3 Ways to Get College Credit from Your Joint Services Transcript (JST)

Capt Craig Gilman — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 11:23:36 -0400

(Image courtesy of American Military University)

As a military or veteran student, you’ve gained valuable training, skills, and experience while serving your country, which is documented in your Joint Services Transcript (JST). You’re probably aware that your JST can be used to earn transfer credit when applying to school, but are you taking full advantage of the different types of military college credits available?

Step 1: Use Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) to Your Advantage

To understand how your JST can help get the most transfer credit into your chosen college degree, first you need to understand the variety of ways in which transfer credit can be achieved.

Generally, PLA refers to any means of bringing transfer credit into a degree program at any college. Common examples include:
· Prior college learning
· AP examinations from high school
· College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) scores

Some schools offer a structured PLA program to help you maximize the credit you can transfer into an academic program based on your military and life experiences. For adult students with real-world experience, seeking out such schools can be advantageous, because you may be able to graduate sooner and for less cost.

Our PLA program at American Military University (http://rly.pt/amu-b-1) gives you the opportunity to earn credit for learning outside the confines of a traditional classroom, in addition to what may have been earned via the American Council of Education (ACE) or college-level testing. Our unique PLA process allows you to demonstrate this through:
· College-level knowledge
· Skills and abilities as the result of work experience
· Formal corporate or military training not evaluated by ACE
· Business ownership
· Volunteer work
· Independent study
· Travel and many other life experiences

Documentation is Your Friend

Documentation will help you get as many credits as possible. It can include sample work products, training certificates, workplace evaluations, letters of recommendation, and photographs. As a military student, you have the advantage of providing your JST as documentation in support of these requirements.

Consider a military intelligence analyst stationed abroad. While credit may be recommended on the JST due to the analyst’s formal intelligence training, the region-specific knowledge and skills the analyst attained while living abroad will not. However, the analyst can use the JST to verify training, in combination with a resume and narrative to demonstrate years’ worth of experience and observation in a local culture. This could demonstrate the analyst’s mastery of certain learning objectives of a particular course in a degree program, such as intelligence or international relations, and provide sufficient evidence to earn college credit awarded through the PLA process.

Before you apply to such PLA programs, which do require some time, effort and expense—be sure to maximize the more common means of transferring credits into a degree program.

Step 2: Maximize Transfer Credit Using Your JST

The Military Course Completions and Military Experience sections of the JST contain a list of all your military training and occupational assignments. Often, these have been recommended for credit and are certified by ACE. ACE specializes in translating military experience into recommended college credit. Verify that your JST is included with any application when enrolling at a college. First, ask the college to confirm that it will accept relevant credit recommendations from your JST.

Under the Other Learning Experiences section, other training and real-world knowledge and experience is listed. Although no course credit is earned for these experiences, the information is valuable in proving competency for credentialing and qualification for employment. This is important for students attempting to earn additional transfer credits at colleges that offer a prior learning assessment option.

Step 3: Choose Your School & Program Wisely

Be aware that there are limits to the amount of transfer credit any reputable college or university will allow. Institutions of higher education that maintain expectations of academic rigor often have a residency requirement, which stipulates that students must take at least 25 percent of their program at their school in order to award a diploma. Schools that do not enforce this industry standard warrant a second look.

Selecting a specific degree program is a personal and important choice. It should be based on your long-term career and individual goals. If earning a degree in the shortest amount of time is critical to your goals, be sure to first review the degree requirements. Match them to any prior learning you already have, or to what you believe might earn you credit through a PLA program with your JST.
Consider schools that have a history of accepting legitimate transfer credit from legitimate sources, such as prior college credit, college-level testing and ACE-recommended military training. Do not ignore accreditation. As a general rule, for academic degree programs look for regional accreditation. Then, confirm that the school offers a formalized PLA process.

Different schools have different policies regarding the acceptance of transfer credit. Some accept minimal credit based on military training. Some do not provide sufficient military specific services that current and former Servicemembers deserve. So get another opinion. By using these three steps and knowing how PLA works to your advantage, you’ll be well-equipped to maximize the academic credits you may have already earned by serving your nation.

