Getting College Credits for Military Training - Possible?

Hello! I trained considerably while serving in the military and I've heard that you can get college credits for that? Anyone who's gone through the process - is it worth it and how did you achieve it?

Absolutely, a number of colleges and universities in the United States accept military training and experience as college credits. This is part of an effort to recognize the value of military service.

The first step is to request your Joint Services Transcript (JST). The JST is an academically accepted document that validates your military learning experiences with descriptions and equivalent college credits. It's like having a military resume validated and translated into civilian language.

The JST can be shared with any school you're considering. Each institution will evaluate your JST and decide how many credits they're willing to grant and how those credits apply toward your academic goals (i.e., electives, major courses, etc).

Keep in mind that each academic institution has its own policy regarding accepting credits from the JST. It may be more appealing to institutions that actively seek out and cater to veterans, while others may be less familiar or accepting of these credits.

JST also includes nationally recognized testing programs scores like CLEP or DSST, which also can potentially count towards college credit.

It's certainly worth consideration, especially if it can shorten your time toward degree completion and save you tuition costs. But, just like AP/IB test scores or community college courses, it depends on the specific policies of the schools you're interested in. So don't hesitate to reach out to admissions or the veteran's affairs office at prospective colleges to learn more about how they might interpret your transcript.

Additionally, you can consider using resources like the ACE Military Guide, which is a tool that can translate military courses into their civilian course equivalents, to get an idea of what credits you may receive.

Remember, maximizing these credits may require some research and a proactive approach in conversations with school officials, but it's a fantastic way to make the most of your military experience and progress in your academic journey.