Hey everyone, hope you're doing well. I'm a junior considering enlisting after graduating high school, but I want to make sure I understand how the college thing works with the military. My question is, if I were to take any training courses or educational programs in the military, how exactly does the process of transferring those credits to a college work? Are all credits transferable? Just trying to get informed. Thanks!
Hello! That's a really thoughtful question. It's quite common for individuals serving in the military to further their education while serving and then transfer those credits to an institution afterwards.
The system that the military uses to document your military training and experiences is called the Joint Services Transcript (JST). This provides a description of military occupations and potentially credit-worthy experiences. This documentation serves as an equivalent to a traditional academic transcript from a university.
It's important to note that not all colleges or universities may accept these credits, or they may not transfer in the way you expect. Academic institutions have discretion over which credits they accept and how they apply towards your degree, and this is true for military transcripts as it is for any other form of transfer credits. You'll need to reach out to prospective colleges directly to understand how your credits could potentially transfer.
The American Council on Education (ACE) also evaluates military training and experiences and recommends equivalent college credits. This can also be very valuable when you're talking to prospective colleges.
Remember to keep a detailed record of all trainings and qualifications while you are in the military. This can be helpful if a college asks you for additional documentation or an explanation of a particular course or training listed on your JST.
Remember that the Post-9/11 GI Bill can also assist with tuition and living expenses during your education, following your military service. Good luck as you think about these important next steps!
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