Joining the Army with a GED.........?

Question

My cousin wants to join the Army, he has a GED. I heard you get less benefits if you get in with just a GED, what are the benefits that he won't have??

He's joining as a 88m, i know a friend who recently signed up for that MOS and he got a $8k bonus, the only thing i assume is that they probably won't give my cousin a bonus.

Answer 1

the better position you have the better you get paid.

Answer 2

Bonuses depend on the demand there is for a specific MOS. 88m = truck driver. There may have been a higher demand for drivers at that moment. That bonus can go up or down as reflected by the demand for more drivers.

He should also be entitled to the same benefits as any other enlisted person.

My advice would be for your cousin to talk to as many people as he can about what the military has to offer. If he's picking an MOS based off the bonus that may not be a good idea. Consider an mos that makes you highly marketable when you get out or will allow you to get more rank if you decide to stay in after your first enlistment in over.

Also be careful with recruiters. Some are honest and believe in what they do, but others are just looking for numbers. Your cousin is signing the next 8 years (all enlistments are eight years) of his life to the army encourage him to become well informed.

Answer 3

NO branch of service is accepting GED applicants at this time the Army stopped taking GED only recruits October 1 2010 you must have 15 college credits

Answer 4

Well, when I joined the Navy in 1996, they weren't even allowing people to join who had a GED. That's in "any" of the armed services. I'm assuming now it's different.
This is going away from your original question, but I would recommend your friend to go to community college for 2 years, then if he still wants to join the military (and got good grades in community college his first 2 years), he can apply for an ROTC scholarship, and finish his last 2 years at an accredited university. With the ROTC, you join as an officer, and must serve a minimum of 4 years. Even if he doesn't get the ROTC, he can finish at a university, and join as an officer. The only difference is it will be on his dime.

Answer 5

Benefits do not depend on whether you have a diploma or GED.

The only Difference I know of is that it is harder to join with a GED though they do accept them.
In any given period, only 10-20% of the recruiters quota can be GEDs. The rest must have full Diplomas. Also those with the GED must score higher on the ASVAB than a similar recruit with a Diploma. ( Must score 50 instead of 31)

Answer 6

a GED or a High School diploma is the same to the Army he can still get a bonus if he picks the right MOS as far as benefits everyone get the same coming in i spent 9 years in the army and had soldiers under me that had both GED's and High School diplomas

Answer 7

when you join, it doesn't matter if you have a ged, hs diploma or college degree..although a college degree will help you come in at a higher rank. the bonus all depends on what mos you enlist in. your cousin will have alll the benefits of an active duty Soldier. tell him to talk to the recruiter about a bonus and if he has to, tell him to hold out until they give him a good bonus or an mos that he wants.

Answer 8

Pay is based across the board. So an E5 MP is going to make the same as an E5 medic... SOME MOS's have bonuses when you sign up, it just depends. Benefits are the same for ALL military.. medical, the option of the GI bill, dental, housing allowance, commissary , px, etc.. its all the same for all military...

Answer 9

GEDs do not receive a bonus right now. They are considered Tier III educations.

Answer 10

He should ask the Army recruiter. He will get the correct answers from him.