Translating Military Experience into College Credits

I've heard the military offers a chance to earn college credits from your experiences. I'm interested but unsure where to start. What's the process to transfer my military experience into college credits?

Absolutely, your military experience can indeed earn you college credits, thanks to the American Council on Education (ACE). ACE collaborates with the Department of Defense (DoD) to evaluate military training and experiences and recommend them for college credit. Here's an overall outline of the process:

1. Identify Your Military Training: You'll first list out the military training courses you completed.

2. Obtain Military Transcripts: The next step is to get hold of your Joint Services Transcript (JST) which includes your military course completions, ACE credit recommendations, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) scores, and other learning experiences.

3. Contact the College or University: You should reach out to the admissions office or registrar of the college or university that you're interested in attending. They can provide you detailed information about how to transfer your ACE credits. It's important to keep in mind that the acceptance of these credits varies by institution.

4. Submit Transcripts: You'll then provide the school with your JST so they can evaluate it for potential credits.

5. Review the Credits Awarded: After evaluation, the institution will provide you with a breakdown of how many, if any, credits they are willing to award based on your military training and experience.

One thing to remember here: ACE recommendations are just that - recommendations. Ultimately, each college or university decides whether or not to grant credit for your military training and experience. Be sure to consult with a school's admissions or transfer office for specific guidance.