Military:  Homeschool enlistment requirements in military regulations

Air Force
Army
Coast Guard -- not yet found.  If you know its online location, please email site owner (see bottom of page)
Marines
Navy

Notes: 
HSG = High School Graduate   HSDG = High School Diploma Graduate

HSG and HSDG translate to 12-year course of study at  a 'traditional' school, meaning 12-years of graded instruction in a teacher/student relationship

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Air Force

AFRS Instruction 36-2001 (which has a cable-modem download time long enough to go get milk and cookies from the kitchen, then come back and then eat one of the cookies and drink half the milk)
1 Apr 2005

PDF Page 38:

2.12.5.2. Alternate High School Credential Holder (Tier 2):
2.12.5.2.1. An applicant who possesses a GED or other test-based high school equivalency certificate or diploma, which includes the California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE). NOTE: A person who subsequently obtains a local or state-issued diploma solely on the basis of such equivalency testing is not considered an HSG.
2.12.5.2.2. An applicant who obtains a high school diploma or certificate of completion for a course of study undertaken in a nonresident or nonattendance-based status, including a correspondence, home school, or distance education.
2.12.5.2.3. An applicant who possesses an attendance-based certificate or diploma (certificate of competency or completion) from other than a traditional high school, which is issued on course completion as opposed to equivalency testing.
2.12.5.2.4. An applicant who has completed at least 11 years of regular day school and attended, in residence, a vocational (technical) or proprietary school for at least 6 months and possesses a certificate of attendance or completion indicating such. (This does not include correspondence courses offering vocational certificates.)

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2.12.5.8. High School Diploma. A diploma issued to an individual who has attended and completed a traditional 12-year (or grade) day program of classroom instruction. The diploma must be issued from the school where the individual completed all the program requirements.
 

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Army

AR 601-210, Regular Army and Army Reserve Enlistment Program
16 May 2005

PDF pages 21 - 22

2–7. Education
a. Education requirements. Applicant is eligible for enlistment if he or she meets trainability and education requirements outlined in paragraph 2–8 and requirements of specific MOS or option for which enlisting. The provisions of paragraph 2–20 apply for determination of clock, semester, and quarter hours. Education years code (ED YRS) is the highest grade completed. Transcripts are required for verification of academic classes to qualify for specific military occupational specialty requirements.

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d. Alternate high school credentials (Tier 2). Each of the following has separate MEPCOM Integrated Resource System and Recruit Quota System (REQUEST) codes.

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(3) HSGD via home school (ED LVL code H). Any applicant who meets the requirements of State or local school district home school policy.

(a) To qualify for enlistment as a home school graduate, an applicant must:
    1. In States that require parents to notify the school and/or local school district that they are home schooling their children, provide a signed State Department of Education or local district enrollment form; or
    2. In States that do not require parents to notify the school and/or school district that they are enrolling their children in home school, provide a home school certification/diploma from the parent, guardian, or national/State/county home school association/organization.

(b) Also required is a copy of the applicant’s transcript(s) for all school grades completed. The transcripts will include enrollment date, graduation date, and type of curriculum. Additionally, the transcripts must reflect successful completion of the last 9 academic months of continuous schooling from the home school or parent issuing the diploma.

(c) The curriculum used must involve parental instruction and supervision and should closely pattern normal subjects used in the traditional high schools. Accelerated home study programs and lesson packets that award a credential based on testing are not acceptable. Lesson packets that award a credential based on assessment and testing are not acceptable.

(d) Further evaluation and additional verification are required on all applicants attempting to enlist with only a diploma and transcript from the parents/guardian. These cases will be referred to the battalion educational services specialist for further evaluation. If a decision cannot be reached at battalion level the educational services specialist will send the packet through brigade to HQ USAREC Education Division, Policy Branch for final approval/disapproval.

(e) Enlistment of home-schooled seniors is authorized. Transcripts and letter is required at DEP/DTP. Diploma verification is same as used for traditional high school seniors.

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(5) Distance learning school diploma (ED LVL code 7). A secondary school diploma or certificate awarded upon completion of correspondence school course work, home study, internet, or distance learning program, regardless of whether the diploma was issued by a correspondence school, a State, or a secondary or postsecondary educational institution. This is considered an alternate high school credential.

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(7) Other nontraditional high school credential (ED LVL code 5). A secondary school credential issued for completing an alternative school/program that differs in course content and curriculum from a traditional high school diploma program. Schools/programs that are accelerated and issue a diploma based on a combination of testing, independent study, adult basic education, and/or competencies are classified as Tier 2, regardless of whether the
credential was issued by a secondary or post-secondary institution.

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Marines

Military Personnel Procurement Manual, Vol. 2  (Marine Corps recruiting manual)
last erratum update 18 Jun 2004

PDF-page 106, document page 3-47

3240. PURPOSE. Traditional education has been found to strongly correlate with success at recruit training and with completion of the first term of enlistment. Educational status determines testing procedures and mental requirements for enlistment and eligibility for waivers in processing. Accordingly, great care must be used to accurately determine educational attainment.
3241. CRITERIA. All Tier II and Tier III applicants for enlistment in the United States Marine Corps must have completed the 10th grade at a traditional high school. (Exceptions noted in para. 3244, on page 3-51, Waivers and appendix C, page C-13, Code “M”).
1. Three-tiered System. Educational status, organized according to the Department of Defense three-tiered system, is outlined below. The traditional high school curriculum is the standard of measurement throughout the Department of Defense. Questionable cases requiring clarification or educational tier determination will be forwarded to MCRC G-3 for decision. Education determinations are not a one size fits all category.
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a. Tier I: High School Graduate
(1) High School Graduate. An applicant who has attended and completed a 12-year/grade, daytime, structured program of classroom instruction and possesses a locally issued diploma. The diploma must be issued from the school where the applicant completed the program
requirements. This includes: (a) Traditional high school graduates and religious schools. The term “traditional” is used to define an environment of four (4) years of formal academic education type curriculum, nine (9) months a year, five (5) days a week, in a teacher-student environment.
(b) Home school diploma graduates credentials from a local, state, or nationally accredited Home School Association or School Board Diploma.

