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

09 December 2005 | David Osborne

[miele man]

Perhaps the recruiters need some "homeschooling".

[davidosborne]

Honestly.. I am just fishing for input.. Since I have been asked to assist with the problem.. I figured I would check to see if there are others with the same problem..

THANKS !!

[endthematrix]

"recruiters are not allowing homeschooled kids to take the ASVAB"

Why?

[octobersky]

bttt

[davidosborne]

As a homeschooling parent in FLORIDA the only obligation we have to the school board is an annual letter from a certified teacher stating that my child has completed the school year... which is exactly what we do... so in our case a "transcript" is non existent...

I just can't believe the recruiters are denying kids the opportunity to take the ASVAB.. that just seems ridiculous...

[davidosborne]

I can't answer that right now.. but I intend to find out.. part of the reason for this thread.....

[Grizzled Bear]

If they can get into college they must take the SATs. I don't understand why they couldn't take the ASVAB. I've known military families who have home schooled.

[freespirited]

I would call your Congressman or Senators. They will know the right person to call at the Pentagon.

That person in turn will tell a subordinate to find out what on earth is going on and fix it.

That should take care of it.

Definitely the kind of thing you handle from the top down IMO.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Here is the text of the section of HR 1815 that addresses this subject:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c109:5:./temp/~c1094kOhWj:e209245:

H.R.1815
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Engrossed Amendment as Agreed to by Senate)

SEC. 522. RECRUITMENT AND ENLISTMENT OF HOME SCHOOLED STUDENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES.

(a) Policy on Recruitment and Enlistment-

(1) POLICY REQUIRED- The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe a policy on the recruitment and enlistment of home schooled students in the Armed Forces.

(2) UNIFORMITY ACROSS THE ARMED FORCES- The Secretary shall ensure that the policy prescribed under paragraph (1) applies, to the extent practicable, uniformly across the Armed Forces.

(b) Elements- The policy under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) An identification of a graduate of home schooling for purposes of recruitment and enlistment in the Armed Forces that is in accordance with the requirements described in subsection (c).

(2) Provision for the treatment of graduates of home schooling with no practical limit with regard to enlistment eligibility.

(3) An exemption of graduates of home schooling from the requirement for a secondary school diploma or an equivalent (GED) as a precondition for enlistment in the Armed Forces.

(c) Home School Graduates- In prescribing the policy, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe a single set of criteria to be utilized by the Armed Forces in determining whether an individual is a graduate of home schooling. The Secretary concerned shall ensure compliance with education credential coding requirements.

(d) Secretary Concerned Defined- In this section, the term `Secretary concerned' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(9) of title 10, United States Code.

[davidosborne]

I have been told that ONE family recently did just that,, and their child did get it... but it seems like it is a problem that is growing and it needs to be fixed accross the board.. It seems as if OUR SYSTEM is turning away some of the best qualified most patriotic recruits this country can produce....

[davidosborne]

http://www.petitiononline.com/hr1815/petition.html

Interesting petition that sheds some light on this debate

[bnelson44]

Have you called the recruiter and asked for their side of the story?

[concerned about politics]

If they can get into college they must take the SATs.

No. Just a placement exam like everyone else. SAT's are state tests, and are too politically correct and the questions would be too weird.

[davidosborne]

My wife has personally talked to a recruiter and she was told that they would have to "get back with her"....and so have many other concerned parents.. and they are simply told to get some documentation from the school stating that child has completed high school.. which is not possible...

and so we are left with the recruiter pointing the finger at the school board... and the school board pointing the finger back at the miliary...

[bnelson44]

OK, thanks. Looks you need to find out from the Army what is really needed and then give that instruction to the recruter. Now I know why you came here to ask :)

[EricT.]

FWIW, when we home-schooled our kids we had to actually make up a name for our school. Of course, that was when we lived in Khalifornistan.

[davidosborne]

I FOUND SEC 522 in the SENATE version but not the HOUSE version.. aparently it will be addressed in conference.. possible action when they come back after the recess..

S.1042 Title: An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Warner, John [VA] (introduced 5/17/2005) Cosponsors (None) Related Bills: H.R.1815, S.1043, S.1044, S.1045 Latest Major Action: 12/6/2005 Held at the desk. Senate Reports: 109-69 Note: On 11/15/2005, the Senate substituted the language of S. 1042, as amended, in H.R. 1815. See H.R. 1815 for further action on the FY2006 Defense Authorization bill.

 

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S.1042

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (Public Print)

---

SEC. 522. RECRUITMENT AND ENLISTMENT OF HOME SCHOOLED STUDENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES.

(a) Policy on Recruitment and Enlistment-

(1) POLICY REQUIRED- The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe a policy on the recruitment and enlistment of home schooled students in the Armed Forces.

(2) UNIFORMITY ACROSS THE ARMED FORCES- The Secretary shall ensure that the policy prescribed under paragraph (1) applies, to the extent practicable, uniformly across the Armed Forces.

(b) Elements- The policy under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1) An identification of a graduate of home schooling for purposes of recruitment and enlistment in the Armed Forces that is in accordance with the requirements described in subsection (c).

(2) Provision for the treatment of graduates of home schooling with no practical limit with regard to enlistment eligibility.

(3) An exemption of graduates of home schooling from the requirement for a secondary school diploma or an equivalent (GED) as a precondition for enlistment in the Armed Forces.

(c) Home School Graduates- In prescribing the policy, the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe a single set of criteria to be utilized by the Armed Forces in determining whether an individual is a graduate of home schooling. The Secretary concerned shall ensure compliance with education credential coding requirements.

(d) Secretary Concerned Defined- In this section, the term `Secretary concerned' has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(9) of title 10, United States Code.

[bnelson44]

The Army now offers home school graduates who qualify the same enlistment incentives as traditional high school graduates, including cash bonuses up to $20,000 for enlistments of three or more years and the Army College Fund, which provides up to $71,424 for college.

The policy change is part of a special test program the Army is developing to predict first-term attrition among Army enlistees. Currently, the best single predictor of an individual's likelihood of adapting to the military is a traditional high school diploma. However, many individuals with alternative education experiences are successful in the military. The goal of this new program is to identify applicants who are likely to adapt to the Army and successfully complete their first term of service.

Home school graduates seeking to enlist in the Army need to meet the following criteria:

                               Must possess a home school diploma and submit transcripts at the time of enlistment. The course work must involve parental supervision, the transcript must reflect the normal credit hours per subject used in traditional high school and the diploma must be issued in compliance with applicable state laws.

                               Must score 31 or above on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test.

                               Must take the Assessment of Individual Motivation (AIM) test, which is 20-minute pencil and paper test. The AIM test score is used to obtain data and does not affect qualification for enlistment.

                               At a minimum, the last academic year (9 months) must be completed in a home school environment.

*Enlistment of home school seniors in the Army's Future Soldier program is also authorized.

If you’re interested in finding out more about bonuses for home school graduates, contact your local Recruiter or fill out this form.

 

see www.goarmy.com and search for home schooling

[davidosborne]

I have a sister in CA that homeschools too... it is interesting how different the laws are from State to State..