QUESTION: Do any of you have experience with RECRUITING Homeschoolers for the Military?

09 December 2005 | David Osborne

[davidosborne]

It has recently been brought to my attention that there are MANY homeschooled kids that are having problems getting into the military. Aparently local recruiters are not being very helpful.

If anyone out there has some experience in this area please let me know.

This problem seems to be much bigger than just here in Tallahassee.

The recruiters are saying that the "SCHOOL" must issue some document before the ASVAB can be administered, and the schools have no idea what they are talking about.

As a U.S. Army Drill Sergeant I should know the solution to this problem, but since I don't I am looking to my fellow FReepers for input.

Thanks.

[davidosborne]

Looking for some help...

[Cindy]

Contact HSLDA.org and talk to them.

http://www.hslda.org

[MJY1288]

I would bet that many of the "Homeschoolers" don't need recruiting, they volunteer all on their own

[coconutt2000]

Isn't parental permission sufficient?

[davidosborne]

We are members...

I will check with some of the parents who have brought this problem to my attention and see if they were able to help..

It is a shame that the RECRUITERS are missing out on a HUGE market and look at homeschooled recruits as a "problem" to begin with...

[davidosborne]

EXACTLY.. THEY ARE VOLUNTEERING !! But are being turned away because the recruiters don't seem to know how to "process" them..

[davidosborne]

aparently not.. I have been told that the recruiters are not allowing homeschooled kids to take the ASVAB.. and without an ASVAB score you can't even go to the MEPS..

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Results 1 - 10 of about 17,400 for homeschooling military enlistment. (0.20 seconds)

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=homeschooling+military+enlistment&spell=1

[concerned about politics]

Department of Defense Applies New Equal Access Policy for Homeschoolers

Everything else you may want to know about (Home School Legal Defence Org -- http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/Issues/U/USMilitary.asp)

[Hadean]

Can they take a quick GED test just for the technicality?

[harpu]

Sorry...not in my repertoire of expertise

[FreedomCalls]

I have been told that the recruiters are not allowing homeschooled kids to take the ASVAB.

That's not true. Someone's not telling you the truth.

[MJY1288]

Home schooled children are tested and are given the same status as publicly educated children as far as I know, Would not a GED (General Education Diploma) do the same as a Public school diploma?

[org.whodat]

The problem is that homeschool requirements change from state to state. Most state's require that the student take test's to prove they are being educated. the results of these test for what would be the senior year is what you are looking for. Same paper is required for a home schooler to go to college. You should talk to the local school board.

[Cindy]

You may want to contact the military directly.

http://www.dod.mil/sites/r.html#recruiting

[billhilly]

Any kid who has to stay at home all through high schoold should be ready to fight anything.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

NHELD opposes HSLDA´s solution to the homeschool military enlistment problem

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Posted by Howard Richman on December 05 2005 at 13:33:01:

National Home Education Legal Defense (NHELD) opposes Federal House Resolution (HR 1815) a bill that is being promoted by Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) in order to overcome the effects of the decision by the military to move homeschoolers from the high school graduate category (tier 1) to the GED category (tier 2).

The problem is that many drop-outs call themselves homeschoolers in order to enhance their resumes, and there is no accountability in most states that would prevent them from doing so. Only in Pennsylvania and South Carolina can homeschool organizations protect the reputation of homeschool diplomas.

Even though real homeschoolers on average score much higher than school students on tests, the group of "homeschoolers" being enlisted in the military actually score a bit lower on the military´s aptitude test. In fact, those homeschoolers who score average or below tend to drop-out of the military at a rate similar to those who once dropped-out of school.

If this bill passes as is, homeschoolers would be enlisted just as heavily (the bill says "no practical limit with regard to enlistment") as school graduates.

However, NHELD holds that this bill would let the Secretary of Defense regulate home school graduation and so opposes it. They are suspicious about what would be in the Secretary of Defense´s policy, which would have the force of law. They are also opposed to the word "home school" appearing in federal statutes for fear that it lead to a federal definition of homeschooling that could in and of itself regulate what homeschoolers would have to do.

I favor HSLDA's bill because it would solve an important problem. Currently the U.S. Army is enlisting homeschool graduates on the same basis as school graduates -- but that is because they are having trouble meeting their recruitment goals. The other services are discriminating against homeschoolers. Without a bill like this one, all of the services will discriminate against homeschoolers once peace comes.

http://www.pahomeschoolers.com/messages/16350.html

[endthematrix]

http://reliableanswers.com/hs/mil.asp

A quick search found that one can produce a transcript. Or some have accredited their school. A guess state guidelines may apply.