Transferring Military Training into College Credits

Hello guys! I just got out of the military and I've decided to hit the books again. I was previously involved in a lot of training while in the service. Is there a straightforward way to translate this training into college credits?

Absolutely, many colleges and universities recognize the training and experience you have from your military service and offer the opportunity to convert your military training into college credits. This process usually involves the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations.

The ACE collaborates with the Department of Defense (DoD) to review military training and experiences to recommend equivalent college credits. Essentially, ACE conducts a course-equivalency evaluation for various military courses and occupations, which participating colleges can refer to when assessing your credits.

You'll need to provide your military transcript to your college. For Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy: Active Duty, Reserve, and Veterans, you can request your Joint Services Transcript (JST). If you served in the Air Force, your transcript would come from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF).

Just keep in mind that it's up to the individual institution to determine how much credit to award and how it applies to your degree program. So, it's a good idea to discuss this with an academic advisor at your college or university. Don’t hesitate to advocate for your experience and explain how specific training relates to your course of study.

For additional assistance, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can be a valuable resource as well. They can support requests for course equivalency, adjustment of credit hours, and other educational benefits for veterans.