R 101430Z MAY 17
MARADMIN 227/17
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG MCCDC QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (PME) AND TRAINING//
REF/A/CMC MESSAGE TO THE FORCE 2017/SEIZE THE INITIATIVE//
REF/B/2017 INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL TASK LIST NARR/REF A IS THE COMMANDANT OF MARINE CORPS INITIATIVE MESSAGE DTD 7 FEBRUARY 2017. REF B IS COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS TASK LIST MESSAGE DTD 7 FEBRUARY 2017.//
POC/JAMES ANDERSON/DR/MCU/LOC: QUANTICO/TEL 703 784-6917/EMAIL: JAMES.ANDERSON@USMCU.EDU//
Gentext/Rmks/1. Purpose. Per references (a) and (b), the Commandant has re-emphasized the importance of continuing education. As part of that effort, this message provides information to Marines on the various programs and pathways that currently exist to obtain academic credit for their professional military education (PME), military occupation specialty (MOS) training, and work experience towards a civilian college degree. It also describes initiatives underway to develop additional opportunities for obtaining a degree.
2.  Background. Too many Marines are unaware of the variety of programs and pathways that exist to use the training and education they have already received from the Marine Corps towards college credit(s). The Marine Corps Voluntary Education Centers, managed by the Personal and Professional Development Branch of Headquarters Marine Corps, provide educational services and programs to help Marines complete undergraduate and graduate degrees via traditional and online methods through a network of regionally accredited colleges and universities. The Centers Education Services Officers are the best source of information to help identify the available degree programs that best fit a Marines background, interests, and goals. They also assist with tuition assistance (TA) applications, help with scheduling and preparing for Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support/College Level Examination Program exams (tests which demonstrate mastery of a subject without having to take the full course), and professional certification testing. The installation Education Centers also invite colleges and universities to teach on-base classes on evenings and weekends.
2.A.  In general, an associates degree requires a minimum of 60 college credits (typically calculated in “hours”), and a bachelors degree requires 120 credits or more. Degree programs also require certain types of credit (numbers of hours in certain subjects). Each college or university determines how many, and what type, of credits are required for its specific degree programs.  Each Marine should seek to understand how his or her own educational and training experience may apply to the type of degree they seek.
2.B.  The Marine Corps has adopted a “partnership approach” to continuing education.  This approach consists of informing Marines of existing opportunities with civilian institutions, as well as initiatives aimed at enhancing such partnerships.
3.  Existing Opportunities. The partnership approach assists Marines by maximizing the amount of credit they receive for military training, education, and experience through (1) evaluation by the American Council on Education (ACE) and (2) partnership with accredited college and universities.
3.A.  ACE evaluation.  ACE evaluates military training and education courses in order to make recommendations about how much, and what type, of academic credit colleges and universities should grant to Marines who have successfully completed those courses. Some colleges and universities will take the ACE recommendations, others use them as a guide.
3.A.1.  For more information on military courses evaluated by ACE go to: http:(slant)(slant)www.acenet.edu/news-room/Pages/Military-Guide-Online.aspx.
3.A.2.  For a list of colleges and universities that accept ACE credit recommendations go to: http:(slant)(slant)www2.acenet.edu/CREDITCollegeNetwork/.
3.B.  Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC). Formally known as the SOC Consortium, the SOC Degree Network System (DNS) consists of 155 regionally accredited colleges and universities that offer associate and bachelors degree programs to service members, including distance learning programs at or near base education centers worldwide. Many courses offered by DNS institutions have two-way guaranteed transferability, making it easier for Marines to complete associate or bachelors degrees no matter where they move during their military careers. Marines select a “home college" to grant their degree and, through a student agreement, the home college promises to accept up to 75 percent of the hours required for the degree as transfer credits.  For more information go to: http:(slant)(slant)www.soc.aascu.org/.
3.C.  Joint Service Transcript (JST). A Marines formal training and education is documented on his or her JST, which is available online. This document describes the courses a Marine has completed, and how many and what type of credit ACE recommends for each course. Marines can obtain an unofficial copy of their JST, and request an official copy be sent to a particular college, online via the JST website at:  https:(slant)(slant)jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.do.
3.D.  Pursuing a Degree Program. Marines can take advantage of existing degree opportunities by performing the following steps:
3.D.1.  Step 1.  Review JST and ensure it reflects all of the training and education completed to date.
3.D.2.  Step 2.  Meet with an Education Services Officer at local installation education center to review JST and select a home college and degree program.
