Fewer U.S. Soldiers Have H.S. Diplomas

Report: Demand Creates Concern Over Declining Number Of "High-Quality" Recruits

(AP)  The percent of Army recruits with a high school diploma dropped last year, continuing a trend that has worsened since the start of the Iraq war, according to a report released Tuesday.

National Priorities Project, a research group that analyzes federal data, found that nearly 71 percent of Army recruits graduated from high school in the 2007 budget year. It based its findings on data it obtained from the Defense Department through a Freedom of Information Act request.

All troops must have a high school diploma or an equivalent degree. The military prefers that they have a high school diploma because its studies have shown they are more likely to finish an enlistment term. Still, the Army has paid for some recruits to take GED preparation classes and take the test.

The Army's goal is 90 percent high school graduates, which it hasn't met since 2004. Each year since, the number of recruits with at least a high school diploma has steadily declined.

Douglas Smith, spokesman for the Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky., acknowledged it has been a difficult recruiting environment. He said overall high school graduation rates are declining, which could be a factor.

Strained, in part, by military operations in Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the military has had to increase the number of waivers and raise enlistment bonuses to fill its ranks.

"Every soldier that we put in the Army is qualified," Smith said. "We don't put unqualified people in the Army, but it's something we're watching."

The National Priorities Project said the percent of "high-quality" recruits - those with a high school diploma who scored in the top half on the military's qualification test - declined from budget years 2004 to 2007. In that period, the number of high-quality recruits fell from about 61 percent to nearly 45 percent, the group said.

It also found that in the 2007 budget year, upper middle- and high-income neighborhoods were underrepresented by an even larger margin than three years earlier.

The Army has been under growing pressure to strengthen recruiting as part of an ongoing effort to increase its size.

Plans are to raise the number of active-duty Army, Army Guard and Army Reserve by 74,000 overall, with the active-duty force rising by 65,000 to a total of 547,000. In October, top Army leaders said they planned to move faster to expand the force by adding the full 74,000 soldiers by 2010, two years earlier than originally planned.

In September, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters he'd like the see the percent of recruits with a high school diploma increase. He said he was reluctant to accelerate an expansion of the force that would lead to a lowering of recruitment standards.

Paul Boyce, an Army spokesman, said recruitment has been strong in the first four months of this budget year.

[ioweign]

Paul Boyce, an Army spokesman, said recruitment has been strong in the first four months of this budget year.


No Child Left Behind is working...

[dixiecharms]

While I am sorry these young men and women did not finish high school, I stand up and applaud each and every one of them for their loyalty, their love of freedom and their willingnesss to fight for their America. I am hopeful that one day they will be able to continue their education - God Bless America.

[bks59]

so this is the rest of the story, not only are our brave men and women fighting a war are Reservists, part time professional soldiers, the full time soldiers lack a H S diploma.

yeah bush''s war!

[mike71067]

I was in the military between 1987 and 1991, and I knew plenty of good people who had to get their GED before enlistment. It''s no big deal.

Leave it to the liberal mainstream news media to make news where there is no news.

[beehive21-2009]

High School Diplomas ? what a useless paper,the army is better off ,with street smart personal,.Everyone can get a education depends on the desire.Most in the army are trying to better there life.

[feelfree1]

dixiecharms,

Re: "While I am sorry these young men and women did not finish high school, I stand up and applaud each and every one of them for their loyalty, their love of freedom and their willingnesss to fight for their America."

How about their foolishness and disgrace?

Behold our "best" and "brightest".

[samrensho]

Let''s face it, the military is scraping the bottom of the barrel. These troops, for the most part, would be flipping burgers at the golden arches if it weren''t for the military. You don''t need an HS diploma to be trained as cannon fodder.

[feelfree1]

RE: "He said overall high school graduation rates are declining, which could be a factor."

How about the fact that you would just about have to be a bloody moron to join the U.S. military right now?

Doesn''t that also play a factor?

[dvldog5]

dixiecharms,

Re: "While I am sorry these young men and women did not finish high school, I stand up and applaud each and every one of them for their loyalty, their love of freedom and their willingnesss to fight for their America."

How about their foolishness and disgrace?
posted by feelfree1

why don''t you go to N.Korea and feel free

[luckygirl042]

The article states that:It also found that in the 2007 budget year, upper middle- and high-income neighborhoods were underrepresented by an even larger margin than three years earlier.
*************************
These young people from the "upper classes" have options, they don''t need the military''s false promises.
When John Kerry pointed this out in 2004 he was ripped to pieces, this is all he meant. It''s a simple fact, that like my son-in-law who is an Iraq combat veteran, young people who came from difficult circumstances and are without a college education or a reasonable chance for one are more likely to enlist because they believe the military offers them a better chance. I am NOT saying this is ALL enlistees, and I am NOT saying anything derogatory about ANY soldier, my son-in-law is a soldier. He had a dead end job and the recruiters promised all kinds of benefits. The Army''s promises came with so many strings attached, he never really benefited much. He DID get shot at though.
I am just stating MHO.

