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Military Enlistment Seal

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Military Enlistment Seal

Guidelines for Schools and Districts

Under Ohio’s long-term graduation requirements, students must demonstrate readiness as a part of their pathway to earning a high school diploma. To demonstrate readiness, students must earn at least two seals, one of which must be a state-defined seal.

The Military Enlistment Seal is a state-defined seal. A student will earn the Military Enlistment Seal when they provide evidence of enlistment in a branch of the United States Armed Forces. Students also may receive this seal if they participate in a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program.

Military Enlistment Seal – General Requirements

Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.6114(C)(3)

For students interested in a career pathway that includes serving in a branch of the armed services, the Military Enlistment Seal is an option to satisfy components of Ohio’s graduation requirements. To earn Ohio’s Military Enlistment Seal, students must complete one of the following:

Show evidence of enlistment in a branch of the armed services; or
Participate in a junior reserve officer training corps (JROTC) program for at least two school years

The following sections outline the criteria for satisfying the requirements listed above.

ENLISTMENT evidence

For students who wish to earn the Military Enlistment Seal, Ohio law requires students to show evidence of enlistment in a branch of the armed services to satisfy the enlistment criteria. All branches of service offer a Delayed Entry program, which allows current high school students to enlist and begin training after graduation.

To show evidence of enlistment, a student will:

Provide to the district or school a signed copy of the United States Department of Defense Enlistment/Reenlistment Document (DD Form 4).

After taking and achieving the required score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and completing the oath of enlistment into the Delayed Training Program, each recruit signs and is provided a copy of his or her United States Department of Enlistment/Reenlistment Document (DD Form 4). This applies to all branches of armed services. Students must submit this documentation to demonstrate evidence of enlistment.*

*The Department of Education recommends schools establish a deadline for completion of the enlistment process. It is recommended the student take the oath of enlistment and complete the enlistment process no later than April 30 of the senior (graduating) year. This date can be modified based on local policies, requirements or deadlines for participation in graduation-related activities. Additional information regarding the enlistment process is provided below.

JROTC PARTICIPATION

Students also may earn the Military Enlistment Seal through participation in a JROTC program. Students participating in a JROTC program for at least two school years (or the equivalent) will satisfy the requirements to earn the Military Enlistment Seal.

Find additional information and locate a JROTC program here.

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

If you have questions about the ASVAB and other information about enlistment, please see our Military Enlistment Competency page here.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is the process for enlistment? When should schools start having conversations with students about military options and when does the student need to begin the process to qualify? Does this look the same for each branch of the armed services?
What are the requirements for enlistment? Are these requirements the same for each branch of the armed forces?
How can a student demonstrate military enlistment competency?
Are there resources available to help students learn more about military options?

Additional Resources

Contact a recruiter or apply online:

General Questions

What is the process for enlistment? When should schools start having conversations with students about military options and when does the student need to begin the process to qualify? Does this look the same for each branch of the armed services?

The process for enlistment can vary by branch of service and greatly from person to person. Factors such as medical history, moral history, dependent status and education status can lengthen the process considerably or disqualify a student from completing the enlistment process.

Prior to students’ senior year is the best time to start the enlistment process. The longer students wait, job availability can dwindle. Job selection identifies what the applicant is qualified to do and the positions that are available. The average time to process an applicant given typical medical, moral or ASVAB (or AFQT if applicable) qualifications is no fewer than 14-21 days. Additionally, seasonality can have a significant impact on the length of the enlistment process.

Discussions concerning military service are advisable no later than the sophomore year of high school.**

The outline of the process below shows an example of the steps that Army applicants must complete:

                a. Interview with recruiting service;
                b. Complete application and qualification requirements;
                c. Complete testing; ASVAB and physical;
                d. Enlist into Delayed Entry Program;
                e. Ship to training upon completion of all high school requirements and graduation.

More information about the enlistment process for each branch can be found in the resources below.

**In Ohio, students with disabilities ages 14 or younger, if appropriate, formally enter into the secondary transition planning process. A truly successful transition process is the result of comprehensive planning that is driven by the student’s preferences, interests, needs and strengths. This comprehensive planning should be considered early for students interested in the military in order to fully understand and prepare to meet the enlistment qualifications and requirements and future outcomes in competitive, integrated employment, education and independent living.

What are the requirements for enlistment? Are these requirements the same for each branch of the armed forces?

Each branch of service operates under the Department of Defense, which governs enlistment requirements for all branches and internal regulations specific to each branch. The information below includes links to the specific enlistment requirements for each branch of the armed forces and relevant information for early enlistment for high school students.

How can a student demonstrate military enlistment competency?
Learn about how students can show military enlistment competency here.

Are there resources available to help students learn more about military options?
Representatives from each branch of the military are ready to support students in learning more about the options available to them in military enlistment. Schools can partner with military representatives to ensure that students have as much information as possible about this potential career path. For more information visit Supporting Military Career Pathways and Military Recruiters. To access recruiter information for each branch of the military, review Additional Resources below.