3.D.3.  Step 3.  Choose a degree program and a home college.
3.D.4.  Step 4.  Submit a Student Agreement to the home college and a request for Tuition Assistance.
3.D.5.  Step 5.  Complete required coursework (depending on the program, credits may be earned by resident and/or distance courses, or examination).
4.  Enhancing Initiatives. In addition to the existing voluntary educational programs described above, the Marine Corps continues to explore new opportunities for Marines to further their education, not only for them to receive recognition for their achievements, but to better prepare them for assuming greater and greater positions of leadership and responsibility. Developing efforts include the following:
4.A.  Enlisted Professional Development and Enhancement Working Group(EPDEWG). In October 2015, Marine Corps University established EPDEWG. The purpose of this working group is to meet the Commandants intent to enhance existing pathways through which Enlisted Marines are afforded opportunities to pursue certifications, associates, and/or bachelors degree.
4.A.1.  The EPDEWG works to synchronize the efforts of the various Marine Corps organizations with equities in the professional development of Marines. Members of the EPDEWG include: Training and Education Command (TECOM), Personal and Professional Development Branch Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Education Command/Marine Corps University (MCU), Training Command, Headquartes Marine Corps (HQMC), Intelligence Department, HQMC, Command, Control, Communications, and Computers Department (C4), Voluntary Education Centers (VOLED), Excelsior University, University of Maryland University Colleges (UMUC), and Parks University.
4.A.2.  MOS-to-degree model. In December 2016, the EPDEWG began a 12-month pilot program in conjunction with a civilian community college for Marines in the Cybersecurity field to earn an associates degree by combining MOS training, online courses, and specific “surge” classes (resident civilian courses compressed into a short two-week session). The concept behind the pilot is that individual Marines receive not only credit for their required training, but also additional education in their field in order to be more knowledgeable and proficient.  The purpose of the pilot is to assess whether such a model can be applied to most or all MOSs across the Marine Corps. Final assessment results will be available in the spring of 2018.  For more information go to: https:(slant)(slant)www.usmcu.edu/enlisted-professional-development-and-enhancement-initiative.
4.B.  Sailor/Marine Online Academic Advisor (SMOLAA). SMOLAA is an online tool that works in conjunction with JST to aid Marines in exploring options for earning a college degree. TECOM is in the initial stage of planning the Marine Corps components of the tool. The tool will allow Marines to search for degree programs by MOS, school, or program using their academic history recorded on the JST.  Depending on the college degree plan selected, SMOLAA will indicate the total credit hours Marines must complete to earn that degree. To view the tool, log on the JST site and select the: “Degree Shop/SMOLAA” link.
4.C.  Credit for Enlisted PME (EPME) requirements. EPME requirements are established on a continuum by rank, consisting of distance prerequisite courses administered by Marine Corps University College of Distance Education and Training (CDET), and subsequent resident courses administered by either a regional Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy or a CDET led seminar.  They also include rank specific Region, Culture, and Language Familiarization (RCLF) requirements developed by the Universitys Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning (CAOCL). In addition to CAOCLs pending ACE evaluation, MCU is exploring other avenues for credit.
4.C.1.  Articulation Agreements. Articulation agreements are formal agreements between colleges or universities to accept certain amounts and types of credit for particular courses or programs. MCU is coordinating with several community colleges and universities to evaluate EPME, to include RCLF, for undergraduate credits towards specific programs. Once credit is determined, it will be announced via Marine Administrative Message (MARADMIN) and posted on the MCU website: https:(slash)(slash)www.usmcu.edu/.
4.C.2.  Marine Corps University Fact books. CDET, together with the EPME Branch, and CAOCL are compiling a fact book that will provide the necessary academic information for civilian university officials to determine credits by college course for all EPME and RCLF courses. In addition to assisting MCU with pursuing additional articulation agreements with select colleges and universities in the future, the fact book will be available online via the MCU website for individual Marines to use in seeking to obtain credit from a college or university of their choice.
5.  Conclusion. The Marine Corps invests significant time and money into training and educating Marines to perform their duties, provides additional opportunity to leverage that training and education into appropriate academic credit and further education, and is actively seeking to develop additional opportunities. Marines invest significant time and effort into developing their MOS proficiency and their critical thinking skills.  All Marines are strongly encouraged to make their continuing education a high priority, and to use the information described in this message to seek out opportunities to earn an appropriate degree.
6.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General, Robert S. Walsh, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command.//