How to get College Credits for Military Training and Experience?

Hi everyone. I've been considering enlisting after high school, more specifically, the military. I heard that certain training and experiences in the military can actually translate into college credits? Can anyone tell me how this works and how to go about checking if what I'll be doing would earn me some credits? Thanks!

Hello! Absolutely, your military training and experiences can indeed count towards college credits. Essentially, this happens when an accredited higher education institution recognizes the knowledge and skills you gain during your military service, and correlates them with their academic programs.

The process typically begins with an evaluation of your Joint Services Transcript (JST) or your Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript if you are with the Air Force. These transcripts include your detailed military coursework, job experience, and skills, which colleges can assess for academic credit.

Here's a quick outline of the process:

1. Request your transcript: Active-duty members and veterans can request their JST online. Air Force members or veterans can contact CCAF for their official transcript.

2. Submit your transcript to your chosen colleges for review: Each college has its own policy on recognizing military training and experience for academic credit. They may use recommendations from the American Council on Education (ACE) as a guideline. ACE liaises between the Department of Defense and higher education institutions, providing credit recommendations for formal courses and occupations offered by all branches of the military.

3. Course matching: The college will match your military training and experiences with their curriculum to see how many college credits you can be awarded. Be aware that the number of credits may vary between institutions, as it greatly depends on the school's policies and the relevancy of your training/experience to your chosen course of study.

4. Course Credits: The college will then provide you with an evaluation detailing how your military training and experience translate to their academic credits.

It's a good idea to look for schools with generous policies for granting credits for military training and experiences. You can contact the admissions office or the veterans affairs office at the colleges you're interested in to learn about their policies.

Be prepared that not all of what you've done in the military will directly align with a traditional academic curriculum, and therefore might not count as college credits. However, even so, your military experience will provide you a wealth of learning and practical skills that can give you an advantage in and out of the classroom.

Best of luck on your journey!