Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Do your child's future plans include joining the military? Today on Home School Heartbeat, find out how to help your homeschooled student prepare for a career in the armed forces.

Mike Smith:
If your homeschooled student wants to enlist in the military, he or she does not need to follow any guidelines other than the ones for traditional high school graduates. Like other high school graduates who enlist, your child will need to score at least 31 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. Also like other graduates, your child will not need to take the GED, since his homeschool diploma is sufficient to establish his high school degree. Here are some suggestions for preparing your student to enter the armed forces: Take your high schooler's transcript seriously. Have your child take typical high school courses that demonstrate his academic preparation for college coursework and vocational training. Make sure that each course covers the number of credit hours that are normally assigned in traditional high schools. Encourage your student to participate in extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership ability and prepare him for tough physical training. Boy Scouts, Junior ROTC, and team sports are good venues. Participation in service opportunities, whether in church or in the community, is invaluable. Finally, begin preparing as soon as possible—especially if your child wants to enter a military academy. The academies seek young men and women who have demonstrated focus and perseverance throughout all four years of high school. High academic achievement, participation in Junior ROTC, and wisely chosen extracurricular activities are crucial. Homeschooling can prepare your students for the great honor of serving and defending our country. And until next time, I'm Mike Smith.