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In response to recruitment difficulties, the U.S. Navy has begun enlisting individuals who do not have a high school diploma or GED.

This decision, announced by the Navy, is the second such adjustment in about a year to include lower-performing recruits, following a 2022 initiative to accept more applicants who score low on the Armed Services Qualification Test. These steps are uncommon among the military services, which generally avoid or limit such measures despite facing challenges in attracting eligible young people.

Under the new policy, the Navy will allow recruits without an education credential to join, provided they score 50 or above on the qualification test. Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman, the Navy’s chief of personnel, explained the rationale behind this change, noting the high number of interested individuals turned away due to lack of educational qualifications.

According to the Navy, the pandemic exacerbated recruitment issues, with COVID-19 leading to the closure of recruiting stations and limiting access to traditional recruitment venues like high schools and public events. Furthermore, the military has struggled to compete with the private sector, which offers attractive benefits such as college funding. Political divisions in the country and concerns about war-related risks have also contributed to the recruitment shortfall.

Digging Deeper:
In the last fiscal year, the Navy, Army, and Air Force failed to meet their recruitment goals, while the Marine Corps and Space Force achieved theirs. The Navy’s recruitment target for this year is set high, at 40,600, with Cheeseman acknowledging it as a “stretch goal.”

Other services, such as the Army and Marine Corps, maintain stricter educational requirements, and the Air Force limits the number of recruits without a diploma, accepting only those with higher qualification test scores.