Expert: Rod Powers - 11/4/2009

Question
thanks for being a volunteer.
1)what are some of the main reasons that a person can not be accepted into the military, are there any specific permanent denials to join the Army?
2)Is it true that the military doesn't accept GED anymore?
If it doesn't, for how long will this last? or what kind of classes are necessary to take in order to be accepted in the Army?
3)If someone applies in the army, but for any reason is not accepted into the Army, for how long the info. that was provided on the first application would be still good, so that a person can reapply and not to go through the whole process again, only partially?

Answer
Hi Shtelleh,

There are several reasons one can be denied to join any branch of the US Military, including (1) medical conditions (2) weight (3) ASVAB scores (4) Educztion Level (5) criminal history. For details, you may wish to read my article at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/enlstandards.htm

Department of Defense Regulations require the military services to allow no more than 10 percent of enlistments each year with a GED. This is because year, and years of study have shown that those with a GED (vice a high school diploma) have a much higher rate (3 to 1) of not completing their initial enlistment contract.

However, within that 10 percent limit, each of the branches is allowed to set their own limit. For example, the Marines and Navy allow no more than 5 percent of their enlistments each year to be GED, and the Air Force and Coast Guard no more than 1 percent.

The Army officially has a 10 percent per year limit, but -- for the past several months, the Army has had no problem meeting their recruiting goals, so they have stopped accepting GED applicants and those needing a medical or criminal history waiver for the forseeable future. From their point of view, why should they accept a GED candidate, when there are enough high school graduates applying to meet their recruiting goals?

I expect this to continue as long as the Army continues to easily meet its recruiting goal, which will probably be as long as the civilian job market remains in a slump.

ASVAB scores are valid for two years, as is the MEPS medical physical.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my US Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
About.com US Military Guide
http://usmilitary.about.com