How to Request Military Transcripts

Are you getting out of the military? Are you going to college now that your contract is up? Remember how your recruiter told you that you will be able to turn your military experience into college credit? Well, your recruiter was right. Requesting military transcripts is a fairly simple process. It is also an important step to take when choosing a college.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Army

1. Get online. Go to the AARTS website at http://aarts.army.mil/. Click on the second link down from the top on the left side of the page. It will say "Get an AARTS Web Transcript." You can either select "Personal Transcript" or Official Transcript." On the next page, enter the information as it requests: SSN, Birth Date and BASD or PEBD. A page will appear that identifies you by your name and rank. Click on the "View Transcripts" option.

2. View a summary of every class, school and training session you ever went through while in the Army. Print this form and fax/scan/mail it to your school.

3. Ask your prospective school to do an evaluation of your credits before you commit. When the results come back, the ball is now in your court to choose which college is right for you.

Navy and Marine Corps

4. Get online. The Navy and the Marine Corps use the same website to request transcripts. Go to https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/transcript.html. Click on "How to Obtain Copies of SMART." Next, click on "Click here to view/download your unofficial transcript."

5. Click on the appropriate link, either active duty or veteran.

6. Fill in the required information and follow the directions.

7. Log in to the website now that you've received your password. Click on the "Transcripts" tab on the top left side of the page. Click on "Transcript" and now you will be able to view and print your transcript to send to your school.

Air Force

8. Get online. Go to http://www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/. On the right side of the page, click on "CCAF Transcripts." Click where it says "To order a free transcript: click here."

9. Fill out all the required information. Click submit and view your transcript.

10. Print the transcript and either fax or email it to your school for a credit evaluation.

Coast Guard

11. Get online. Go to http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgi/Resources/Institute_Forms/CG_form_1561.html. You must first complete an Application for Voluntary Education Services prior to requesting your Coast Guard transcripts.

12. Follow the directions on the form. You can either mail, fax or email the form back to the Coast Guard Institute.

13. Now that you've filled out the Application for Voluntary Education Services, you can go to http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cgi/downloads/forms/CG_Form_1564.pdf and fill this form out to request your transcripts. The transcripts will be sent to you by mail.

14. Send the results to your school for a credit evaluation.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware that not every credit stated on your transcript may transfer to your school. The military only makes recommendations for college credit. Each school makes its own decision for credit transfer based on curriculum.
• If you left the Navy prior to January 1975, you will NOT be eligible for a SMART transcript.
• If you left the Marine Corps prior to January 1990, you will NOT be eligible for a SMART transcript.

Resources

• Army Transcript Request
• Navy/Marine Corps Transcript Request
• Air Force Transcript Request
• Coast Guard Institute