Getting College Credit in the US Military

Hey everyone. I know there's a way to earn college credit while serving in the US military, but I'm not sure how it all works. Could anyone give me some details about it? Number of credits, process, etc. Thanks in advance, folks!

Absolutely, many people may not be aware, but there are indeed ways to earn college credit while serving in the US military, which can help speed up the pursuit of a degree. Let's delve into some specifics.

First, it's essential to know about the Joint Services Transcript (JST). The JST is a collaborative project by the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard to provide service members with a means to translate their military experience into civilian language. The transcript details how to assign college credit for military training and experience. Credits are not automatically granted but can be evaluated and potentially counted by the academic institutions you eventually plan to attend.

The American Council on Education (ACE) works closely with the Department of Defense (DoD) to review military training and experiences and recommend appropriate college credits to be considered. The credit recommendations appear in the ACE Military Guide and are reflected in the service member's JST.

A number of credits can vary widely depending on the service member's military occupational specialty, additional duties fulfilled, courses taken, and the level of leadership roles assumed. In general, fundamental training, such as Boot Camp or Basic Combat Training, can be eligible for a few credits. However, specialized training and roles can lead to more credit recommendations.

Also, there are military service tuition assistance programs that can further provide funding to attend college while still serving. They can be excellent resources to pay for education, whether it be for undergraduate, graduate, certification courses, or vocational programs.

One aspect to remember is that each college has its policies on how they accept and recognize these credits, so it's crucial to verify with specific institutions how they evaluate military training credits. As a best practice, it's advised to provide your Joint Services Transcript to the college or university you plan to or are enrolled in, so they can assess how your military experience may be converted into academic credits.

Remember, pursuing higher education while in service can be a great advantage, not only can it provide a potential career advancement in the military, but it also prepares you for a successful transition to civilian life.