The Military has some of the most advanced training on earth, and their training is often training that you cannot get in the civilian world. In recent years, the DoD and Congress has began to realize that the experience and training that our Servicemembers and brave members of the Armed Forces receive should be documented and credit given. There is an Army program that was set up to help recognize this training and experience is called the Army American Registry For Education Transcripts, or AARTS for short. In the AARTS program, the credit and experience that you have gained through your military duty and service is often worth College or University credit. This credit is dependent on the kinds of training you have received, under what conditions, and the length of time that you were involved in the training or job duty.
In addition to giving direct college credit, the AARTS program has some other benefits as well.
The AARTS system is designed specifically to award college level credit for the experiences and training that the Soldier has participated in during their military Career. It is a valuable supplement to the civilian resume that a soldier has after their military service, and it also gives a prospective employer a better idea of the kind of experience and responsibilities that the Servicemember has participated in.
The AARTS transcript program is one that was started by the Army in conjunction with the American Council on Education, and it is a transcript system that is computerized. It receives data from a number of different sources, and then compiles the information along with recommendations for what college credit should be awarded to the soldier, based on their training and experience. This transcript allows a particular college or university to then award credit based on what is found on the AARTS transcript. It is a convenient way to help Army personnel convert their experiences to valuable college credit. While the Army has access to much of the information, it is the soldier’s responsibility to request an AARTS transcript. To do that they need to get and application and apply in writing.
You are eligible for an AARTS transcript if you are a member of the Regular Army, Army National Guard, or US Army Reserve. There is talk about expanding this program for the other services but at the current time the only service that offers it is the Army.
