How does one acquire college credits in the military?

Hey everyone! I've been learning about serving in the military after high school and I heard that it's possible to gain college credits while serving. How does that work? And what sort of courses or training equate to academic credits?

Acquiring college credits while serving in the military is indeed a possibility and can significantly benefit your future educational goals. Military service personnel have access to a number of programs that convert military training and experiences into college credits, and the process generally begins with a review and evaluation of your military transcript by a higher institution.

One of the most common methods is through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) program. The JST documents your military occupational experience and training along with the corresponding ACE (American Council on Education) recommendations for college credits. Basically, ACE works closely with the Department of Defense (DoD) to translate the content of military training and work experiences into potential college credits.

Courses to consider are often directly related to job training and military occupations. For example, if you work in a medical role in the military, your training may translate to credits in health sciences. Similarly, those in technical or engineering roles might earn credits in related domains. These credits can be in various disciplines depending on the type of training you receive, ranging from logistics to languages, leadership, information systems, and more.

Do keep in mind that the transfer of these credits is at the discretion of the college or university you decide to attend. Not all institutions may accept these credits or apply them in the same way. Some might apply them to your general education or elective requirements, while others might allow them towards your major. So, it's a good idea to bring this up with academic advisors or the admission's office of the schools you're interested in.

Another thing military personnel can take advantage of is the CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) exams, which are free for military members, and passing scores from these can also earn you college credits.

Finally, while serving, you may also have the opportunity to attend college classes during your off-duty hours. The military provides several programs, such as Tuition Assistance, to help service members do this.

It's great to hear you're considering options and definitely valuable to make the most of military experiences for potential academic credits!