18 year old DS is considering this. He has already met with a recruiter and did some pre-entrance testing. Homeschoolers must score 15 points higher than their counterparts to be admitted. He has been promised a $20,000 bonus upon completion of boot camp and a $21,000 per year salary. Does this sound right? In addition, he has been told they will pay for up to $70,000 in college costs. He completed two years with CAP and understands that this is not just a free ride, but is expected to serve his country. We just want someone experienced in this to give his/her take. Blessings, Trishy kriagirl.blogspot.com
Here's the military pay chart for active duty. Not sure about reserves but if he's full time active reserves, it would be the same. http://www.dfas.mil/militarypay/militarypaytables/2008MilitaryPayCharts35.pdf As for scoring higher, that's probably correct but he should still qualify for Tier 1 enlistment. See article below: Hope the article below helps. I found it on HSLDA HSLDA July 3, 2007 Good News in the Military: Homeschoolers Returned to Tier 1* Effective immediately, most homeschoolers enlisting in the military will be considered Tier 1*. HSLDA recently received this news from the Deputy Director of Accession Policy in the Pentagon, Captain Christopher Arendt, USN. The new directive states that homeschoolers who score a 50 or above on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) will automatically be placed in Tier 1. The change in policy is the result of a decision by the Department of Defense to conduct a new pilot program to review the attrition rates of homeschoolers. This pilot program is scheduled to last four years, during which time DoD will analyze the data and determine if a new long-term policy is warranted. Previously, due in large part to the efforts of HSLDA, the Department of Defense commissioned a similar five-year-study in 1998. This 1998 study also placed homeschoolers in Tier 1. However, when the Pentagon reviewed the study it appeared to show that homeschoolers had higher attrition rates than traditional high school graduates. HSLDA challenged the Pentagon's findings, claiming that many of the people identified as homeschooled were not actually genuine homeschoolers. The results from enlistees who were really high school dropouts skewed the results against legitimate homeschoolers. Our assessment of the original study showed that homeschoolers who scored 50 or above on the AFQT had a comparable or higher likelihood of completing their initial four years of service than their traditional high school graduate peers. Although homeschoolers have been placed in Tier 2 for the past several years, we were able to convince Congress to give them “preferred” enlistment status so that homeschoolers scoring above a 50 on the AFQT could enlist without limitations. However, despite our best efforts, some homeschoolers did not always receive the same benefits they would have received if they had been Tier 1. We are excited that the Pentagon has taken this step to place homeschoolers back into Tier 1 where we believe they rightly belong. Until the new study is completed, Captain Arendt has assured us that he will work closely with us to resolve any problems. * - The "Tier" Classification System is used to classify new enlistees based on attrition rates. Attrition rates are the rate at which new Service members complete their first tour of service, generally four years.
I would check with HSLDA about needing a higher score- we're Army so not too familiar with the Navy. About the pay- is he going to be full time reserve? That sounds pretty high for a reserve pay, especially an entry level. DH recommends talking to someone who has actually been through this instead of relying solely on what a recruiter has to say. They have a job to do and quotas to make. Sorry that I wasn't more help. Lori
Thanks guys. Keep the info coming. Yes, that is accurate on the testing and the tiers. However, did you know that the other candidates who were NOT homeschooled are only expected to make a 35? Oh, well. This is not of real concern. However, I think I know where the recruiter was coming up with the $21,000 per year salary. That is the scale of pay used for the two weeks per year that you are required to serve - which averages out $400 per week. So, I get it. My dh has a great friend who is an officer in the Air Force reserve. We are trying to get more info from him. Blessings, Trishy kriagril.blogspot.com
Tell him Best Wishes! The Armed Forces needs all the good guys & gals it can get whether active duty, reserves or guard!!!!
I cannot offer a whole lot of advice except take atvantage of going to college while serving. My hubby recently admitted to me that he should have listen to me and started college sooner.
Usually the military also pays out bonuses and other large sums over time. At least, they do in the AF. My DH is Active Duty Air Force and they do pay for 100% of his college tuition, though I didn't know they did that for Reservists. They even pay for his books which is wonderful! He has been taking correspondence classes now for a while. That is actually the entire reason we joined the AF for him to finish up his degree. Unfortunately he was deployed or TDY for training so much the first several years that he hasn't gotten college done. Also... the yearly income amount that they give you may be figuring in other things like, health care etc and what that would normally cost. According to the government we make tons more then what we actually have to claim on our taxes. We do not have to claim the amount for housing, or for the health care, or life insurance etc. Once every year or two though they do send out a sheet that says what we really make and that always shocks us! I know that things are vastly different from one branch to another though, so I probably can't be of much help. Alright, I just had to add that I am SHOCKED that they only have to make a 35 to get in... YIKES! You will be chosen for the job they put you in based on your score, so you want to score as high as possible... or you will end up with a very unappealing job. Like, oh, Pot Scrubber.
