Graduates of online high schools have more trouble joining the military when compared to their colleagues from brick-and-mortar schools.

The policy of the armed services indicates that no more than 10 percent of military recruits come from educational backgrounds that do not include traditional high school diplomas.

The U.S. Department of Defense ranks graduates of traditional high schools as “Tier 1” recruits; those with alternative degrees are given a “Tier 2” status.

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Students graduating from the growing ranks of online high schools are running into a hurdle if their goal is to join the military: The Pentagon doesn’t want many recruits with non-traditional diplomas.

Many would-be soldiers like Ryker Packard, 17, of Fassett, Pa., say they weren’t aware the armed services have a policy of not taking more than 10 percent of recruits with a non-traditional high school diploma. Critics, including some in Congress, say the military is behind the times and point to the growth on online teaching and testing at all levels of education, including college degrees.

“It just grinds my gears,” said Packard, who wants to become an Army diesel mechanic after graduating from Pennsylvania’s Agora Cyber Charter School in June.

Packard said his conversation with an Army recruiter came to a brusque end after he told him he was due to graduate from a virtual school. “He just wouldn’t talk to me,” said Packard.

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