The Career Recruiter

Lets get real for a second.

You’re scrolling TikTok, dodging the recruiters in the hallway, and trying to figure out what the hell you’re going to do with your life after high school. Somewhere along the way, you start wondering…

“Can I even join the military with ADHD?”

“Are my tattoos going to DQ me?”

“I only got a GED- am I screwed?”

You’re not the first person to ask. And you won’t be the last.

So let’s cut through the noise and break it down straight- from the desk of a Marine Corps recruiter who has been asked these questions more times that anyone alive today can count. This is the truth- backed by real DoD policy and delivered in language you actually understand.

First – What You Need to Know About Military Standards

Before we dive into ADHD, tattoos, and GEDs, here’s the basic framework you have to understand:

Every branch of the military follows the Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 6130.03 and a few other policies that set the standard for who’s medically and morally qualified to serve. Each branch can get stricter than the DoD, but nobody can go lower.

So when I tell you something is allowed or waiverable, it is not “my opinion” – it is fact.

Cool? Cool.

Can I Join with ADHD?

Here’s the deal….

The DoD doesn’t say you can’t join just because you were diagnosed with ADHD. But it does care about how it affects your life.

Let me break this down for you:

You are in the clear if…

• You were diagnosed as a kid but haven’t taken medication in the last 12 months.
• You haven’t had any academic or behavioral issues because of it recently.
• You don’t currently need accommodations at school or at work.

You’ll need a waiver if…

• You’re still on medications
• You have needed special accommodations (extra time on tests, etc) in the past 12 months.
• There’s documentation showing ADHD is significantly impacting your performance.

You’re likely disqualified if….

• You need medication to function day to day.
• You’ve been hospitalized for mental health or behavioral issues related to ADHD.
• There’s evidence it severely impacts your judgement or reliability.

Bottom line: ADHD is NOT an automatic “no”. But it is a red flag, and the military wants to make sure you can keep up without needing constant support.

Pro Tip: If you’ve been off meds for a year and functioning fine, you’re probably good to go – but honesty is key. Lying on medical forms is a one way ticket to disqualification later.

What About Tattoos?

Let’s get to the spicy topic…

Tattoos.

Listen—this ain’t 1950. The military knows tattoos are part of today’s culture. Hell, some of the hardest Marines I’ve ever served with look like they were inked head-to-toe by prison artists.

But yes—there are still rules.

Here’s the rundown for the Marine Corps (each branch has its own version, but they’re similar):

Acceptable Tattoos:

• Arms, legs, chest, back? You’re good.
• Rings or small tattoos on your fingers? Allowed.

Not Allowed:

• Anything on your face, head, hands, or inside your mouth or eyelids
• Tattoos that are racist, sexist, extremist, or gang-related
• Anything that suggests drug use or criminal behavior

So that tat of your grandma’s name? Probably fine.

But that swastika on your collarbone? Yeah… no shot.

If your tattoos might be questionable, the recruiter will take pictures and submit them for review. A lot of “iffy” cases get approved these days, but don’t assume.

💬 Pro Tip: Don’t get a new tattoo before going to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station). If it’s fresh or healing, they’ll make you wait. And if it violates the policy, you just wasted ink and time.

I’ve Got a GED—Can I Still Join?

Now here’s where it gets dicey…

The U.S. military has different tiers of education:

• Tier 1: High school diploma, homeschooled diploma, alternative diploma, or GED with 15+ college credits = full access.
• Tier 2: GED without college = limited access.
• Tier 3: No diploma, no GED = not happening.

If you’ve got a GED only, you’re in Tier 2. And that matters.

Here’s why:

The Marine Corps (and most branches) only allow up to 5% of new recruits to come from Tier 2. That means if we’re shipping 100 people this month, only five can have GEDs.

You’ve got to be competitive, and here’s what makes the difference:

Boost your chances by:

• Scoring 50+ on the ASVAB (minimum is 31, but 50+ makes you stand out)
• Crushing your fitness test
• Getting some college credits (15 or more bumps you to Tier 1)
• Having a clean record and great attitude

It’s not impossible. In fact, I’ve personally helped GED holders turn into top-performing Marines.

But let me be blunt:

If you walk into the recruiting office with a GED, a 32 ASVAB score, and you’re 30 pounds overweight… don’t expect recruiters to jump.

On the flip side, I’ve seen GED holders with 70+ ASVAB scores and jacked physiques get picked up fast.

Pro Tip: If you’ve got a GED, get your ASVAB score up and maybe take a couple college classes. Show the military you’re not just paper qualified—you’re mission ready.

So What Should You Do Next?

Look—joining the military is doable even if you’ve got some “complications.” But you’ve got to be honest with yourself and with your recruiter.

Don’t try to game the system. Don’t lie about your tattoos. Don’t hide your ADHD diagnosis. Don’t pretend your GED is a golden ticket.

What will get you through the door?

• Being straight up
• Having discipline
• Showing commitment
• And outperforming everyone else

If you do that, you’ll rise above the red tape.

And let me just say this—some of the best Marines I’ve ever known had rough pasts. They had waivers. They came from broken homes. They weren’t the “poster child” of success.

But they showed up, suited up, and shut up long enough to earn the title.

Final Word

If you’re reading this wondering, “Am I good enough to join?”—let me stop you right there.

It’s not about being perfect.

It’s about being coachable, committed, and honest.

We can work around a lot of things—ADHD, GEDs, even a sketchy tattoo or two.

What we can’t work around is entitlement, laziness, or dishonesty.

So if you’re ready to get real, to put in the work, and to take ownership of your future—then yeah… we can probably make it happen.

Let’s Make a Move

Still got questions? Reach out. Shoot me a message, hit the link in the bio, or walk into your nearest recruiting office and say:

“Hey—read your blog. I’ve got ADHD, a GED, and some ink. But I’m ready to get to work.”

If you’re serious, we’ll take it from there.

Because we don’t care where you started—we care if you’re ready to finish strong.

Semper Fi.