The US Navy has announced that a high school diploma will no longer be a requirement for enlistment.

According to the Chief of Naval Personnel’s office, the U.S. Navy is making revisions to its enlistment criteria by considering applicants without a high school diploma or a GED. This decision aims to address a long-standing challenge in recruiting across all branches of the military.

Candidates must still meet the basic eligibility criteria, including obtaining a qualifying score on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT), in order to be considered for enlistment. The other requirements can be found on the Navy website.

According to the Navy, eliminating the requirement for a diploma or GED will expand the pool of potential applicants, which is necessary for meeting enlistment targets for not only the Navy, but also other branches of the military.

In the past, individuals with acceptable AFQT scores were rejected from joining the Navy due to lacking a high school diploma or GED. Vice Adm. Rick Cheeseman, the Navy’s chief of personnel, stated on X that all those who are eligible to serve should be given the opportunity to do so.

After joining, sailors have the opportunity to utilize complimentary programs for academic skill training and test preparation that can assist them in obtaining a GED.

Recruiters are facing a growing challenge in their search for suitable sailors who satisfy the Navy’s requirements for physical, mental, and moral fitness. This is despite the Navy’s efforts to attract candidates by providing the most generous financial incentives in history, raising the age limit, and reducing the AFQT score criteria since 2022.

The Navy is unique in that it allows individuals who score 30 or lower (on a 100-point scale) on the AFQT, also known as “category recruits,” to enlist as a percentage of their total enlistment.

The naval force is not the sole entity facing challenges in attracting new members. In the previous financial year, only two out of the five service branches of the Defense Department were able to meet their objectives for enlisting active-duty personnel.

In December, at a meeting held by a committee, Army Maj. Gen. Johnny K. Davis, who leads the Army Recruiting Command, stated that the current recruiting climate is the most challenging he has encountered during his 33 years of service.

In order to address the low numbers, the Navy is finding the need to implement significant changes to its requirements.