High school diplomas are important for getting into college, the workforce, and even the military. In fact, most branches of the armed forces like to see a high school diploma or at least a General Education Development (GED). That said, this doesn’t apply to all branches, and plenty of exceptions may apply.
So, do you need a high school diploma to join the military? The short answer is yes, but sometimes you can get into the armed forces without one. Ultimately, it comes down to the branch and what you score on physical and mental exams. That said, there’s a lot to account for, so read on to be prepared for any situation.
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Do You Need a High School Diploma to Join the Military?
Yes and no. Most branches require you to have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent to join, but this isn’t true for all branches. For example, you don’t need a high school diploma or GED to join the Navy.
Instead, all the Navy requires is for you to complete an exam and pass with the appropriate score. This is recent news and only went into effect this past year (2024), so it’s important to note that these things can change.
The Army has also dropped this requirement until October 1st, 2024, so there’s still some time there for people who want to enlist without a diploma or GED. Always check with the specific branch you want to join to determine what you need to qualify for service. For example, while the Marines accept a high school diploma, they may only accept a small portion of GED holders.
Why Does the Military Require a High School Diploma or GED?
The military likely requires a high school diploma or GED to avoid people dropping out of school to join the military instead. This seems to have worked well, but some restrictions have been lifted in some branches because recruitment numbers have reached all-time lows. There are also some cases where the military will allow students to enlist while they’re still in high school, but they have to be 17 and on the right path to completing their diploma.
How to Find Your GED or High School Diploma
When you want to join the Army, Marines, Air Force, or any other branch besides the Navy, you’ll need to have a copy of your high school diploma or GED. It doesn’t have to be the exact diploma or GED, so don’t worry if you lost it, because we can help you find your high school diploma or GED online.
That said, you have two options. The first method is to contact the school you went to. From there, you can visit alumni services, schedule a call, or request a copy of your transcript and diploma online. This will cost you a small fee, but most schools will mail a copy to you or present you with a PDF file.
Another way to get your high school diploma online is to work with a public records search tool. We always recommend Information.com’s public records search because it’s the easiest one to use and will provide you with everything that’s publicly available. Therefore, if the recruiter asks for anything else, we’ll have you covered.
With Information.com you can also find your GED online, or at least determine where you got your diploma so you can request a record of it from the source.
Join the Military Without Any Hiccups Today
Having a high school diploma, or at least a GED, is typically what you need to get into the military. The only exception is the Navy, but even then, it still helps to have one. If you need a copy of your diploma or GED you can always find it online by visiting your school’s website, contacting the school, or inquiring about a record of your GED from the organization that issued it.
While these methods work well, we recommend starting with a people search tool like Information.com instead. It will help you find what you need in a matter of minutes, or at least point you in the right direction.
