Sounds to me like the Fort Benning training was en route to potential further training to join the special forces, so that’s not necessarily a lie.
Also, I don’t know, but would his GED not meet the requirement that he be a high school graduate?
On the surface this seems like a trumped up claim to undermine the guy’s credibility.
Agree. Check Post 80.
Yes. Most of the guys I served with who entered with a GED were given time to get a High School diploma (I was Airborne Infantry). They had classes you could take on post. Also, his GT score must have been high enough to get into the Xray program. From the article:
"In 2003, Snowden enlisted in the U.S. Army, he told The Guardian, and BEGAN a training program to join the Special Forces.
But his time in the military did not last. According to Snowden, he was discharged after he broke both legs in a training accident. The Army confirmed Snowden's enlistment to The Guardian on Monday, but did not provide details about his service record.
His records indicate he enlisted in the army reserve as a special forces recruit (18X) on 7 May 2004 but was discharged 28 September 2004,” an army spokesperson told The Guardian in an email. “He did not complete any training or receive any awards."
So he began a training program to enter Special Forces. Not really a lie, he just didn't make it very far, as most do not.