Military Service and College Credits

I'm currently serving and I've heard several times that military service can actually count towards some college credits. How does this process work? Can anyone break down how these credits get awarded and how I could possibly leverage my military experience for college credit?

Absolutely, your military service can indeed be recognized as college credits. In broad terms, this is how the process works:

1. Evaluation of Military Experience: Different bodies, like the Joint Services Transcript (JST) program and Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), provide a detailed report of a service member's military occupational, training, and education history. These reports are designed to inform colleges about the professional expertise and skills you've developed during your service.

2. College Application: When applying to college, you send in your JST or equivalent as part of your application. Some institutions might require you to submit this credible document through specific channels, such as an electronic copy submitted directly via the transcript center.

3. Assessment of Credits: Each college evaluates your military experience differently. This process is typically handled by a team trained to understand and assess military transcripts. They measure your military experience against their course offerings and major requirements, determining how many credits, if any, your military experience can count for.

4. Credit Awarding: After the assessment, the college will determine how many credits they will award you based on your military experience. These credits might be applied towards electives, general education requirements, or even major-specific courses.

5. Post-Evaluation Discussion: After the evaluation process, you'll likely have a discussion with an academic counselor or an admissions officer. They can walk you through how your military credits have been applied and what that means for your academic path.

I recommend you start by visiting your chosen college's veteran services center or contacting the admissions office. They can guide you on how that specific institution handles military experience and credit transfers. Overall, converting your military experience into college credits can give you a head start on your degree and acknowledge the valuable skills and training you attained during your service. Best of luck!