What Education Do You Need To Be In The Military?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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What education do you need to be in the military? EDUCATION.

Enlisted Soldiers need to have a high school degree or equivalent to join, while Officers need a college degree by the time they are commissioned

. To enlist, you'll also need to meet a minimum score on the Army placement exam, the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

Can I join the military with no education?

Not necessarily!


The Army National Guard will pay you to get your GED when you enlist

. If you don't have either a high school diploma or alternate education credentials (GED, National Guard Youth Challenge, Correspondence Diploma, etc) we can help. You can enlist under the “Army National Guard GED Plus Program”.

Do you need a high school education to join the military?


The military often requires a high school diploma

, but it is still very possible for you to become a member of the armed services after you earn a GED. No matter which branch you are looking to serve in, you still must meet the age, citizenship, height and weight, and legal requirements in order to join the military.

What qualifications do you need to be a soldier?

In general,

you don't need any qualifications

to join the army as a soldier, but you do need be physically fit and proficient in communication, teamwork and English and maths.

Can dropouts go to the military?

Under Defense Department policy,

10 percent of new recruits are allowed to be high-school dropouts who have passed the high school equivalency test and score well on armed services entrance exams

.

What is the age cut off for the military?

Here are the requirements to become an enlisted Soldier: Age:

Between 17-35 years old

. Medical, Moral, Physical: Medically and physically fit, and in good moral standing. Citizenship: A U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a valid Green Card.

How tall do you have to be to be in the military?

Height Requirement

Height requirements, according to the U.S. Army medical disqualification list, provide minimum and maximum height for both men and women.

Men must be between 60 and 80 inches, or 5 to 6.5 feet tall. Women must be between 58 and 80 inches, or 4.8 to 6.5 feet tall

.

What GPA do you need to join the Army?

Be a U.S. citizen. Be between the ages of 17 and 26. Have a

high school GPA of at least 2.50 or College cumulative GPA of a 2.0 (minimum)

How much money can you make in the Army?

Annual Salary Hourly Wage
Top Earners


$45,500


$22
75th Percentile $40,000 $19 Average $31,690 $15 25th Percentile $22,000 $11

Can I join the Army with a tattoo?


The Army will continue to prohibit tattoos on a Soldier's face

and the body art will continue to be allowed on a Soldier's arms and legs as long as they do not become visible above a Soldier's collar. Soldiers may not cover up tattoos with bandages or wrappings to comply with the regulation. Sgt. Maj.

Is it hard to become a soldier?

Being a soldier is

physically demanding

. An average month for a soldier might include gruelling exercise and physical activity (in gyms or group sessions), sports, army maneuvers, and procedures which can involve long periods of walking with heavy equipment like packs, webbing, rifles, and armour.

How many hours does a soldier work?

Vary. Occasionally work weekends. You are on call 24 hours, 7 days a week. Full-time jobs are usually

35-50 hours per week

.

Can I finish high school in the military?

The Army's High School Completion Program (HSCP) is an off-duty program that provides soldiers and adult family members the opportunity to earn a high school diploma or equivalency certificate.

Can you join the Army with no high school diploma?

The service on June 23 began allowing people to enlist in the regular Army without a high school diploma or GED, as long as they scored 50 or higher on the military's entrance test, called the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB, and met all the other standard criteria, said a spokesman for …

What military branch can you join without a diploma?

The

Navy and Air Force

both accept applicants without a high school equivalency diploma. Each military branch has its academic achievement standards. The candidates fall into one of three tiers from the three-tier system.

Can you join military with ADHD?

While

ADHD alone does not disqualify a person from

, the Department of Defense (DOD) places significant enlistment restrictions on individuals with an ADHD diagnosis and/or prior treatment with medication. Has documentation of adverse academic, occupational, or work performance.

What disqualifies you for the military?

To enlist, you must be qualified under current federal laws and regulations or have an appropriate waiver. There are

age, citizenship, physical, education, height/weight, criminal record, medical, and drug history standards

that can exclude you from joining the military.

How much does military pay a year?

