Navy Lowers Enlistment Standards Amid Recruitment Struggles

Applicants without high school diploma or GED can now enlist if they score 50 or above on qualification test, as Navy aims to meet higher recruitment goal.

The U.S. Navy has announced it will start enlisting applicants who have not graduated from high school or obtained a GED, marking the first time since 2000.
Applicants without an education credential can enlist if they score a 50 or above out of 99 on the qualification test.
The move comes as the Navy continues to struggle with its recruiting goals, having failed to meet its target of enlisting 37,700 new recruits last year, bringing in just 31,834.
This year, the Navy has set a higher goal, looking to bring in 40,600 recruits and have a total end strength of 337,800.
Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman, the Navy's chief of personnel, acknowledged the risk of lower performing recruits washing out of boot camp or falling victim to disciplinary issues, but felt the move was necessary to grow the pool of potential recruits.