The United States Navy is taking a controversial step in its recruiting efforts, as it has announced that it will start accepting applicants without high school diplomas or GEDs. This move comes as the Navy is struggling to meet its recruiting goals, and some fear that it could lower the overall quality of enlisted personnel.
Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman, the Navy’s chief of personnel, made the announcement, stating that the service rejected over 2,400 potential recruits last year due to lack of education credentials. He emphasized that the Navy is desperate for new recruits and is willing to take the risk of lowering standards in order to meet its goals.
Navy Removes Diploma Requirement, Allowing High School Drop outs to Enlist, as it Fails to Meet Recruitment Goals
Absolutely no one wants to serve under this administration! pic.twitter.com/noYcmxmj4z
— TheTexasOne (@TexasRepublic71) January 28, 2024
Under the new plan, recruits who do not have a high school diploma or GED can enlist as long as they score 50 or above out of 99 on the qualification test. This marks the first time the Navy has allowed such recruits since the year 2000. Cheeseman hopes that this move will bring in more applicants, and he even urged recruiters to reach out to those who were turned away in the past to take the test.
This is not the first time the Navy has lowered its standards in an attempt to address its recruiting woes. Last year, it allowed for a higher percentage of recruits who scored low on the Armed Services Qualification Test. However, this move was met with resistance from other branches of the military, who fear that lower-performing recruits are more likely to fail in boot camp or cause disciplinary issues during their time in service.
Navy lowers bar to enlist again amid continued recruiting woeshttps://t.co/XRsGgJVszg
Exactly what desperation breeds. Keep lowering the bar, y’all and see what happens. Those requirements were there for a reason.— Les Moore (@LesMoore619575) January 28, 2024
Cheeseman acknowledged this concern and admitted that recruits enrolled under the lowered test score standards last year had a higher rate of washing out of boot camp. He also revealed that this year’s recruitment goal is even higher, at 40,600 new recruits, despite the Navy failing to meet its goal of 37,700 last year. This decision has raised some eyebrows and questions about the Navy’s ability to meet such ambitious targets with potentially lower-quality recruits.
Despite the potential risks, the Navy believes that lowering the standards will help expand the pool of potential recruits. This is likely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to many students missing out on traditional schooling or leaving school early to support their families. By opening up to these “tier 3” applicants, the Navy hopes to tap into a new source of highly qualified and motivated sailors.
However, critics argue that this move could have negative implications for the overall quality and readiness of the Navy. They point out that the Navy is not only looking for warm bodies to fill its ranks but skilled and disciplined personnel. Recruiting those without high school diplomas or GEDs may lead to more dropouts and disciplinary issues, which could ultimately weaken the strength and effectiveness of the Navy.
America Is In a Sad Sad Place 🤦♂️
🇺🇸 U.S. Navy, again, lowers recruitment standards. Dropping the education requirement, allowing high school dropouts to enlist over continually missed recruitment goals.https://t.co/3Pulj8xEqO
— {Matt} $XRPatriot (@matttttt187) January 28, 2024
The Navy’s decision to lower its standards for recruits without high school diplomas or GEDs has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the service’s readiness and effectiveness. While it may bring in more applicants and help meet recruitment targets, it may also lead to potential risks and weaken the strength of the Navy. As the United States faces complex global challenges, our military must maintain the highest standards for those who serve and protect our nation.
