Fewer Army recruits have high school diplomas (MSM blames Iraq war for less diplomas)

MSNBC ^ | 1/22/2008 | ap

[tobyhill]

WASHINGTON - The percent of Army recruits with a high school diploma dropped last year, continuing a trend that has worsened since the start of the Iraq war, according to a report released Tuesday.

National Priorities Project, a research group that analyzes federal data, found that nearly 71 percent of Army recruits graduated from high school in the 2007 budget year. It based its findings on data it obtained from the Defense Department through a Freedom of Information Act request.

All troops must have a high school diploma or an equivalent degree. The military prefers that they have a high school diploma because its studies have shown they are more likely to finish an enlistment term. Still, the Army has paid for some recruits to take preparation classes for the test for a high school equivalency diploma.

The Army's goal is 90 percent high school graduates, which it hasn't met since 2004. Each year since, the number of recruits with at least a high school diploma has steadily declined.

[Signalman]

Like having a high-skrool diploma really means much nowadays, anyway.

[MoMagic]

Too many college graduates applying?

[kjo]

I blame the MSM for less diplomas. The absolute stupid level of their programing is poisoning all.

[MrEdd]

Most likely. Something the MSM would hide, to preach an oposite message.

[tomnbeverly]

Is this Bush’s fault too? I mean he did come up with No Child Left Behind...

[Sooth2222]

Is 71% more or less than the number for Democrat voters in Charlie Rangel’s congressional district?

[gracesdad]

“Too many college graduates applying?”

Don’t think so:

The Army’s goal is 90 percent high school graduates, which it hasn’t met since 2004. Each year since, the number of recruits with AT LEAST a high school diploma has steadily declined.

[L98Fiero]

Well, actors without diplomas get to go running around calling people with graduate degrees “stupid”. Why the double standard? Our military is still more educated than the population as a whole, so what’s the point?

Doesn’t them MSM realize that many military jobs require a great deal of classroom instruction and training? “Aptitude” is the key word the military likes.

[rhombus]

Maybe some felt that they wanted to so something important rather than sit in failing classrooms.

[pitinkie]

Well my nephew recently joined and he has a HS diploma..going to Iraq in June.

[Lucky9teen]

Didn't John Kerry say something like that first?

[gracesdad]

People who don’t have a high school degree can certainly be successful in the military, but it’s the Army itself — not the media — that wants wants 90 percent with AT LEAST a HS degree.

[tobyhill]

I knew a First Sergeant that had been in the military for over 20 years and while he never had an actual diploma he was one of the bravest warriors I had ever met. He told me that he knew his calling was the military from the start of High School that he just couldn’t finish because he wanted to get on with his calling.

[CJ Wolf]

I took my stepson out of the crappy government schools his senior year and home-schooled him. (long story) He got his GED soon after his 18th birthday, first try with out studying. Then he enlisted in the Army the next week, we had no idea that was his goal. Now serving in Iraq with the 3ID. We are very proud of that man.

[bill1952]

Now serving in Iraq with the 3ID. We are very proud of that man.

And you should be.
It makes me proud just to know that there are still Americans like that.

[tobyhill]

I heard some Dallas “teachers” didn’t even have a High School diploma but instead got a GED and went through this 9 month state teacher educational program then when some local news investigative reporter learned of this she was told by the administration that life experience is equally important as the actual diploma.

[tobyhill]

I’ve been fortunate so far. My 9yo son is in a very good public school system but I know there are some real bad ones out there where the children’s only chance maybe to get that GED, join the military when of age and get the hell away from that city. I know all too well from personal experience.

[Tax-chick]

Doesn’t the MSM realize that many military jobs require a great deal of classroom instruction and training? “Aptitude” is the key word the military likes.

The MSM believes that all soldiers do is murder civilians for kicks. Journalists tend to be a bunch of deleted profanities who couldn't fix an engine or hook up a radio network if their lives depended on it ... and the journalists who don't fit that description include people like Col. Oliver North!

[wideawake]

Good thing that during WWII the Army refused to take recruits who didn't have high school diplomas.

The only reason we defeated the Nazis was the stellar graduation rate.