Entering the Military: An Overview

As a result of the 2012 and 2014 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act), homeschoolers are considered Tier 1 which places them on equal enlistment status as public school graduates.  

If your homeschooled teen is planning to enlist after graduating, they should be prepared to submit their high school diploma, high school transcript, and verification of compliance with any state homeschool statute. But homeschoolers should not take the GED or seek a distance-learning diploma if they plan to enroll in the military. HSLDA members may contact our Legal Department for additional advice before enlisting in the military. 

During high school, your student should: 

• Pursue a strong academic program. 
• Receive a transcript and diploma. Participate in extracurricular activities: sports, community/church involvement, skill-building opportunities, overseas/cross-cultural experiences. 
• Build up their physical condition and fitness to prepare for military entrance requirements. 
• Maintain strong relationships with leaders in their community who would be willing to provide character references if requested. 
• Develop motivational skills, accept responsibility, cultivate respect for authority, and develop perseverance. 
• Prepare early for the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) by taking online practice tests or in-person ASVAB CEP (ASVAB Career Exploration Program) tests. The higher a student’s score, the more career field opportunities your student will have.  

Has your teen set their sights on attending a military academy? Students at the academies receive free college tuition and a strong, prestigious academic education. In exchange, they agree to serve in the military for a specified number of years upon graduating. 

Each academy has its own entrance stipulations. Acceptance will require your student to: 

• Complete a rigorous college prep plan, heavy on STEM and two or more years of foreign language. 
• Score well on the SAT/ACT. Start early (9th or 10th grade) to allow ample time for retakes and score improvements.
• Pass a thorough physical examination. Compile medical documentation early and determine if any medical diagnoses prohibit service. 
• Score high on a physical fitness test. Prepare for the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) by researching each military academy’s requirements. The Coast Guard Academy requires applicants to pass the Physical Fitness Exam (PFE). 
• Submit detailed course descriptions for all classes. 
• Identify mentors, teachers, coaches, etc. who can write letters of recommendation highlighting your student’s leadership, character and academic potential. 
• Begin practicing writing essays early in preparation for the personal statement and essays. Consider themes of commitment to service, resilience, courage, and leadership. 
• Participate in extracurriculars that show sustained commitment and progression into leadership roles. Recommended organizations for extracurricular participation include the Civil Air Patrol, JROTC, the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Scouts and American Legion Boys State. Other recommended extracurricular activities include varsity athletics, community service, volunteer work, and academy summer sessions. 
• Attend the academies’ summer leadership programs in the summer before senior year, such as the Naval Academy Summer Seminar, Air Force Academy Summer Seminar, or West Point’s Summer Leaders Experience. 

It’s important to keep in mind that the academies require students to have congressional or presidential appointments in order to be admitted. Military dependents may apply for service-connected nominations as well.  

These nomination applications often open in spring of junior year. Congressional nominations may require a panel interview so students should be prepared to speak confidently about leadership, goals, and reasons for pursuing a military academy admission. 

Is your student looking for a college experience that combines military discipline, leadership training and academic rigor? The difference between a service academy and a military college is that military colleges provide a disciplined environment while also offering a wide variety of academic majors and career paths, both civilian and military. Students who attend a military college are not required to become commissioned officers; they can pursue a civilian career.  

There are two types of military colleges: 

Senior Military Colleges (SMC)  

There are 6 SMC colleges:

1. Norwich University 
2. Texas A&M University 
3. The Citadel 
4. Virginia Military Institute  
5. University of North Georgia 
6. Virginia Tech 

Graduates of SMCs who want to serve on active duty as commissioned officers are guaranteed an active-duty assignment, provided they are medically and physically qualified, and recommended for such duty by their professor of military science.

Military Junior Colleges (MJC) 

There are 4 MJC colleges:

1. Georgia Military College 
2. Marion Military Institute 
3. New Mexico Military Institute 
4. Valley Forge Military Academy and College 
   

MJCs offer two-year programs that prepare students to either apply for a U.S. Service Academy or to earn a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army through the Early Commissioning Program (ECP).  

Does your teen want to serve in the military while still pursuing college or a civilian career at the same time? Active duty is full-time, but the National Guard and the Reserves are part-time and still come with training, deployments, and benefits. Guard members answer to both their state governor and the federal government, while Reservists serve federally only. 

The National Guard consists of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard who respond to natural disasters, civil emergencies and overseas deployments. Training is typically one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer while remaining in your home state. Guard service often includes tuition assistance for in-state colleges, plus eligibility for the GI Bill. 

The Reserves is federal only and exists for each of the six branches and can be activated when needed. The training schedule is typically the same as the Guard but reservists can live anywhere because they aren’t tied to a state mission. 

ROTC is a college-based program that prepares students to become military officers while earning their degree. The program is offered at over 1,700 colleges and universities across the United States, which provides tremendous flexibility in choosing a school that matches a student’s academic and military goals.  

High school seniors can apply for competitive ROTC scholarships that significantly reduce (or even eliminate) the cost of college. 

ROTC is an especially appealing option for students who want to serve as officers but prefer a traditional college environment. Key benefits include: 

• Development of technical and leadership skills 
• Structured training and mentorship throughout college 
• A clear, supported path into a military career after graduation 
• Specialized professional training tied to Army, Navy/Marine Corps, or Air Force/Space Force officer roles 
• Long-term career guidance, including internships and military summer training 

Students who complete ROTC and earn their degree are commissioned as officers in the Army, Navy, or Air Force (including the Marine Corps option within Naval ROTC and Space Force option within Air Force ROTC). They then serve their required service obligation based on scholarship type and branch. 

The Coast Guard does not offer a traditional ROTC program, but high school students interested in becoming Coast Guard officers can apply for the highly competitive College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI), which provides full tuition, a monthly salary, and a guaranteed path to Officer Candidate School upon graduation.