Expert: Howard Lorenz - 11/8/2007

Question
Here is my situation.  My daughter wants to join the Air Force.  She has already taken the preliminary test and scored pretty good.  She did not finish High School but she did attend school (prepare to take GED test) to get her High School Diploma.  From my understanding although she did not graduate we were told that this is not a GED that it is a High School Diploma.  My son is not quite sure what he wants to do but likes the idea of the buddy system.  His situation is a little complex.  He did graduate from High School but this year he got into some trouble with the law (battery on a law enforcement) and is on probation.  The judge has said that if he decides to go into the military he will suspend his probation and seal his record and then in 5 years it will be expunged.  With what I’ve just told you can they go into the Air Force with the information I have supplied?  Thank you in advance

Answer
Hi Cyndy,

To be sure, check with the school to be sure how the diploma will be worded. If it has any wording on the document that implies that it is a GED, it will be considered a GED. There are some high schools that do give a HSD and its not considered a GED.She should be ok. But,  If for some reason it is considered a GED, she will need 15 semester hours of college, 5 classes at 3 credits each. Then she will be good to go.

As for your son, since he is on probation, he will have to wait until 90 days after the end of his probation. At this time regardless if his record is sealed, expunged or stricken, he will require a morals waiver for entry to the Air Force. By this I mean he will require an "Exception to Policy". It is possible, but in some cases they will deny entry. If he is denied, what he needs to do is go to college and get some college courses. The Air Force identifies this as self improvement and holds it in high regard. After he does this he can re apply and his chances of getting in are greater. If he tried to enter nopw, it will mostlikely be denied, but not all the time. I suggest that he try when he is cleared by the court and then see what happens. He will have to be completely open to ALL jobs. Waivers are a special courtesy that we do for those who have less than desireable qualifications. Therefore if a recruiter completes a waiver, he must be willing to take any job that the Air Force offers including a General Apptitude Area. THe Air Force will take into concideration his ASVAB score when making this decision. The higher the score, the better the offer. Let him know that ALL the jobs in the Air Force pay the same. We get paid by the rank we hold not the position.

All in all your son and daughter have good chances of getting in the AF. Will they go in at the same time? Most likely not. Tell them to roll with the punches and do what they need to do as perscribed by their recruiter. If you have any more questions in the application process, dont hesitate to check in with me.

HW