most can still collect a bonus (50% or better on ASVAB)

SUBJECT: Enlistment of Non High School Graduates (Tier III) under the Army National Guard (ARNG) GED Plus Program.

1. Effective immediately, the Army National Guard authorizes the enlistment of applicants having neither a high school diploma nor alternate education credentials (GED, National Guard Youth Challenge, Correspondence Diploma, etc). The Applicants will enlist under the “Army National Guard GED Plus Program”. Applicants must have a minimum AFQT score of 31% and a certified transcript showing completion of the ninth grade. Applicants enlisting under this program must also meet the following criteria:

a. The applicant must have withdrawn from high school for at least six months prior to date of application for enlistment. No waivers are authorized.

b. The applicant must be 18 years old or older, or not be eligible to return to his/her local high school for completion of the high school diploma program.

c. The applicant must qualify for enlistment by achieving a minimum score of 31% or higher on the AFQT. Applicants scoring 31% to 49% as well as those who score 50% or above on the ASVAB, but do not pass the TTAS will count against High School graduate NPS accessions. Applicants who score 50% or higher on the ASVAB and meet TTAS Tier I status are eligible to receive Tier I incentives and are excluded from the Tier I quality benchmark calculations, up to a 5% exemption of the NPS accessions.

d. Any applicant testing positive on the Drug and Alcohol Test (DAT) screening will be immediately discharged from the program. DAT waivers are not authorized.

2. Non-High School Graduate applicants may not participate in the Split Training Option (STO), and may not be shipped for Initial Entry Training (IET) until they complete their GED / alternative high school education. ARNG GED Plus applicants will not be scheduled for IET prior to FEB 2006 (allowing sufficient time to implement the required NGB sponsored GED education program).

3. The GED Plus training program will be established at the Professional Education Center and will be posted to ATRRS. Until the class is posted in ATRRS, guidance counselors must contact the ROC and obtain a control number for enlistment of all GED Plus applicants. An annex to the enlistment contract must be executed at the time of enlistment, in which the new Soldier must acknowledge the requirement to achieve GED / diploma prior to shipment to IET.

4. Any ARNG GED Plus Soldier who presents an accredited GED completion certificate / diploma prior to attending IET shall be exempt from attending the ARNG GED Plus Training program. * Contact a recruiter