15 Years ago the military considered anyone who couldn't read at the 9th grade level to be functionally illiterate, Why? So much was done with computers and computers are written at the ninth grade level. Now the military will accept any dumb *ss who breathes. It reminds me of Viet Nam. 
@rangerrebew I enlisted in the US Army at age 17,with a guarantee of attending jump school.
I did NOT have a high school diploma.
While in the army I DID take a test that got me AWARDED a high school diploma,as well as another test that got me awarded the equivalent of 2 years on college.
Which meant I was able to go to SF,which made me a REALLY happy camper.
BTW,IF I have to,I will state the obvious. Having a high school diploma is NOT a sign of intelligence. It just means you were good at attending school. School started boring the snot out of me when I was in the 8th grade. Earlier,actually,but by the 8th grade it became unbearable.
So unbearable I turned down an offer of 4 years of free college if I stayed in high school long enough to graduate,and I saw that as adding time to a prison sentence,and I was already serving time and innocent.
And "Yes,I WAS one of those dumb-asses who volunteered for VN,and even extended my tour instead of coming back to the US when it ended. That turned out to be THE biggest mistake of my life,due to Agent Orange infestation,but ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances,right?