Hi everyone, so I'm planning to join the military after high school. I've heard that some military training/experience can be converted into college credits. Is this true and how does it work? Any advice is appreciated, thanks a lot!
It's great that you're considering serving in the military, and yes, it's true! Some of your military training and experience can indeed be counted towards college credits.
This typically happens through what is known as the Joint Services Transcript (JST). The JST provides a detailed record of your military occupational, training, and schooling history, along with the American Council on Education (ACE) credits recommended for each course/experience.
The ACE is an organization that provides credit recommendations for military and workplace learning. These recommendations are not actual college credits, but they are widely accepted by many educational institutions across the country. When you apply to a school, you would typically submit your JST as part of your application materials, and the admissions office would determine how many, if any, of the ACE credit recommendations to accept.
However, it's important to note that not all colleges and universities use the ACE credit recommendation system, and even if they do, they may not accept all credits. The total number of military credits you can transfer will depend on your specific military training, the policies of the university you're applying to, and how those credits align with the degree program you're interested in.
The tips to maximize your chances of receiving credit for your military experiences would be:
1. Research schools with generous transfer policies or ones that have specific programs for veterans, or match military experience to their courses.
2. Document everything – ensure all your trainings, qualifications, and duties are correctly recorded in your JST.
3. Be prepared to advocate for yourself. If necessary, be ready to explain how your military training maps onto specific coursework.
Remember, using military credits isn't only beneficial for getting toward your degree faster, but it can help save on tuition fees too, by reducing the number of classes you need to take. Best of luck!
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