My stepson is adamant about joining the US Military.  His plan prior to immigrating here last month was to join the US Marines in the Philippines through some sort of exchange program (sorry, I don’t remember what it is called).

The questions that I have for our Armed Services members are:

1.  There is some urgency regarding his high school graduation for the following reasons:
    a.  He turns 18 in February.
    b.  He can graduate from his high school in the Philippines by April if he goes back.
    c.  We can not get his transcripts to enroll him in high school here unless he gives notice that he is dropping out of school in the Philippines.
    d.  He has until this Friday (11/21/14) to either take an exam or drop out of school in the Philippines.
    e.  Without transcripts and because of his age, he will be required to repeat high school in adult ed. here.
    f.  If he drops out of school in the Philippines to enroll here, there is no chance of him finishing school in the Philippines.
    g.  Completing school here will likely take another two+ years.

2.  One requirement of enlistment in the US Military is a high school graduate or equivalent.  Will the Military accept a high school diploma from the Philippines if he doesn’t go through that exchange program?

3.  Another alternative is for him to get a GED.  In industry, a GED is often looked upon negatively.  Would having a GED negatively affect his military career?

4.  Would earning a high school diploma in the Philippines and a GED here be at all beneficial or just wasted time and effort?

Thank you in advance,

Joe

GED will not be an issue, I am currently a major in the army reserves with 10 years active army both as enlisted and commissioned prior to transferring to reserves. Never held me back as far as career


Sent from my iPhone using SoCal Jet Boats

GED is fine. Don't let the recruiter sell him on " you can be anything you want after boot camp"  go in with a contracted job. Make sure he takes an ASVAB good that will help determine better jobs.


THE BEAV

We decided that he will go back to the Philippines today to complete his high school diploma.  When he gets back, do you think a US GED would be beneficial in addition to the Philippine HS diploma?  Scholastically, the Philippine HS diploma, with transcripts, is acceptable in the Cal State system.

Thank you again,

Joe

GED is fine. Don't let the recruiter sell him on " you can be anything you want after boot camp"  go in with a contracted job. Make sure he takes an ASVAB good that will help determine better jobs.


THE BEAV

Thanks Beav, that is exactly what I am trying to work with him on.

Joe

Depending on the branch he chooses he might not get a contract for his M.O.S.
When I enlisted, that is what sealed the deal for the Army. They were the only Branch at the time that would garauntee my job in writing. The other's would try to place me in the career field near what I chose. This is with an ASVAB score of 92 out of 99 and a Bachelors degree.

Thank you all again.

Let me get a hold of one of my recruiter buds for the Marine Corps. I will get you in touch with him. He is in Oregon so it's a ways away, but he will definitely be able to answer all of your questions

With a B.S. I wouldn't have gone enlisted but thats me. With a high asvab you can basically choose what you want as long.as there is a opening. I scored high on my asvab and the navy wanted me to go to nuke school. Not for me (or so I thought at the time) I picked something different because I knew what I wanted to do. They tried to change my rate multiple times until I graduated boot.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using SoCal Jet Boats mobile app

I was 09S. Which is Officers Canidate School. Navy wanted me for nuke school as well, but I wanted Officer and the Army put it in writing for me. Too bad I was Medically discharged during BCT.