Hey, I'm trying to learn more about joining the military and how it can help with college. Are there any reliable websites where I can get more information about earning college credits from the military and the procedures/processes involved?
Certainly! It's great that you're looking into how military service can provide college credit opportunities.
The official websites of different branches of the military are valuable resources for understanding how military training can translate into college credits. For example, both the U.S. Army and Air Force have dedicated pages discussing how their training programs translate into college credit, alongside other educational benefits.
For a more centralized source, the Department of Defense (DoD) runs a program called DoD Voluntary Education that provides information about various educational benefits for servicemembers. Here, you can learn about tuition assistance programs, the GI bill, and how military training is evaluated for college credit.
Additionally, the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) serves to support the educational goals of service members. Their site provides information on testing programs for academic credit, like the CLEP and DSST tests.
Lastly, the military runs a portal called Joint Services Transcript (JST) where servicemembers can obtain an official transcript documenting their military occupational experience and training. This transcript also includes recommendations for college credit by the American Council on Education (ACE).
Remember, the process of transferring military credits can vary between colleges and depend on the program of study. Therefore, it would be beneficial to connect directly with the admissions offices or academic advisors of the colleges you are interested in, to understand their policies and procedures regarding college credits from the military.
You might also want to explore "veteran-friendly" colleges or colleges with significant resources and support services for military and veteran students. These colleges often have more established procedures for transferring military credits and can provide additional support during your academic journey.
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