HSLDA's Homeschooling Thru High School Newsletter-- March 2007
The Military's Homeschool Policy
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Dear Friends,
Marching (!) right along through the school year, this month we would
like to share with you information regarding the military and its
enlistment policy towards homeschoolers. Although we realize not
everyone's child may be planning to enter the military, we felt
sharing pertinent information regarding how the military views
homeschool graduates would be helpful in case your child determines at
some point during his high school years that he or she would like to
explore this path after graduation.
We wish to commend and thank those of you in the homeschooling
community who have family members serving our country in the military.
We appreciate you and your family. The military is an honorable
profession, and we are grateful for the service you give and the
sacrifices you make.
As with any other option you are considering for your child's post
high school years, it is crucial to prayerfully and pointedly consider
all of the ramifications of a military decision. Seek out the Lord's
wisdom and guidance first, and then by all means involve other godly
counselors whom you respect to provide their input. For a spiritually
mature child, the military offers a wealth of training and the
opportunity to serve our country and guard our liberties. For a child
who is struggling spiritually, the military atmosphere may or may not
be conducive to encouraging spiritual growth. However, the Lord has
His people in all walks of life, and His purposes will be accomplished
anywhere -- in barracks, in mess halls, or in the desert of far-off
countries. If you are confident the military is where your child
should be, then trust the Lord to care for that child.
We leave as a matter of personal conviction the issue of women in the
military and whether or not this option should be considered for your
daughters. It is vital you search out Scripture on your own and also
take time to consider the views of people you respect.
With these thoughts in mind, let's move on to the actual military
homeschool policy to give you and your family helpful information you
can use in making your decisions.
ENLISTMENT
For those who are considering enlisting in one of the branches of the
military following high school graduation, we want to stress the
importance of your high school academic program. Remember, if the high
school years mark the end of your child's formal education, then you
should provide him with the broad base of knowledge and skills he will
need for his adult life. Should your child decide to take college
courses while serving in the military, he will have these foundational
high school courses to build on.
As of January 2006, Public Law 109-163, The National Defense
Authorization Act, Section 591, page 146
enlistments was updated through the efforts of HSLDA to give our men
and women the same status as other high school graduates. (If you are
interested in the history of this law, read more at
rates, homeschool graduates are considered Tier 2, Preferred Enlistees
which gives them the same benefits as Tier 1 enlistees. No longer is a
GED needed to prove your child has completed high school. Rather, a
parent-generated transcript of your son or daughter's high school
record will suffice. The transcript should be an original, typed,
professional looking document which is notarized to verify the
signatures are yours and that you were truly the people who schooled
your child. For sample transcripts and formatting see
Because recruiters are rotated in and out frequently and may not be
aware of the changes in the law, we recommend you take the transcript
along with a copy of the memorandum found at
recruiting office. Should you encounter a recruiter who is not
familiar with how to handle a homeschooled recruit, you will then have
the necessary documentation readily available. If specific concerns
arise while speaking with a recruiter and you are an HSLDA member,
call us and we will put you in touch with our contact at the Pentagon
in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense who will aid you in
resolving your concern.
Enlistment also brings with it benefits for the recruit. These
benefits may vary among the different branches of the military, but
let's look at the Army's incentives. There are cash bonuses up to
$20,000 for enlistments of three or more years and access to the Army
College Fund, which provides $70,000 for college. Certain months there
may be particular promotions offered if the recruiting office is
behind in meeting its recruitment goals. Also, if the recruit stays
longer in the military, there may be an additional incentive offered.
A high score (51 or above) on the Armed Forces Qualification Test
(AFQT), a part of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test
(ASVAB), may also provide further benefits. Your child can study for
this test so encourage him or her to do so by taking practice tests
not least, he'll get paid somewhere around $800-900 a month and be
given 30 days of leave a year!
Along with these monetary benefits, there are also the benefits of
confidence-building, acquiring new skills and training, and new life
experiences which will stretch and mature your child into an adult.
MILITARY ACADEMIES
The military academies offer a rigorous and comprehensive education.
Military academies are highly selective in their admission policies
and you should begin early in the high school years to investigate the
academic requirements for admission. Homeschool graduates have been
admitted to all of the service academies, and the academies lay out
clear admission policies on their websites. Extracurricular
activities are important for successful applicants (leadership
positions are a definite plus). Sports involvement is highly
recommended, and in some cases, mandatory for those making application
to the academies. Applicants must be physically fit and must also
secure a Congressional recommendation. For more information on the
service academies, check out these links:
Air Force Academy
United States Military Academy (West Point)
United States Naval Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
In order to have an edge up on meeting the requirements for admission,
prospective academy applicants may want to consider applying to one of
the summer sessions the military academies offer during the summer
after the junior year of high school.
> U.S. Air Force
> U.S. Army
> U.S. Coast Guard
> U.S. Navy
U.S. Service Academies Accepting Homeschoolers
Some of the benefits your child will receive from attending a service
academy include:
Excellent education and career training,
Entering military service as a commissioned officer,
Salary commensurate with level of commission,
Job opportunities in related field of interest following retirement
from service.
MILITARY SERVICE AFTER COLLEGE
If your child is interested in attending college first and then
serving in the military, you may wish to check out the Reserve Officer
Training Program (ROTC) affiliated with the college of your choice.
Students apply for the ROTC programs (which are highly competitive)
and are awarded scholarships which may include up to full tuition and
other benefits in exchange for an active duty service obligation
(usually four years) following college graduation.
Other than the obvious benefit of college tuition, your child will
have the opportunity of further training in his or her career while
also being compensated financially. Be aware, however, that if further
education is funded, many times this will add to the years of service
required.
If you are interested in additional information regarding homeschool
graduates and the military, check out the military section of HSLDA's
Homeschooling Thru High School website for more articles and
resources.
One last item, if you know a military family, take time to pray for
them and to thank them for their service. If the military family
currently has a member serving overseas, here are some ideas from the
Home School Heartbeat to serve this family and to let them know you
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Posted by 
Mar. 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Blessings,
Dianne