Transferring Military Experience to College Credits

Hey folks, I'm currently in the military and thinking about starting college after my service. I've heard of my experience possibly counting as college credits, right? Can anyone share how the process works? What kind of classes or training in the military can be translated into college credits?

Absolutely, having military experience can potentially count towards college credits. The process typically works through an evaluation of your Joint Services Transcript (JST), which is a document that outlines all of your military training and experiences.

Your JST has descriptions of your roles, duties, training received, skills, and learning experiences. The descriptions are standardized and have a unique ACE (American Council on Education) identifier. This makes it easier for colleges to assess and validate your learning and award credits as applicable. The ACE has worked to provide equivalence between your military training and their civilian counterparts.

The kind of military training that might translate to college credits can vary greatly, depending on your specific experiences and the policies of the institution to which you're applying. For example, basic training may count for physical education credits. Technical training can often be credited to related program requirements. For example, if you've spent time in the military working on communication systems, that could potentially be credited towards an IT or communications program.

However, it's important to note that the final decision rests with the colleges and universities themselves as they evaluate your application. Not all schools accept all kinds of military training for credit, and some might not accept any at all. It's always best to reach out directly to the schools you're interested in to find out their policies and procedures regarding credits for military training.

To further aid your transition from military service to college, consider looking into support and resources provided to veterans by schools. Some colleges also offer veterans services that can help navigate these processes. Best of luck with your transition!