Slightly off-subject for us, but troubling news: Whether you are pro or anti-military, the simple fact is that most young adults in the U.S. cannot qualify for military service, and one major reason lies with our troubled educational system.

USA Today reports that approximately three of every ten high school students fail to graduate on time with a diploma, according to the latest research cited by Education Week. Even more alarming, a recent Education Trust report shows that among high school graduates, 23% seeking to enlist cannot pass the military’s basic exam for reading, math and problem-solving. The story appears here.

While there are other disqualifying factors for military service — such as being overweight or having a criminal record — a poor education could be the biggest obstacle of them all.

A continuing long-term University of North Carolina study, started in 1972, found that at-risk children who participated in an early education program were two-and-a-half times more likely to be attending a four-year college at age 21 than those who did not participate.