The military offers many different educational opportunities for individuals before, after and while serving. Here are some of the opportunities that are offered to these individuals.
Service members Opportunity Colleges
These colleges enable military members as well as their families to get college degrees through a group of over 1,200 different colleges, and universities; that allow members to transfer credits between each. This makes it possible for members and their families who are continually relocating to get a degree. These schools offer many different plans including: two-year, four-year, and graduate-level programs.
Tuition Assistance
Tuition Assistance provides service members with the opportunity to enroll in courses at accredited colleges, universities, high schools, as well as technical schools. To qualify, there are a few requirements; you must have a minimum time remaining on your service contract and a cap on credit hours per year.
Testing Programs
Military administers over 150,000 academic exams to service members each year, which include: College Level Equivalency Program (CLEP) General Exams, CLEP Subject Exams, DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST), and Regents College Exams. The College Level Equivalency Program allows you to receive up to 30 hours of college credit by passing one of these exams. There are five different types of exams that they offer: English, Social Sciences and History, Mathematics, Natural Science, and Humanities. Each gauges the knowledge that you would acquire in your first two years of college. CLEP Subject Exams allow you to receive three hours of college credit, though six or 12 hours for every exam that you pass. The DSST program is a series of exams in 35 college subjects that complement the CLEP Subject Exams, and passing is very similar, in that you also get three hours of college credit. The Regents College is a “virtual university” that counts 30,000 military personnel as well as the 80,000 individuals worldwide that have graduated from it. This program offers eight different degrees to military personnel. There are 38 Regents College exams available, and over 900 colleges and universities that accept Regents college exams for credit.
Military School Credits
Service members can earn up to four semester hours of college credit, by completing the Initial Entry Training. So, while doing the required training, they are also getting credits towards a degree at the same time. The advanced job training the Military gives you, which is called “A School” also counts for college credit.
Certification Programs
Certification testing is available in the automotive, computing, electronics, management, broadcast engineering, emergency medical technician, medical technology, and food preparation fields, as well as many others.
Montgomery GI Bill
The Montgomery GI Bill allows members to get up to $37,224 for college if serving on active duty and up to $10,692 if you serve part time in the Reserve or in the National Guard. The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits, which can be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Benefits are usually payable for 10 years following release from active duty, date of program eligibility, or date of severance from the Reserves/National Guard.
College Fund Programs
In the Marine Corps/Coast Guard, college fund grantees can be up to $30,000 if combined with the GI Bill. College fund awards are competitive, so decisions are made on the basis of academic merit.
Community College of the Air Force
An accredited two-year college open only to those that have served in the U.S. Air Force, offering more than 70 different associate degree programs. Some of the programs that they offer include: Computer Science Technology, Aircraft Systems Maintenance Technology, Space Operations Technology, Allied Health Services, Paralegal, and Information Management. Every CCAF degree requires courses in your technical job specialty, leadership/management/military studies, general education, and physical education.