Expert: Jason Grabill - 8/3/2010

Question
Hi and thanks for taking the time for my question.  Searching for answers today even contacting local government officials.  My son is 19 and has said since he was 12 that he wanted and would be a United States Marine.  It's not just a dream, it's a passion.  In his junior year of high school he fell in with crowds that were not in his best interest.  His grades began to suffer and things were not going well.  He had one thing in the back of his head and that was without a high school diploma, the Marines was out of the question.  Without taking too much of your time, the school he was attending was not in his best interest.  After much consideration and research, the school assisted us in getting him enrolled in Minnesota Virtual High School.  He graduated with his diploma, with even more credits (required by Minnesota Virtual High School), than what he would have graduated with if he would have stayed in his public high school.  The online schools requirements for everything from study time, actual online work time and the credits exceeded what he would have had in the public high school.  Just today he visited the local Marine Recruiters office and was devastated, humiliated and his spirit dented, but not broken.  He was told that his diploma was nothing more than piece of paper with his name on it, if he couldn't sit in a class how did he expect to be an elite Marine.  Have the rules changed?  He could have walked across the street and joined the army with no questions asked, but this isn't his dream.  He is determined to make a change.  We are involving local politicians and very possibly taking this even further.  This young man has spent months getting himself ready physically (running the miles in better time than required), mentally (taking the tests over and over to make sure he scores the highest possible) and emotionally.  He has overcome some incredible life experiences all because he's had this dream of being a Marine.  In no uncertain terms, they made, or tried to anyway, made him feel worthless because of his way of making sure he received a diploma so he could join the Marines.  I apologize for going on and on but I'm obviously taken aback with the entire ordeal.  I can't and won't sit back and watch his dream just float away.  He has a friend of his that enlisted a few months ago and got into the Marines and this boy has a record (minor drug and alcohol charges), but still.  Any help you can give me on this would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.  Respectfully

Answer
Merita:

 First, sounds like your son is well motivated.  Thats good, becaause this is likely going to be a difficult challenge.

 Only certain schools are accepted by the Marine Corps (and the Dept of Defense) instead of a HS diploma.  Alas, he has one of those.  An 'online' school may not even be recognized as equal to a GED.  It's going to totally depend on your states rules.  IF it is recognized as a GED, then your son falls under that criteria.  More on that in a moment.  

 IF the school is not recognized, no amount of congressional interest is going to help him, they are DoD rules and exceptions will NOT be made;  it's a very strict criteria to meet for High School equivilancy credit.  
 
 His abilities and readiness are not in question, but without that vital piece of paper, absolutely nothing matters.   Hard answer but that's just the way it is.  If he has the chance to actually go back and finish, and  get a HS diploma, I'd highly suggest that course of action....as this is likely to be an issue later on in life as well.

 At this point, the Marine Corps can afford to be choosy about it's applicants.  It is meeting 100 percent or more of it's recruiting goals monthly and yearly.  Many people are being turned away for a variety of reasons, and very few waivers are being granted.   (Minor drug/alcohol charges are some of the few).  Even in not so good times, your son would have had a difficult time enlisting.   

 Now, on to the GED thing....if this diploma is recognized as a GED, your son *may* be able to enlist, come 1 October.  (That is the beginning of the new fiscal year, and there will be openings for GED's then).  A GED is considered a '2nd class' diploma but better than nothing.  Some college credits *may* be required in addition to the GED.   

 I can see your feelings are strong in this, but regulations, I'm afraid, will preclude EVERYthing.  At this point your son could be an Eagle Scout and it wouldn't make a difference without a recognized diploma.

 In the end, he might very well have to choose the army, then later on, after his enlistment is up, he can transfer to the Marine Corps.  Might be the only way.  

 I wish you the best, and please keep me informed.

Jason