Can You Join the Military with a GED? Yes — But Here's What You Need to Know (2026)

All five US military branches (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard) accept GED holders. But GED-only applicants are classified as Tier 2 — tighter annual quotas (Army ~10%, Navy 5–10%, Marines ~5%, Air Force lowest, Coast Guard most selective) and a higher minimum ASVAB score (50 vs 31 for Tier 1 diploma holders). Earning 15 college credits converts a GED holder to Tier 1, removing quota limits.