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Aug 26 at 2015 11:57 AM

GySgt John O'Donnell — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 11:57:44 -0400

The Joint Service Transcript was previously known in the Naval services as Sailor-Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART). This was an excellent tool during my transition from the military to a college student, and allowed me to begin my collegiate career with 43 college credits based specifically on my military schools and training.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Aug 26 at 2015 12:03 PM

Capt Brandon Charters — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 12:03:30 -0400

This is really valuable information here that can save students a lot of time in coursework. Based on our professional military experience & education, many of us will qualify for PLA. I studied hard and took 2 CLEP exams going into my grad program and it helped cut an additional semester off of my degree. Sometimes you don't know these opportunities exist until you really look into them and ask your admissions staff. Thanks for sharing Capt Craig Gilman!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 26 at 2015 2:16 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 14:16:55 -0400

The SMART/JST was a godsend for me.

My total "classroom" credits for my Bachelors degree was 3 Upper Level Credits, which was my Capstone Class.

I was able to leverage my MCIs & MOS school for 16 Credits.

I was able to get an additional 27 Credits from Excelsior Exams (Free at Base Education) - 21 of which were upper level.

The rest were DANTES & CLEP.

I have 34 months left on my GI Bill.

Response by SSG Toryn Green made Aug 27 at 2015 9:43 PM

SSG Toryn Green — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 21:43:46 -0400

I have been considering doing the PLA for either AMU or Thomas Edison State College. Does anyone know the differences in the PLA options in those two?

Response by PFC Kyle Corcoran made Aug 29 at 2015 12:39 PM

PFC Kyle Corcoran — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 12:39:07 -0400

This is great information! Thank you for sharing. I do have a question though. Does this pertain to the VMET document (DD FORM 2586)? According to my VMET I have credit recommendations from the American Council on Education. They are as follows:

(1.) In the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in land navigation.

and

(2.) In the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 2 semester hours in physical conditioning, 1 in marksmanship, 1 in first aid, and 2 in military science.

I am currently attending college but none of these credits were able to be applied to the school I'm attending. This might be a silly question but are these credits only for a military college? Are there civilian schools I can attend where these will apply? Thanks for your time!

Response by Capt Craig Gilman made Sep 17 at 2015 3:40 PM

Capt Craig Gilman — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:40:49 -0400

By the way, if you noticed the red sashes being worn by actual American Military University graduates during our annual commencement ceremony (yes, you cross the stage with family and friends in attendance) they are being worn to designate veteran status. We do that for our veterans and it makes a difference. If you are attending another school as a veteran, you might consider approaching that school's administration and suggesting they do the same!

Response by CSM William DeWolf made Nov 19 at 2015 12:48 PM

CSM William DeWolf — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 12:48:25 -0500

Sort of related, I've been trying to get some information concerning courses taken by one of our veteran students with the Community College of the Air Force. I've tried calling and cannot even get someone to answer the phone. I would like to get copies of the syllabi for a couple of courses. Any assistance is appreciated. I've also emailed the Registrar at the Air Force Academy to see if I can get information from them. Have not received a response.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 8:00 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 20:00:56 -0500

Is this somewhat the same as using college credit for heroes?

Response by Capt Craig Gilman made May 15 at 2016 10:13 AM

Capt Craig Gilman — Sun, 15 May 2016 10:13:14 -0400

Is any one using their JST to earn college credit?

Response by SP5 Danie Massaro made Jan 26 at 2018 10:30 AM

SP5 Danie Massaro — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 10:30:33 -0500

I find this pretty funny as AMU barely took any of my JST credits, and the professors are not very military or full time employed adult friendly for that matter. Also the classes have drastically decreased in quality over the past few years. They plagiarism their course materials by copy pasting and not citing their sources properly then expect you to actually use it. They are violating copyright infringement by scanning books from public libraries and not even bothering hiding the Public library stamps and then using the material to profit from students this is not just one book or course. I have not be given a real Ebook in two years. There is no quality assurance on the courses as I was taking a psychology class referenced an actual book that provided the actual correct answer and I was told I was wrong it was not the best answer. I lost all my money because I was forced to drop the class before I could appeal and get my money back. Then they told me there was nothing wrong with their class that I emailed them about every single week with cited corrections for poor quality tests from a psychology book i own. DO NOT GO TO AMERICAN MILITARY UNIVERSITY OR AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY. Go find a better quality school. AMERICAN MILITARY UNIVERSITY IS A JOKE! There are other schools that will give you more credits for military experience and the instructors are a lot more willing to work with you. I would have graduated while still using tuition assistance 5 years ago if it weren't for non-military friendly instructors and having to drop so many courses.

Response by SGT Ryan Lawson made Jan 29 at 2018 5:18 PM

SGT Ryan Lawson — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 17:18:22 -0500

Argosy University Twin Cities gives life experience credits, takes JSTs, accepts VA benefits, and gives 20% deal for active, reserve, or vets. Has accredited 100% online too! Associates-Doctoral.