[rowdytexan2]

Yes, I agree. This is the new No Child Left Behind Program. Can''t cut it in school...don''t worry, we have a nice rifle for you in Iraq.

[dvldog5]

well said luckygirl042

[Krazcarl]

DUH we all know the military is the last choice {in most cases}. The ecinomy is belly up with little oppertunity these filks have no where to turn.

[brianbwb-2009]

To all the Bushbot typical neocon suckers;

Where is the gung-ho-Johnny-big-balls war monger support when those troops come home and need help for the trauma suffered in a war based on lies?

When your fearless leader says he has no money for programs to take care of these soldiers, you agree, and don''t stand up for the troops. The Walter Reed scandal means nothing to you, I don''t hear you supporting the troops, I only hear crickets.

The best way to support them is to bring them home, get them out of harm''s way, since the reasons given for their being there have been shown to be lies, but it seems the neocon position is "let them stay, and be killed and maimed for bush''s profit, and nothing else".

With the neocon brand of "support for the troops", they are as big an enemy to the soldiers as the people whose land they are over there occupying.

[joyous88]

DUH!

who else you gonna get to be cannon fodder for the fools in DC

[afmca]

Why do people automatically go for the liberal vs conservative bashing? This is a statement of fact. In a military that increasingly relies on technology this lack of educational attainment could (and probably has) impacted military readiness. It also shows that the overwhelming burden for the war is falling on citizens that have the fewest alternatives. Although I applaud and support them, I doubt if a great percentage are joining out of patriotism. I think most just need a job - and this is the job of last resort. Countries that rely on their military coming from the lower educational and economic strata of society usually end up having militaries easily manipulated by demogogues and dictators. Bush and Cheney knows that this culling of the lower classes will not meet with much resistance from their financial backers.

[joyous88]

brianbwb and luckygirl;

right on dudes!

PS: Surfs Up!

[joyous88]

if you think that this is the best country on Earth, you have probably never lived any place else

[underdogus]

JWhitman RE-enlist..UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU!!!

[Krazcarl]

AFMCA....Well spoken period...

[olebd]

No Child Left Behind = More soldiers for the miltary.

[runningralph]

I have never why any American teenager would not want to at least finish high school. The classes are not that difficult. The books are free, the bus rides are free, even free lunch if the situation calls for it. Everything is free. Why not go for it? Maybe some kids feel a high school diploma is bad for some reason?

[tomanyt]

Do you really need a HS diploma to get yourself shot?

[feelfree1]

runningralph,

Re: "The books are free, the bus rides are free, even free lunch if the situation calls for it. Everything is free. Why not go for it?"

You sound like quite a free loader.

Why are you cheer-leading the growing pile of corpses, when you are clearly to craven to enlist yourself?

[jjarden]

Folks with no options.
------------------------------------------------------
Posted by jh6379 at 10:39 AM : Jan 22, 2008

*************

This comment is EXACTLY Correct...forget about all this joining the military for "Patriotic" reasons...young people join for ONE reason only...they have no other economic alternatives in life...which gets to the heart of the matter of why a Draft is needed so that ALL Socioeconomic Classes share the burden of war...War is fought exclusively by the poor and uneducated underclass so that the rich can drive their giant SUV''s, live in McMansions, and not get their hands dirty.

[runningralph]

feelfree1,
You are very feisty. But you didn''t answer the question. Why not go for it? It''s free!

[sgtrds]

When I signed up during Vietnam you could get into the military without a HS diploma or a GED which worked for me because I drooped out of school to join. Still the Air Force gave many opportunities and much encouragement to complete it by providing free resources at the base education office. Once my CO found out I didn''t have my diploma he gave me two afternoons a week off to study and within a few weeks I was able to get a GED with no problem. I don''t see a problem with taking people who have less then a HS diploma as long as they''re given a set amount of time to complete it. Though personally I think someone would be insane to join up during Bush''s war of choice and to die for nothing in Iraq.

[sgtrds]

drooped?

Well they didn''t teach me to use a spell checker properly..........

[wdrussell1]

No to the draft.
The taxpayer doesn''t need to pay for more champagne units.

[sgtrds]

"It also found that in the 2007 budget year, upper middle- and high-income neighborhoods were underrepresented by an even larger margin than three years earlier."

Time for a draft. Nothing will stop this ignorant warmongering of Bush''s faster then drafting poor little rich kids........

[Krazcarl]

SGTrds....Yes your right with the draft this stupid war would be over in days but the poor economy and young untrained folks needing work which there is none they have ready supply of meat you think these lowlifes set it up????

