US Navy and Non Traditional Education

[G-Man]

Some background. My nephew wants to join the Navy. He's 18, dropped out of school and left home at age 16. He passed the GED in January. Over the last few months he's completed 39 credits via CLEP and DSST exams using only InstantCert to prepare. He enrolled in the credit bank at Charter Oak State College and has had all his credits put on an official college transcript.

Here's the problem, the local navy recruitment education specialist refuses to accept the credits earned via DSST exams. She says the navy doesn't award credit for DSST. A strange story considering these exams are administered at every military testing center in the world. The scores are all well above passing and as mentioned are listed on an official COSC transcript. I've talked to 3 different recruiters and none can explain or understand why the education specialist is doing this but they have been unable to resolve this problem. It seems this minor paper pusher is making up her own rules and nobody local has the authority to over rule her.

My question, does anyone reading this have a suggestion as to who I could call or write to on my nephew's behalf to resolve this. I'm retired Army myself and know the military is a **big** advocate of non traditional education and credit by examination, so I'm sure this is just one person doing their own thing and not official policy. Thanks in advance for all your suggestions!

[pitbull30]

Im not sure If i understand your question? Hes trying to join? Dont you need a HS diploma? Why do you want them on a Navy Transcript?

I beleive you should contact the Navy college or similar organization.https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/

As far as accpetance goes I beleive you can have them all added to your SMART transcript when your in the military. I didnt even know about DSST when I was in the military but I beleive "Michael Gates" from the VAJOE Forum did this. or added his FEMA credit to his SMART..Or perhaps someone else on that forum.

Go to the va joe forum and poke around there. Try a search to see if you can find the topic im talking about. Someone there will know. Then come back and let us know what happened.

Military Forum - VAJoe.com

[G-Man]

Yes, he wants to enlist. He's not trying to get the credits on a navy transcript, he's trying to get the navy to recognize the credit as valid. This effects whether or not he's eligible for a bonus and his rank at enlistment as well as what jobs he's eligible for. Thanks for the suggestion, I will check out the forum you mention.

[barcotta]

I'm sure this will barely be a modicum of help, but my brother-in-law was in Officers Candidate School (or whatever it's called) in the Navy when he injured his back. While recovering, they brought the various tests to him in his hospital bed and he completed his Bachelors through Excelsior--in bed. He had credit from being part of the nuclear program and graduated with a degree in liberal arts. I don't know if he took CLEP AND DSST, but it seems to me that it would be difficult using CLEP and existing credit only.

[pitbull30]

Gman,

Check your PM

[Old Rusty Pipe]

I'm in the Navy. I tried finding some kind of regulation or instruction on this one and Google has failed me. Still this sounds fishy because the Navy tends to accept anything accredited by ACE. Also, as someone else pointed out the Navy pays for DANTES exams at the college offices on any given base. The whole DANTES testing started primarily because of the military. That being said, ask the educational specialist to prove what they are saying in writing. If the Navy doesn't accept a DANTES exam for this purpose, it absolutely MUST be in an instruction. Because it sounds to me like they are accepting CLEP exams. Again, if its not backed up in writing in a policy or instruction then they are wrong. If the education specialist cannot back it up in writing but still refuses to accept the DANTES credit, speak with their superior. Push the issue up the chain of command until someone can show you in writing that they will not accept DANTES credit. Until then, don't let him sign anything. There is no such thing as a verbal agreement when going through MEPS. If its not in the paperwork before he ships off, it doesn't matter if the credit would have really been accepted.

[G-Man]

Now that was some good advice! Especially the get it in writing part. I've obviously gotten out of practice but thinking back now, the get it in writing thing was really pounded into me during my days in uniform. I should have thought of it myself, but I didn't. If it isn't in writing it didn't happen. Thanks for taking the time to post, I'll be sure to take those words to heart.

[Basket Weaver]

Having been in the military for nearly 24 years, and counting, and a supervisor for a great deal of those years, I don't buy what they are telling him. The other responses were spot on for the military being VERY generous in accepting DTTS & Clep exams, I would know as most of both of my degrees were tested out of; the military recognizes them both.

#1. As mentioned above, ask for the regulation--in writing--that stipulates why they will not accept these credits. The military would grind to a screeching halt if it did not have regulations for everything. Nothing is justified unless there is a reg covering it.

#2. Ask to speak to this person's supervisor. Often times a newbie will act like they know what they are talking about; but don't. I can't count the times I've been given bad info just to find out it was bogus when I either checked the regs or spoke to their supervisor. In the military, EVERYONE has a boss, ask that person DIRECTLY who their boss is, then speak to them directly. Do not settle for any other answer and don't take any lip off of them either. Do this at the base of the person who is making this judgment, if possible, or befriend a person at the same position at the nearest base to you.

#3. I'm going to give this next suggestion with a grain of salt.... If my son or daughter were to join the military, I would personally accompany them and scrutinize EVERY word that came out of the recruiter's mouth. I know there are good one's out there, I personally know some. However, there are a lot that will say and do anything to meet their quota. If there are vacancies that need filling, they will steer people towards them. Again, I don't want to make judgments, but this is a very important decision and you need to have ALL of the facts and choices.

I hope this helps, feel free to PM me if you need more info. Regards, Lee

[Kiwi Lover]

Originally Posted by barcotta

While recovering, they brought the various tests to him in his hospital bed and he completed his Bachelors through Excelsior--in bed.

I love that!!!!!!

[pitbull30]

Alittle off topic here. But for gmans info the nuclear guys get something like 30-60 credits for there job added to there SMART transcript once they get out. Not sure in what categories though