Hey guys, I'm currently involved in military schooling and trying to figure out how this might translate into credits for college. Does anyone know the process, types of schools that accept these credits, or any resources to help understand this better? Thanks in advance!
Sure, I'd be happy to help explain this a bit. Military training can definitely count towards college credits, depending on the institution and the type of training you've completed.
Specifically, the American Council on Education (ACE) collaborates with the Department of Defense to review military training and experiences, and recommend corresponding college credits. Their reviews are widely respected within higher education and could be useful to you. ACE offers a Military Guide, which consists of their course equivalency recommendations. You can search for courses or occupations in this guide, print out the descriptions and credit recommendations to discuss them with your college or university.
To document your military training and experiences, you'll need to have a Joint Services Transcript (JST) if you're in the Army, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard, or a Community College of the Air Force Transcript (CCAF) if you're in the Air Force. The JST translates your military experience into civilian language and ACE credit recommendations, making it easier to understand.
As for schools that accept these credits, it varies. A large number of colleges across the country accept military training as credit, thanks to ACE credit recommendations. Some more military-friendly institutions may offer more generous credit recognition. This all depends on the school itself, so it's best to reach out to the admissions department or registrar to confirm what they will accept.
Remember though, while a school may initially accept these course credits, it's not guaranteed that every credit will apply to your specific degree program. So you'll want to work closely with your academic adviser to ensure you optimize the use of these credits towards your degree completion.
I hope this helps, and thank you for your service!
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