Col. David M. Hodner, deputy commander of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, before the 77th Pikes Peak or Half Rodeo on July 12 at the Norris-Penrose Events Center. About 60 future soldiers are sworn in, 2017. (Alexandra Flodin/U.S. Army Photo)
Just a week later, the Army quickly reversed course on a new policy that would have allowed potential recruits to Enlisting in the Army without a high school diploma or GED.
The Army, along with the other services, faces an ongoing crisis in filling ranks, which includes an increasingly competitive civilian job market and the military's loss of some public awareness in the absence of a major conflict. So far, the Army has met only about 40 percent of its recruiting goals this year.
On June 23, the service said it would waive the requirement to complete high school and set an Oct. 1 deadline to begin training on the condition that recruits be shipped quickly to boot camp.
However, the move was met with some ridicule online, with accusations that it was a desperate measure that lowered standards to fill ranks the Army could fill.
"Frankly, some people have become very self-conscious about news coverage," an Army official with direct knowledge of the policy change told Military.com.
The service has relatively few options for changes that can be implemented quickly, so officials have trimmed the edges as much as possible.
Potential recruits who are exempt from the high school requirement must be at least 18 years old and score at least 50 points on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Test (ASVAB), a SAT-style test that measures a potential recruit's academic ability. That's a higher threshold than normal, with 31 being the lowest score for anyone else. A score of at least 50 points may qualify an individual for admission to the Medical Roster for Army employment.
Lack of education plays a relatively small role in disqualifying potential recruits, with most issues related to minor criminal conduct and scrutiny of past minor medical and mental health issues. Only about a quarter of young Americans are even eligible to serve, and the biggest problem is obesity.
Multiple sources with direct knowledge of eliminating the requirement for a high school diploma or GED said policymakers were concerned that candidates might not have a legitimate reason to complete their studies, and that raising the bar for admissions exams was a good controlling factor without lowering educational standards. An Army official told Military.com that the diploma requirement may be reinstated.
"A score of 50 percent on the ASVAB is a good score," said the Army official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "So if someone doesn't have a GED or a high school diploma, but they score high on the ASVAB and meet all the other requirements, military service may be a good option for their future."
Army officials made some minor adjustments , to simplify recruitment as much as possible without negatively affecting the quality of enlistment of soldiers. To demonstrate the need for capable recruits, the service is offering enlistment bonuses of up to $50,000, its highest ever, and allowing recruits to choose their first duty station, with some restrictions.
This is on top of existing benefits that have been key to recruiting for decades, including the GI Bill, relatively cheap and easy access to health care and VA home loans—all of which are still generally cheaper for people than most entry-level jobs More generous without a college degree.
The Army has also picked some low-hanging fruit, such as relaxing its tattoo policy, which is expected to affect only a few hundred recruits each year. In an interview with Task & Purpose, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth also expressed concern about negative media attention on scandals and issues in the force, including sexual assault and harassment, suicide and other issues faced by rank-and-file soldiers. Quality of life issues that may impact hiring.
