College Credit for Military Training?

A little bit stressed here folks! I'm in the process of deciding to join the military before college and heard that military training can count for college credits. To what extent is this truth? What would the procedure look like?

Yes, you're correct, and it's understandable that you're eager to know more about it. By participating in military training programs, you can indeed earn college credits.

This is possible because the American Council on Education (ACE) collaborates with the Department of Defense (DoD) to review military training and experiences for academic equivalency. They provide recommendations on how many credits certain training or experiences should earn. It's like mapping your military experiences onto a traditional academic curriculum.

As for the procedure, here's a general overview:

1. Documentation: First, you need to document your military training. The type of documentation varies depending on which branch of the military you're in, but typically it's in the form of a Joint Services Transcript (JST), a Community College of the Air Force transcript (CCAF), or a Defense Language Institute transcript (DLI).

2. Credit Evaluation: Once you've documented your training, you apply to a college or university. During the application process, you submit your military transcripts, just as any other transfer student might submit college transcripts. The admissions office of the college will evaluate these transcripts and determine how many credits you'll receive.

3. Translation: The tricky part can be how your training translates into specific credits. For example, basic combat training may not translate directly into a standard academic discipline, but it could count as physical education credits, or perhaps fulfill a requirement for a criminal justice program.

Remember, the number and types of credits that you'll receive depend entirely on the college or university you choose to attend. Some schools have a more generous policy for accepting credits for military training, while others might be more restrictive.

Before making your decision, I'd advise you to do thorough research and ask admissions officials about their policies on accepting military training for college credit. After all, you want to make sure that you get the most benefit out of your valuable military experience.