Issue Description
The military classifies would-be recruits into one of three categories, known as tiers. Tier I candidates are graduates of a traditional high school or students who have at least 15 college credit hours. Tier II candidates are high school dropouts who then get their General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Tier III are individuals who possess neither a high school diploma nor a GED.

Issue Background
Prior to October 1998, the military classified homeschoolers as Tier II candidates, often requiring them to get a GED. However, in October 1998, Congress passed a five-year pilot program, where for five years homeschoolers are to be considered high school graduates and placed in Tier I. This pilot program expired on September 30, 2004. However, on January 21, 2005, the Department of Defense authored a new policy affirming that homeschoolers could be placed in Tier I without having to take a GED.

U.S. Marine Corps Opens Doors Wide for Homeschool Graduates 3/26/2007

Department of Defense Memorandum on Homeschool Enlistment 1/21/2005

Homeschooling Thru High School Newsletter—The Military’s Homeschool Policy 1/21/2005

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