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Military Members: Earning Credit

Educational Experiences in the Armed Services

UMUC grants credit for military experience and study completed in service schools on the basis of the recommendations by the American Council on Education (ACE) in Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. Such credit is granted only if it is applicable to the student's chosen UMUC curriculum. UMUC generally accepts recommendations of ACE for lower-level and upper-level credit. Recommendations made by ACE for vocational or technical credit are considered on the same basis as, and with the same limitations as, those placed on nonmilitary sources of credit.

Servicemembers Opportunity College

UMUC is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity College Consortium and the SOC Degree Network System. The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), established in 1972, are a consortium of national higher education associations and more than 1,700 institutional members. SOC Consortium institutional members subscribe to principles and criteria to ensure that quality academic programs are available to military students, their family members, civilian employees of the Department of Defense and Coast Guard, and veterans.

The SOC Degree Network System consists of a subset of SOC Consortium member institutions selected by the military services to deliver specific associate's and bachelor's degree programs to servicemembers and their families. Institutional members of the SOC Degree Network System agree to special requirements and obligations that provide military students, their spouses, and their college-age children with opportunities to complete college degrees without suffering loss of academic credit because of changes of duty station.

SOC operates the two- and four-year Degree Network System for the Army (SOCAD), Navy (SOCNAV), Marine Corps (SOCMAR), Coast Guard (SOCCOAST). Information and the SOC Degree Network System-2 and -4 Handbooks are available at the SOC Web site and on the SOCAD, SOCNAV, SOCMAR, and SOCCOAST home pages.

Army, Navy, and Marine Training

When available, an Army/ACE Registry Transcript (AARTS) should be submitted for evaluation of Service Schools and Military Occupational Specialties for Army training or a Sailor-Marine ACE Registry Transcript (SMART) for Navy or Marine training and enlisted ratings. AARTS/SMART transcripts are the most effective means of documenting the learning servicemembers have acquired through their military experiences. Individuals who have been or are enlisted with the Regular Army are eligible for an AARTS transcript. Individuals with previous training in the U.S. Navy since 1975 or in the U.S. Marine Corps since 1990 are eligible to request an official SMART transcript.

Students who submit the AARTS/SMART transcript do not need to submit DD Form 2-1 or DD Form 295. UMUC recommends, however, that soldiers request a transcript copy for themselves to ensure that all of their military courses have been included. Students seeking credit for work not documented on the AARTS/SMART transcript should submit a DD Form 2-1, DD Form 295, or other documentation to verify their experiences. Students who submit an AARTS/SMART transcript do not need any other documentation to verify the following items listed on an AARTS/SMART transcript: SQT or SDT results, scores on CLEP and DSST exams, and Defense Language Proficiency Tests (DLPT). For example, if all CLEP and DSST tests are included on the AARTS/SMART transcript, students do not need to submit a DSST transcript as well.

For work not covered by AARTS/SMART transcripts, other documentation must be submitted. For DLI, the National Cryptologic Institute, and ALMC, official transcripts must be requested directly from the issuing institution. If documentation originates from other sources, "true" copies (certified by the personnel officer, legal officer, or commander) must be submitted to UMUC Asia. The documents listed here, in conjunction with an ACE credit recommendation, can lead to the assignment of credit applicable to a student's UMUC Asia degree program:

  • Army and Navy Service Schools: DD Form 2-1 or DD Form 295 (retired and former military use DD Form 214) or NAVPERS 1070-604
  • Army MOS Credit-Enlisted (E-6 to E-9): NCOER or Form 2166-5A (one or more) which covers no less than 12 consecutive months in a single MOS. To be considered for MOS credit before 1994, other ranks may submit documentation of SQT or SDT examinations
  • Warrant Officers: OER covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months for MOS credit and an ORB for service school training

Retired and Former Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard

Former servicemembers who are unable to secure an AARTS/SMART transcript need to submit certified true copies of documents shown below. Those seeking VA benefits must submit appropriate documents. Students should begin the process as soon as possible.

Army
DD Form 214 or MOS documentation listed in the previous paragraphs. Microfiche records are available from:
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC)
9700 Page Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63132
Web: www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/index.html

Navy
DD Form 214 or NAVPERS 1070-604 for Enlisted or NAVPERS 601-4 and 1611/1 for Warrant Officers and LDOs.

Marine Corps
DD Form 214
Marine Corps Institute Transcript
(submit request at www.mci.usmc.mil)

Coast Guard
DD Form 214
Coast Guard Institute Transcript
Web: www.uscg.mil/hq/cgi

Community College of the Air Force (CCAF)

UMUC awards credit for study at service schools of the U.S. Air Force in accordance with recommendations from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). Credits must be applicable to the student's chosen curriculum at UMUC, must meet other UMUC requirements for transfer credit, and are subject to the same limitations as those placed on nonmilitary credit.

  • All credit from the CCAF is lower-level credit and is applicable only to freshman and sophomore requirements.
  • Since the CCAF records satisfactorily completed courses as S (satisfactory) and specifies that S equals a grade of C or better, credit may be applied wherever appropriate in the UMUC curriculum. Courses that are vocational or technical may be used only as electives up to a maxiumum of 21 credits.