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Off-Duty Education: Army Programs

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, nontraditional programs and testing services.

Information about all Army education programs may be accessed through the GoArmyEd Web portal at http://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 (2,000 requests per week) for Regular 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: A transcript request form can be found online at http://aarts.army.mil/Form.htm and should be mailed to the AARTS Operations Center, 415 McPherson Ave., Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-1373, or faxed to (913) 684-2011 or DSN 552-2011.

Army College Fund

The ACF is an enlistment incentive designed to help recruit soldiers into critical or short-staffed military occupational specialties. When combined with the basic Montgomery GI Bill entitlement, ACF benefits range from $35,640 to $71,424, depending on length of enlistment.

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

eArmyU

An online program launched in 2001, eArmyU has more than 60,000 soldier-students in 50 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, participating in 145 degree programs from 27 regionally accredited universities.

Through eArmyU, soldiers have the opportunity to earn a certificate or an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree from a home college while taking courses from multiple colleges. Web-based courses offer “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, to include mentors, a 24-hour help desk, an Internet service provider, an email account and 100 percent tuition assistance, books and courses fees, up to the normal tuition assistance limits of $250 per semester hour and $4,500 per year.

Contact: (800) 817-9990 or visit 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 the 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 Officers’ 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: Go online to http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/enlisted_soldiers.jsp, or contact an installation education center counselor or an Army ROTC professor of military science.