Credits for military service
I just wrapped up a story for the May issue of EDGE about the awarding of college credits for military training and experience. The intricacies of the practice are often misunderstood by service members and educators alike.
Now, the American Council on Education, the higher education organization that provides recommendations to colleges and universities for the awarding of academic credit for this military training and experience, has moved to reduce confusion for service members over how the process works.
ACE is offering on its Web site a free PDF of “A Transfer Guide: Understanding Your Military Transcript and ACE Credit Recommendations.” The guide includes an explanation of the process, examples of training and experience for which credit recommendations have been made, and answers to frequently asked questions.
In my opinion, this is a thorough, easy-to-understand compilation that is a must-read for anyone who is — or has been — in uniform and who is considering beginning or continuing their college education.
Some key pieces of advice and information that stand out:
1. Research your prospective academic institutions. Schools are not required to accept ACE’s military credit recommendations, and many have strict policies that prevent or limit how many or what type of these credits can be awarded.
2. You probably won’t get as much military credit as you were expecting. Again, your school’s policy will greatly affect how much and what kind of credit you might get. Expect to earn more elective credits than core degree-program credits from your military training and experience.
3. You’ll likely receive more military service credits if you choose a major that’s related to what you did in the military, such as criminal justice if you spent your military career as an MP.
