I've heard some folks talking about using military credit hours to skip some general education requirements in college. How does this work, and how many credit hours would I need?
It's actually more common than people think for military service members and veterans to use their military experiences and training to earn credits towards general education requirements and even specific coursework in colleges and universities. How this works is typically through the American Council on Education's Military Guide, which provides credit recommendations based on your Military Occupational Specialties (MOS), courses, and exams completed during your service.
The first step in this process involves obtaining your Joint Services Transcript (JST). This document provides a description of your military schooling and work history in civilian terms, allowing academic institutions to better understand and award academic credit for your experiences.
The number of credits you can earn varies depending upon your specific military training and experience. It's crucial to note that the final decision in recognizing these credits lies with the individual colleges and universities. Each institution has its own policy for how they evaluate and accept these credits, and this can range widely. Some schools might award a substantial number of credits, while others may offer fewer or none at all.
Remember, this process doesn’t mean you automatically get credit. You will need to request an official evaluation of your transcripts from the university's registrar or admissions office, and you may need to provide additional documentation such as course descriptions or syllabi.
Some schools have dedicated offices for veterans' services that might be able to help guide you through this process. And don't forget to consider Military Friendly institutions, since these colleges and universities have policies in place specifically designed to support military students and veterans.
In conclusion, it's definitely possible to use your military experience to fulfill some general education requirements, but it generally depends on the institution and its policy towards transferring and validating credits from military experience.
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