Just to be clear, Advanced Enlistment = Advanced Rank = Advanced Pay = Better Opportunity! While there are several programs (ie. JROTC, Boys Scouts/Girl Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, etc) that will allow you to enlist with advanced rank, if haven’t done one of those programs then enlisting with some college credit will be your best option. The below blog summarized the different policies how you can obtain advanced enlistment rank for college credits for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard.
Army Advanced Enlistment with College Credits
- You can enlist as an E-2, PV2 – Private 2, if you have successfully completed 24 or more classroom semester hours (36 or more quarter hours) at an accredited degree granting college or university.
- You can enlist as an E-3, PFC – Private First Class, if you have successfully completed 48 or more classroom semester hours (72 or more quarter hours) (without a 4-year degree) at an accredited degree granting college or university.
- You can enlist as an E-4, SPC – Specialist, if you have successfully completed a bachelor’s program at an accredited degree granting college or university.
E-4 Note: Advanced promotion is authorized if college or university provides a letter stating the applicant has met all requirements for a degree, but it will not be awarded until commencement ceremony. Members who lack documentation required for advanced promotion under the above conditions at time of enlistment may submit supporting documents to the personnel officer within 6 months of enlistment.
Air Force Advanced Enlistment with College Credits
- You can enlist as an E-2, Amn – Airman, if you have successfully completed 20 semester hours or 30 quarter hours of college credit at an accredited degree granting college or university.
- You can enlist as an E-3, A1C – Airman First Class, if you have successfully completed 45 semester hours or 67 quarter hours of college credit at an accredited degree granting college or university.
Navy Advanced Enlistment with College Credits
- You can enlist as an E-2, SA – Seaman Apprentice, if you have successfully completed 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of college credits at an accredited degree granting college or university.
- You can enlist as an E-3, SN – Seaman, if you have successfully completed 48 or more semester hours or 72 or more quarter hours of college credits at an accredited degree granting college or university.
Marines Advanced Enlistment with College Credits
- You can enlist as an E-2, PFC – Private First Class, if you have successfully completed 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours at an accredited degree granting college or university.
Coast Guard Advanced Enlistment with College Credits
- You can enlist as an E-2, SA/FA/AA – Seaman/Fireman/Airman Apprentice, if you have successfully completed 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours at an accredited degree granting college or university.
- You can enlist as an E-3, SN/FN/AN – Seaman/Fireman/Airman, if you have successfully completed 48 or more classroom semester hours (72 or more quarter hours) at an accredited degree granting college or university.
The Fine Print
In order to receive credit for college semester hours or college degrees awarded, the college or university must be listed in the American Council on Education’s Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education (AIPE). Foreign universities must be accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). Foreign university transcripts will be evaluated prior to being accepted. Vocational Technical (VO TEC) schools must be listed in AIPE as well.
Documents must be original, certified, or evaluated as required. Effective date and date of rank for soldiers who lacked documentation at time of enlistment will be the effective date of the promotion by the unit commander. No retroactive adjustment is authorized.
Recruits who join with advanced rank are paid the rate of base pay for that advanced rank right from the first day of active duty (the day you ship out to basic training). However you do NOT get to actually wear your rank until you graduate from basic training. In basic, everyone is treated the same , just lower than dog feces!
College level courses must have a course number of 100 or greater (meaning NO remedial courses). College hours do not have to be completed in the same semester or quarter.
The Marines are the only branch which specify a minimum grade point average of C+ (2.3 or better on 4.0 scale). However, I wouldn’t recommend below a GPA average of C (2.0 or better on 4.0 scale) for the other branches.
Does CLEP Count Towards
College Credit for Advanced Enlistment?
Answer: Yes, but you must challenge it.
Now the question of whether CLEP credits count towards military enlistment has been rehashed many times over the years on various forums. And there is no consensus, so most of it is personal opinion. Even if you ask several recruiters you’re going to get various answers, so this is also based on personal opinion.
Disclaimer: The below is my analysis on the subject matter after hours of research. The Military Entrance Processing Station, aka MEPS, ALWAYS has the final say!
If your recruiter or MEPS tell you CLEP doesn’t count, then request a copy of the regulation in writing. Most likely it just simply states college credit must be received from a recognized college. This leaves open for interpretation if that means a traditional “butts in the seat” college vs online colleges and credit-by-exam (ie. CLEP & DSST).
I would say if it does not explicated state in writing that CLEP/DSST are excluded, then challenge your recruiter for rejecting your CLEP credits. Because as long as you are able to present a valid college transcript from a recognized college (ie. your college is eligible for FAFSA from the Dept of Education, no “paper mill” schools) and your college recognizes CLEP/DSST credits on your transcript then you meet this qualifications. Now granted a college probably will not release a transcript with ONLY CLEP/DSST Credits, so you have to take at least one course directly through the college.
Read G-Man’s Story on DegreeForum.net for more proof!
“Some feedback. I went with my nephew to the recruiters office today and when they mentioned the “rule” about DSSTs not being acceptable for college credit I did as was suggessted above, I asked to see it in writing. As others on the board have guessed, it’s not in there, in fact not one word about CLEP or DSSTs is even mentioned. But what **was** listed was the fact that Charter Oak State College is a fully accredited college and that their transcripts are to be considered as proof of having earned credit.”
My motto, college credit is college credit!
For those of you who don’t know what the CLEP is watch the below video.
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