Military Education, military education, service programs, G.I. Bill - Military Times

Education: Service programs — Army

Army Continuing Education System. ACES centers in the U.S. and overseas sponsor a variety of programs for high school completion, college and vocational-technical courses, non-traditional programs and testing services.

Contact: Visit GoArmyEd Web portal at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/education/index.html. For personal assistance, contact local education centers.

Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System. This popular service for active-duty Army, National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers generates an official transcript that reflects military education and training, job experience, and educational testing achievements, with the college credits recommended for each by the American Council on education.

The transcript provides prospective colleges and civilian employers with a means to evaluate a soldier’s achievements. The transcripts are free and can be used to gain academic credits when applying for college or enrolling in a vocational-technical school.

Contact: Get a transcript request form at http://aarts.army.mil/Form.htm and should be mailed to the AARTS Operations Center, 298 Grant Ave., Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-1254, or faxed to (913) 684-9497.

Army College Fund. The ACF is an enlistment incentive designed to help recruit soldiers into critical or short-staffed military occupational specialties. It works in tandem with the Montgomery GI Bill; soldiers cannot use the ACF without being eligible for the GI Bill. Amounts vary based on length of enlistment.

Contact: Visit the GoArmyEd Web portal at https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/ education/index.html, or contact an Army recruiter.

eArmyU. An online program launched in 2001, eArmyU enables eligible soldiers to work toward college degrees and certificates “anytime, anywhere” at 25 regionally accredited colleges and universities offering 145 certificate and degree programs.

Through eArmyU, soldiers have the opportunity to earn a certificate or an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree from a home college while taking courses from multiple colleges. Web-based courses offer unique “anytime, anywhere” flexibility, allowing soldiers to study at times that are most convenient for them — even as their responsibilities, schedules and duty assignments change.

The program provides comprehensive support services, including mentors, a 24-hour help desk, an Internet service provider, an e-mail account and 100 percent tuition assistance, books and courses fees, up to normal tuition assistance limits.

Contact: (800) 817-9990; http://www .earmyu.com

Green to Gold. There are two options to this program, which is designed to offer enlisted soldiers with at least two years of active duty an opportunity to earn an Army commission as a second lieutenant.

The scholarship option is for soldiers who want to compete for a two-, three- or four-year Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship. Applicants must be under age 31, have a GT score of 110 or better, and meet all requirements for a commission and a college baccalaureate degree.

The scholarship pays tuition or room-and-board support; money for textbooks, supplies and equipment; and a monthly living expenses stipend for up to 10 months each school year. Participants incur a four-year active-duty service obligation.

A nonscholarship version of this option is available to soldiers who have at least two years of college, and can earn a degree in less than two years using their Montgomery GI Bill and Army College Fund benefits. Participants incur a three-year active duty service obligation.

A second Green to Gold option is for soldiers with at least two years of college credits who want to stay on active duty while they complete their undergraduate or graduate degree requirements.

While in the program for up to 24 months, soldiers continue to draw active-duty pay. If qualified, they can use their Montgomery GI Bill and Army College Fund benefits.

Contact: http://www.goarmy.com/ rotc/enlisted_soldiers.jsp, or contact an installation education center counselor or an Army ROTC professor of military science.