Can I join the Army (11X with Option 40), at the age of 17 (Turning 18 within 6 months) with a GED?

Austin Hocutt — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 08:34:48 -0400

EDIT: I got my GED on the 20170119. Dropped out of school on 20160927

NOTE: I went to MEPS 20170310 they disqualified me for my age with my GED, saying I was barred from joining the Army due to my education until I turned 18. As per a regulation that wasn't a 'regulation' per say but a 'message'

When I went back to my recruiter, he, and the entire recruiting office was confused at to what this regulation is.

Have you ever heard of something like this?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2017 8:47 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 08:47:16 -0400

GED, you have to be completed your ged trst outside of 6 months and not be within your "woild have been" graduation year.

Response by SPC Ann T. made Mar 19 at 2017 9:43 AM

SPC Ann T. — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 09:43:00 -0400

Don't know about now, but I recall that as a female with a GED I was required to get 18 college credits to join. That was 25 years ago. And I had them before a year was up and shipped on schedule. I was 24.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Mar 19 at 2017 10:04 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 10:04:25 -0400

Austin Hocutt Great question - hopefully you'll get some great insight from the experts here on RallyPoint.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Mar 19 at 2017 10:05 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 10:05:25 -0400

Army Recruiters what can Austin do? Does he need to wait it out or is there a waiver that can be obtained?

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Mar 19 at 2017 10:21 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 10:21:37 -0400

Maybe they looked at the GED as kind if a "cop-out" on NOT finishing high school.. ;
(Quitting) but they didn't consider mitigating circumstances.. needed at home.. help to care for siblings.. ect.,..

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Mar 19 at 2017 10:24 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 10:24:15 -0400

What I meant was they thought you quit for selfish reasons or considered you had a quitter mentality even though you got the GED. You needed time to grow up..

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Mar 19 at 2017 10:33 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 10:33:39 -0400

Whenever a field Recruiter is confused they have the ability to call the Recruiting Operations Center at Fort Knox, KY for a second interpretation of the rules or regs. The Recruiting Operations Center will run it up the Chain of Command all the way to the Commanding General if needed for an answer. I have no idea what the regulations now are for GED holders because they change all the time. Only item I will pass onto you is everyone's brain matures at different rates. I sucked in High School with GPA and I suspect that is because I was not held back in grade school 1 or 2 years like I should have been so my mind was not comprehending at the same level as my peers. Despite my crappy HS GPA I went to college after the Army and my GPA was 3.0 or above. I didn't take much in the way of remedial education for that to happen, only remedial HS Algebra and HS English Comp....1 semester each. So don't let your disinterest in High School or bad performance there impact your decision to attend college because your HS experience could be because you were not ready for HS yet.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2017 11:02 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 11:02:51 -0400

Currently a Recruiter- Because the Army needs a are constantly changing on top of Regulations we use USAREC Messages. Now as far as the GED, you must be 18to join with a GED unless you have 15 college semester hours with the GED. With the 15 semester hours, you are then viewed as a high school graduate. As of right now Austin you can either wait or do 15 semester hours of college

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Mar 19 at 2017 11:26 AM

SFC Kenneth Hunnell — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 11:26:03 -0400

How did you get something on a date that is in the future

Response by SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM made Mar 19 at 2017 12:03 PM

SSG Derrick L. Lewis MBA, C-HRM — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 12:03:11 -0400

Austin Hocutt -One thing to keep in mind about ALL branches of military service is that the culture is a fast moving train and policies change constantly without notice. However, I have attached the most updated version (AR 601-210) of the "Recruiter's Bible". This will provide you clarity and understanding with regards to the current posture of our organization. Hope this helps, be well.
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r601_210.pdf

Response by PFC Jim Wheeler made Mar 19 at 2017 2:03 PM

PFC Jim Wheeler — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 14:03:05 -0400

It has always been my understanding that you need college credits if you have a GED instead of a HS diploma.

That is what I had heard from my recruiter when I enlisted (he asked if I had a GED or Diploma), and is what my brother was told recently when he tried to enlist (he has a GED). If they will let you enlist after you turn 18, just wait until you turn 18.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2017 5:39 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 17:39:39 -0400

Austin Hocutt Have you talked to a Marine Corps recruiter?

https://www.judsonisd.org/district/StudentSupportServices/GED/documents/Military_Acceptance_of_GED_Credential_Nov2009.v2.pdf

Military_Acceptance_of_GED_Credential_Nov2009.v2.pdf

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 21 at 2017 12:18 AM

COL Charles Williams — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 00:18:00 -0400

Austin Hocutt my guess is no, but I sent your question to a recruiter friend of mine locally. We have had 6 students/cadets enlist with an 11x Option 40 contract... but, all had HS diplomas. Traditionally, generally, the GED is not highly sought after by recruiters. MTF

Response by SFC Lewis Jones made Mar 21 at 2017 12:18 AM

SFC Lewis Jones — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 00:18:41 -0400

I joined the military at the age of 17, and didn't turn 18 until December of that year

Response by SGT Richard Lomax made Mar 26 at 2017 10:17 PM

SGT Richard Lomax — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 22:17:00 -0400

In 1976 I joined the Army a month after my 17 birthday. I celebrated my 18 birthday in Germany as a PFC in CSC 4/64 Armor as a mortar Assistance Gunner. I had dropped out of school in 1973 ar the age of 14. I did get my High School diploma in the Army.

Response by CW2 Louis Melendez made Aug 14 at 2017 10:14 PM

CW2 Louis Melendez — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 22:14:43 -0400

Congratulations for doing well on the ASVAB. Stay engaging your recruiter/s until everything gets finalized. In the meantime, start taking college classes towards a degree that you like. This will help you in the future when it comes time for promotion to SGT/SSG. Trust me, don't wait until you are in to figure this out because it becomes harder and a lot of people struggle with this area.

Also, I would suggest you to check on Airborne/75th Ranger Regiment enlistments. I'm not infantry but I heard from friends that are infantry that are in the Spec Ops community that this is a good route to take as an 11B. It will set you apart from your peers. Always strive for excellence in everything that you do!

Good luck