Job Title Range Average
Army Officer


Range:$63k – $117k


Average:$85,090
Logistics Manager Range:$45k – $104k Average:$68,927 Army Sergeant, Infantry Range:$28k – $57k Average:$40,422 Human Resources (HR) Specialist Range:$30k – $80k Average:$46,210

Is there a weight limit for military?

As of 2020, the height requirement is 58-78 inches (147-198 centimeters) for men and 58-72 inches (147-183 centimeters) for women. The maximum weight allowed varies by height, from

148 to 267 pounds (67 to 121 kilograms) for men and 120 to 184 pounds (54 to 83 kilograms) for women

.

Whats the shortest you can be in the military?

The cause for rejection for Armed Forces male applicants is height less than

60 inches

or more than 80 inches. The cause for rejection for Armed Forces female applicants is height less than 58 inches or more than 80 inches. The Marines are more restrictive.

Do you have to be skinny to join the army?

These requirements are on a scale based on age, gender, and height. For example,

an 18-year old male Army recruit who is 5'5 must weigh no more than 163 lbs

. A 25-year old male Army recruit who is the same height can weigh no more than 165, and a 30-year old male Army recruit who is 5'5 can weigh no more than 168.

How long does it take to join the Army?

You'll officially complete the process of joining the Military once you meet all of the Service requirements assessed at the MEPS. The process typically takes

one to two days

, with food and lodging provided.

Does the military look at your grades?


GPAs And Enlisting In The United States Military


or equivalent

. In such cases, the college GPA will be more important and you may find that a minimum 2.5 GPA is often required in such cases.

How hard is it to get into the military academy?

The Odds Are Against You

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 41,989 people applied to the five military academies for the Class of 2023. However, there are only about 4,100 slots available each year. That puts the overall service academy

acceptance rate at around 9.8%

.

Do soldiers pay taxes?

In the military,

the federal government generally only taxes base pay, and many states waive income taxes

. Other military pay—things like housing allowances, combat pay or cost-of-living adjustments—isn't taxed.

What military job pays the most?

  • Aircraft Launch and Recovery Officers. …
  • Armored Assault Vehicle Officers. …
  • Artillery and Missile Officers. …
  • Command and Control Center Officers. …
  • Infantry Officers. …
  • Special Forces Officers. …
  • Military Officer Special and Tactical Operations Leaders. …
  • Medical, Pharmacy, and Dental Services.

What branch pays the most?

  • Army: $646.
  • Marine Corps: $750.
  • Navy: $750.
  • Air Force: $520.
  • Coast Guard: $805.

Will military pay for tattoo removal?

Generally speaking, visits to a tattoo removal clinic will be on your own dime—

the government will not pay for you to have a tattoo removed

, nor will health insurance. Fortunately, we do offer special discounts for military recruits, active duty, and veterans – it's our way of saying, “thank you for your service!”

Can you join the military if you have depression?

Mood Disorders


A person with a depressive disorder must be stable, without treatment or symptoms for a continuous 36 months, to be eligible to enlist

.

How long is Army basic training?

Basic Combat Training is comprised of four phases and lasts

about ten weeks

. After you graduate, you'll undergo Advanced Individual Training to learn the job skills required of your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS).

Can you fail basic training?



Yes, it is possible to fail basic training

. You could go through the trouble of leaving your home, job, family and friends and come back a failure. In fact, this happens to about 15% of recruits who join the military every year.

Is the military worth it?


Joining the U.S. military can provide people with incredible opportunities, whether they make it a 20-year career or serve just a minimum amount of time

. Each branch of the Armed Forces offers specialized training, medical and education benefits, housing, and many other privileges for its active members.

How do you tell if the Army is right for you?

How many hours do military sleep?

Most Soldiers report sleeping

6 to 7 hours per night

, regardless of duty status. However, nearly 1 in 3 report getting less than 6 hours of sleep on weeknights/duty nights. Soldiers also report getting more sleep on weekend/non-duty nights than on weeknights/duty nights.

Can you just quit the Army?


You can't just quit the Army once you are on active duty

. You are contractually obligated to remain in service for the period to which you committed. But soldiers are discharged from duty early due to physical or psychological inability to perform duties, for drug abuse, misconduct, and other infractions.

How often do you go home in the Army?

Most military families move

every 2 to 3 years

, and some even more frequently.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.