The performance and career progression of a sample of 20,705 airmen were monitored throughout their initial tour of service. For comparative purposes, this sample was divided into high school graduate and nongraduate groups and further subdivided by Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFOT) mental categories. Points of comparison included: disposition from basic military and technical training, attainment of skill levels, number of disciplinary actions and unsuitability discharges, and reenlistment decision. On almost all measures, high school graduates constituted a significantly more successful military group than did the nongraduates, and among the nongraduates, in terms of mental category subgroups, there were almost no differences in performance. In addition, the effects of varying enlistment requirements on this sample are presented, and attention was directed toward determining which nongraduates might be better risks than others for military service. (Appended are a 17-item bibliography and tables of skill level comparisons). (Author)