to finishing schooling to receive his GED he may be incredibly unhappy with the rather large, life changing, time consuming commitment that the military is.

Again, I'm not trying to be offensive, I am simply stating that I have seen MANY people with the drive to enlist, especially after Sept. 11, that did not have the drive to follow through with the ensuing several years, and this led to a large amount of unhappiness for the individual.

Something to consider.

Also you mentioned integrity, this is PARAMOUNT (I cannot stress this enough) in the military and in law enforcement. PARAMOUNT.

He is a little older and wiser, so may not be having this issue anymore (I think most of us do this when we are younger and sort of kick it off), I can't say, only you and your son can. [I am referring to you stating that he told you he had successfully received his GED when in fact he had not]

Just something else to consider.

BUT he has a girlfriend and a mortgage to pay, and he sees that his priority is to maintain his home and bring home the bacon!

Not sure about his mortgage payment, but he may have difficulty paying that on an E-1 salary. Also, he would be immediately relocated after basic training and would probably want to sell the property.

This isn't at the forefront, but it is yet another thing to consider.