The Home School Legal Defense Association reports that Alex, not his real name, was blocked from proceeding with his enlistment because of his homeschool diploma he earned in Louisiana.
Due to the intricacies of Louisiana law, U.S. Navy recruiters nearly prevented a homeschool graduate from entering the service as a top-tier recruit, even though the graduate scored high marks on an armed forces aptitude test.
HSLDA, the organization writes, successfully intervened on behalf of the candidate who is now expected to see a smooth the enlistment process that should also make things easier for future homeschool graduates.
HSLDA attorney Amy Buchmeyer explains.
"It was a misunderstanding of how Louisiana law worked. So even though he had a valid diploma, they did not understand the homeschool policy that he had followed for his four years of high school. And because of that, they were treating him as a high school dropout."
The student graduated from his parents’ homeschool program in May. He began the process of enrolling in a local community college but then felt the call to explore more adventurous opportunities in the military.
He scored so well on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery that he qualified for any job training open to Navy enlistees. The recruiters he worked with were enthusiastic about Alex’s potential, but as his paperwork wound its way through the chain of command, a superior raised questions about the teen’s diploma.
Buchmeyer states that if the misunderstanding had not been cleared up, it would have had serious consequences for Alex.
She says he is now scheduled to report for basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes in January.
"The two-tier or second tier recruits tend to be those who are either dropout or perhaps have a GED. So, it impacts some of the jobs that are available for people to enlist in as well as a lot of the financial bonuses that they qualify for."
