I will be retiring from the miliatry in 11 months. I have a 21 year background in aviation/management and possess a FAA airframe and powerplant license. I have training in hazardous material handling/incedent response and accident investigation.I am currently 6 hours short of a associates degree with a local college. Are there any other long distance learning schools besides Regents/Excelsior that give credit towards these skills and training?
You might want to look at American Military University and I think I remember that Liberty University was good for someone. J nate
Thomas Edison State College (http://www.tesc.edu), which also has a relationship with the military, grants credit for various FAA certifications. (Usual disclaimer: I received my B.A. from TESC.) Incidentally, I think you'll find that with 21 years of *any* experience in the real world (which, despite what some might say, includes the military), you might be able to pull off a bachelor's degree with mucho portfolio credits. You may want to get the AA along the way for the heck of it, but don't rule out going farther - sooner than you think. If you're not familiar with portfolio credit, you can find a few articles on how TESC does it at: http://levicoff.tripod.com/tesc.htm Caveat note: Regarding American Military University, you should be aware that they are not regionally accredited, which makes their degrees less accepted than those of regionally accredited colleges and universities.
Along with Steve's good advice regarding life experience portfolios, remember that military training has been evaluated and recommended for credit by the American Council for Education. While schools are not bound by these recommendations, thousands of colleges and universities use these guides to award credit for military training. See your admissions officer for details. Rich Douglas
See: http://www.tesc.edu/prospective/undergraduate/credit/licenses.php#aviation for details of TESC and aviation certifications. Since you hold an A&P, I see: FAA Mechanic Certificate/Airframe and Powerplant Rating 55 That's almost 1/2 a BA right there. (Alot better than my Commercial pilot with instrument rating would get me) -me
Below is the text from a flyer I prepared last year for my university. I've tried to remove anything that was specific to my school. Most colleges (RA, DL, Residential, etc.) will accept ACE credits within certain guidelines. Hworth Here's the info: Get College Credit for Your Military Experience! The American Council on Education (ACE) has evaluated training courses offered by the Army, Air Force (graduate only), Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Air Force training courses are evaluated for undergraduate credit through the Community College of the Air Force. Army (Regular Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserves) If you served in the Army, you need to have an Army/ACE Registry Transcript (AART) sent directly to your university. To obtain this form, FAX a request to (913) 684-2011. The request must contain the following items: your name, social security number, enlisted entry date, current address, and signature. In the request you should also include your university's address to which you want the AART sent. This process can also be completed online. For more information on the AART, visit their web site: <www-leav.army.mil/AARTS>. Air Force (Air Force and Air Force Reserves) Undergraduate Students Only: If you served in the Air Force, you need to have a copy of your Community College of the Air Force transcript sent directly to your university. You can request a copy transcript be sent to your university by calling (800) 842-5912. (All Air Force training evaluated for college credit should appear on this transcript.) Navy (Regular Navy or Navy Reserves) If you served in the Navy, you currently have two choices. 1) You may obtain a Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART). You can request a SMART by visiting their web site: <www.navycollege.navy.mil>. Or, 2) you may obtain an original DD Form 295. You can request this form from the National Personnel Records Center using a DD Form 180. You can request a DD Form 180 by calling (314) 538-4141. For more information, visit their web site: <www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.html>. Either the DD Form 295 or the SMART should be sent directly to your university. Coast Guard (Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserves) If you served in the Coast Guard, you need to obtain an original DD Form 295. You can request these forms from the National Personnel Records Center using a DD Form 180. You can request a DD Form 180 by calling (314) 538-4141. For more information, visit their web site: <www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.html>. The DD Form 295 should be sent directly to your university. Marine Corps (Marines and USMC Reserves) If you served in the Marine Corps, you currently have two choices. 1) You may obtain an original Marine Corps Maintenance Training and Evaluation Program (MATMEP) summary sheet. You can request this form from the National Personnel Records Center using a DD Form 180. You can request a DD Form 180 by calling (314) 538-4141. For more information, visit their web site: <www.nara.gov/regional/mpr.html>. Or, 2) you may obtain a Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART). You may request a SMART by visiting <www.navycollege.navy.mil>. Either the MATMEP summary sheet or the SMART should be sent directly to your university.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha, through their College of Continuing Studies, has program that will allow you to earn a Bachelors in General Studies (BGS) with a concentration in Aviation Administration or Aviation Studies. In addition to being entirely online, they will also grant you credit for your FAA licenses. http://www.ccs.unomaha.edu/ap/a_b.html#avi Gus Sainz
First of, all congratulations on your fast-approaching retirement. Many don't last 21 years. It takes real dedication. I have 14 years in the Army myself. God willing, in six (or so) years, I will join you in the vast pool of elbow-rubbers that makes up the good-ol'-boy-retired-military network. I agree with what Steve Levicoff said about obtaining credit from portfolio assessment. Some colleges, such as Excelsior, Charter Oak, and Thomas Edison don't have limits on the number of credits you can earn from work experience. But, if none of these meets your expectations, check out the following link, which explains (not in great detail) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's policy on granting credit for work experience: http://www.ec.erau.edu/arr/webcrdt.html The key, of course, is to get your AART, as mentioned by hworth. Embry-Riddle will probably not allow as much credit for your work experience as Excelsior, Chater Oak, or Thomas Edison would, though. I would also check with your base education center. Fort Rucker, for the uninitiated, is the "Home of Army Aviation," and the education couselors there may have some additional information on educational opportunities for those involved in Army aviation. One last point, if you haven't already done so, check out http://www.armycbt.army.mil . This site offers free computer-based training for active-duty Army personnel. Once you retire, the training is still available, but you'll have to pay $2000 per year for it. So, take advantage of it while it's still free for you. GIJoe, I wish you the best of luck and all of God's blessings. Tracy Gies <><