PDF-page 321, Page C-12

1.  Home School A high school diploma or certificate, Diploma typically awarded by a local, state, or national accredited Home School Association, based upon certification by a parent or guardian that an individual completed his/her secondary education at home. The curriculum must involve parental instruction and/or adult supervision, and closely pattern the normal
credit hours per subject as used in public schools. The Home School Legal Defense Association has provided guidance to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, (OASD) that at a minimum the student should be home schooled for at least one (1) full school year. All home
school diploma graduates must complete the last academic year of education (minimum of
nine [9] academic months) in a home school environment. Individuals, in a non-home school curriculum, who disenroll from their school during their senior year, or who fail to graduate with their class (includes seniors in the DEP) are not eligible to enlist under the “H” education code heading. Home school diploma (if issued) and transcripts must be provided. This is considered a Tier 1 credential.

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Navy

Navy Recruiting Manual-Enlisted  COMNAVCRUITCOMINST 1130.8F
11 Mar 2002

PDF page 83:

g. Home School Diploma. Conference Report (Section 571) of the FY 99 National Defense Authorization Act established a five-year pilot program to permit home school diploma recipients TIER 1 high school diploma graduate status. A home school is a 12-year curriculum based, instruction oriented academic experience, in the home, involving regular parental or guardian instruction and education. Attendance should be for at least an average of 4.5 hours daily and at least 170 days per academic/grade year. For applicable state laws governing home school see http://www.hslda.org/central/states/xx/laws.html. The xx is the state abbreviation.

    1. Home schooled applicants must provide a diploma and transcript for review by the NRD ESS. The ESS will determine whether the applicant’s home schooling meets State requirements for home school secondary graduation. In States that have no prescribed standards, the applicants’ education credentials and supporting documents must meet the State of residence standards. NRD CO's are ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with requirements for home school secondary education. The ESS must contact the parent or guardian to verify that the applicant was home schooled and for how long, and annotate the findings on NAVCRUIT Form 1133/51.

    2. Require that all home school applicants submit a home school secondary diploma and transcript containing the following information:
(a) Student’s name
(b) Home address
(c) Date of birth
(d) SSN
(e) Date of enrollment in home school
(f) Date of graduation or projected graduation date if still enrolled
(g) Courses transferred from other educational institutions (if applicable)
(h) Courses attempted/completed with start and completion dates of each course during each home school grade
(i) Credits earned from Home school courses
(j) Signature of parent or guardian, date, and home phone number

    3. A letter from the applicant’s parent or guardian describing in detail the education process is acceptable documentation for enlistment if it includes the same information as would be typically found on an official transcript. Code these applicants as “12H” on NAVCRUIT Form 1133/51 and DD Form 1966.

    4. Home school applicants have completed the required number of credits, and would be considered in a "Senior" status by the local district guidelines may be placed into DEP using the code “11M” provided they will graduate within 365 days from DEP-in.

    5. Applicants claiming status as home school graduates must have completed a minimum of one home school academic year of education (12th) grade to qualify for home school (education code 12H) status.

    6. Home school applicants age 17-19 at the time of home schooling, who meet State standards for graduation may be enlisted by the NRD unless correspondence school, independent study or distance learning was part of the home school education program. If the Home School program included any correspondence school, independent study or distance learning it cannot be classified as Tier I.

    7.  Those applicants who received home school diplomas at age 20 or older are required to submit education documents (public, private, correspondence, GED, home school, achievements test results, etc.) to CNRC (N35D) for review and approval or disapproval.

    8. In some cases, educational credentials issued by a correspondence school, private tutor, distance learning or independent study program may be considered as home schooling when incorporated as a legitimate part of the curriculum used by the parent(s) or guardians(s). To be applicable, the curriculum must be concentrated on the interaction between the student and the parent/guardian. Such applicants’ educational credentials will be reviewed by CNRC (N35D) for determination of eligibility. In cases in which the parent(s) or guardian(s) had little or no involvement in the educational program, applicants will be coded as Tier II (education code – “ _ _ 7).
 

PDF page 151 (table contents extracted):

IF APPLICANT HAS EARNED: Home School Diploma Diploma,
THEN GET: home school transcript and transcripts from all high schools attended
AND:  Submit documents and NAVCRUIT Form 1133/51 to ESS. Ed. Code = 12H

IF CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN:  HP3 Tier II programs (Correspondence Diploma, certificate of attendance, vocational certificate, independent study, home study, distance learning diplomas/certificates, etc)
THEN GET:  NRD Education Form/will grad letter, transcripts from all high schools attended, Waiver Briefing Sheet
AND:  Submit documents to ESS along with NAVCRUIT 1133/51. Ed. Code = --M

PDF page 174:

3B Nuclear Field Program
(1) HSDG Required. Applicants for the NF Program must be High School Diploma Graduates (HSDGs) from a state accredited high school and coded as “12L” in Item 12 of DD Form 1966 per 5B-2. Applicants who have attained HSDG status by any other means than a state accredited high school diploma (Adult education, College credits, Home School, graduation requirements met with exception of exit exam, etc.) must have a NF Type 2 Non-Traditional Education Waiver submitted to DCNO (N133D) via CNRC (Code 382). The kit must document a District ESS’s review of the applicant’s academic background and determine that the applicant’s scholastic preparation is commensurate with that of a HSDG from a state accredited high school.

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