[mcvet]

You are very feisty. But you didn''''t answer the question. Why not go for it? It''''s free!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by runningralph at 11:15 AM : Jan 22, 2008
+ report abuse

Now what kind of IDIOT reads this American''s response and doesn''t understand it''s meaning? He doesn''t want to take the freebies that''s clear from what he wrote.. what''s your excuse. It''s always amazed me how some are so gun ho about combat... they are always the one''s who have never been there. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[artrick-2009]

Where are all these gunho, god fearing, Republican voting nitwits. Why aren''t they out there getting shot at for their country, why? Because Bush gave these people the tax breaks to send their kids to school so they can learn how to sucker some poor dumb jerk into giving his life for republicanism

[artrick-2009]

Where are all these gunho, god fearing, Republican voting nitwits. Why aren''t they out there getting shot at for their country, why? Because Bush gave these people the tax breaks to send their kids to school so they can learn how to sucker some poor dumb jerk into giving his life for republicanism

[artrick-2009]

Where are all these gunho, god fearing, Republican voting nitwits. Why aren''t they out there getting shot at for their country, why? Because Bush gave these people the tax breaks to send their kids to school so they can learn how to sucker some poor dumb jerk into giving his life for republicanism

[artrick-2009]

Where are all these gunho, god fearing, Republican voting nitwits. Why aren''t they out there getting shot at for their country, why? Because Bush gave these people the tax breaks to send their kids to school so they can learn how to sucker some poor dumb jerk into giving his life for republicanism

[artrick-2009]

Where are all these gunho, god fearing, Republican voting nitwits. Why aren''t they out there getting shot at for their country, why? Because Bush gave these people the tax breaks to send their kids to school so they can learn how to sucker some poor dumb jerk into giving his life for republicanism

[random_radar]

The army doesn''t care about education. The reason they want high school graduates is because it shows they could stick with something miserable for four years. If you can''t stand public school, you probably won''t be able to finish an enlistment term.

The army can teach you everything you need to know about killing. No previous experience, education, or intelligence required. That''s not an insult to our fine friends in uniform, that is a tribute to the methods of the military. Civilization has more experience with warfare than any other activity, and we have refined it to an art form.

[connapa]

I guess a HS grad is smart enough to figure out that you don''t join the military during a war.

[frankbowers]

Boy what a break the only problem here is casius clay could now qualify and not be rejected due to his low IQ. Yeah, this president was to scared to serve and deserted and the vice president got deferments to not serve, is now allowing his desire to be a war president will kill any ones kid to prove his point. frank bowers in austin, tx

[sgtrds]

Posted by crzmeat at 11:54 AM : Jan 22, 2008

I don''t think they set it up per se, but warmongers always take advantage of a poor economy to draw cannon fodder in to die for their causes.

[gunnerv1]

The Gungho Red neck is reading your sophomoric (moronic)drivel right now. I went and played around for John F. Kennedy''s and Lyndon B. Johnson''s war while you were still shi*ting yellow in your diaper''s so why don''t we stick to the subject of less HS grads.

[sgtrds]

Where are all these gunho, god fearing, Republican voting nitwits. Why aren''''t they out there getting shot at for their country, why?

Posted by artrick at 12:22 PM : Jan 22, 2008

Because they''re all mouthy gutless yellow-bellied cowards. just like their pansy-as*sed leaders in the White House, Bush and Cheney. All mouth and threats, but no balls to back up there words themselves. They''re being led by cowards, so it''s not surprising those following them are cowards too.

[paris1969]

I find it apalling that a young man can make the decision to can sign up for military service, yet is not considered old enough to vote.

[huanaco]

THE WAY THIS PROBLEM IS GOING SOONER OR LATER THE WILL HAVE TO GO TO JAILS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS . YOUNGTERS WITH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA KNOW BETTER THAN TO GO TO A PHONY WAR. IMPEACH THE AWOL EMPEROR.

[easeup-2009]

pssst.....SGT ***:

The military is overwhelmingly conservative/Republican.

[tbweb]

Just getting into the military without a High School Diploma is giving many an opportunity at a second chance at a good life, albeit at great risk, but an opportunity they would not have otherwise had. When the pickings were better the military didn''t accept you without a High School Diploma and even worst, when the pickings were very good the military didn''t accept you with a High Diploma if you didn''t pass the entrance exam! So this is a great opportunity. My buddy who had sick parents had to drop out of High School and work to take care of them, went into the Army later in life, got his GED finishing High School and went on to college and got his degree, all paid for by Uncle Sam. Many High School drop outs leave school because of family hardship reasons, no all drop outs are losers! Some criminals with minor offenses also get a second chance, its all good.

[gunnerv1]

paris 1969 You can not join/enlist without your parents/guardian signature under the age of 18. At the age of "majority" (18) You can vote, enter into legal contracts, enlist into the service of your country. You just can''t purchase/consume alcohol until the age of 21 (just too many drunk/dead teenagers).

[gunnerv1]

usmcvn Actually it was the French who got us into it with Ike, He gave it to JFK, LBJ GREATLY expanded it and Nixion got us out of it. Now wasn''t that a great history lesson.

[JJASMAN]

THE USA CORPORATIONS NEED SOMEONE TO JOIN THE MILITARY AND WORK FOR THEM AND OUR POLITICIANS.