Recruiting the best of the best has long been a goal of the US military.  So why would military recruiters turn away students who meet these criteria?  Because these students graduated from an online public high school.

WTSP Channel 10 in Tampa Bay, FL recently aired a story on the military tier II status issue facing many virtual students, forcing them to either abandon their dreams of serving their country, or to give up on an education that is fulfilling their needs and helping them succeed.  If an online public school student does make it through the recruitment process, their options of jobs within the military are rather slim.

Online public schools have been accepted by states coast to coast as being as effective, if not more so than their brick-and-mortar counterparts.  These schools utilize high-quality curriculum taught by fully-certified teachers, in addition to possessing more accountability measures than many traditional public schools.  

Top colleges and universities across the country have recognized the abilities of online public high school graduates, extending acceptance letters to these students, so why can't the military do the same?

In addition to being subjected to the same state-mandated testing as all other public school students, online public school students demonstrate self-motivation and a profound understanding of technology.  In a world increasingly characterized by innovation and technology, you would think the most sophisticated military in the world would embrace online students with open arms.

It is time these students be given an equal opportunity to serve and protect the country they love.