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ARMY/ACE REGISTRY TRANSCRIPT SYSTEM (AARTS) AND SAILOR/MARINE/ACE REGISTRY TRANSCRIPT (SMART)

• What are Army/ACE Registry Transcript Service (AARTS) and Sailor/Marine/ACE Registry Transcript (SMART) transcripts?
• Who is eligible to receive them?
• How does a student request an AARTS or SMART transcript?
• What if a servicemember or veteran is not eligible to receive an AARTS or SMART transcript?
• If an applicant has served in more than one branch of the Armed Services, can all of the information be consolidated into one transcript?
• What should I do if courses I took are not included on my AARTS/SMART transcript?
• Which military schools are accredited or have been approved for degree-granting status?
• What if a college or university doesn't accept my AARTS/SMART for transfer credit?

ARMY TRANSCRIPTS (AARTS)

• Who is eligible to receive an AARTS transcript?
• How does a student request an AARTS transcript?
• What information does the transcript provide?
• What if a soldier or veteran is not eligible to receive an AARTS transcript?
• If an applicant has served in more than one branch of the Armed Services, can all the information be consolidated into one transcript?

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TRANSCRIPTS(SMART)

• Who is eligible to receive a SMART transcript?
• How does a student request a SMART transcript?
• What kind of information does the transcript provide?
• What if a Sailor or Marine is not eligible to receive a transcript?

NAVY– AND COAST GUARD–SPECIFIC COURSES AND OCCUPATIONS

• What is a pipeline course?
• How can I distinguish among the terms “pay grade”, “general rate”, “rating”, and “rate”?
• Do all ratings provide paths of advancement and career development for pay grades E-4 through E-9?
• Should institutions grant credit for their servicemembers’ general rate (pay grade E-3), as well as their rating (pay grades E-4 to E-9)?

MARINE CORPS–SPECIFIC COURSES AND OCCUPATIONS

• Which Marine Corps MOS’s are evaluated by ACE?

AIR FORCE–SPECIFIC COURSES AND OCCUPATIONS

• What is the Community College of the Air Force?

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE–SPECIFIC COURSES AND OCCUPATIONS

• Why are most Defense Language Institute (DLI) courses end-dated in 1990? What do I do for foreign language courses taken after that time?

ARMY/ACE REGISTRY TRANSCRIPT SYSTEM (AARTS) AND SAILOR/MARINE/ACE REGISTRY TRANSCRIPT (SMART)

What are Army/ACE Registry Transcript Service (AARTS) and Sailor/Marine/ACE Registry Transcript (SMART) transcripts?

AARTS and SMART transcripts are convenient, computer-generated documents that carefully track all of a servicemember’s or veteran’s military training and coursework. AARTS transcripts have been in existence since 1987; SMART was implemented in October 1999. Created by the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps in partnership with ACE and similar in format to college transfer transcripts, both documents list personal student data, courses, and occupations evaluated by ACE, including descriptions, learning outcomes, and equivalent college credit recommendations, as well as national college-level exam results. They are endorsed by ACE, carry the official ACE seal, and are regularly monitored for quality assurance by ACE. AARTS and SMART transcripts are available online as personal copies or may be officially sent to accredited colleges and universities at the student’s request. SMART transcripts contain an additional SMART Summary and Academic Institute Page that are not official parts of the transcripts, but may be used for advisory purposes. Both transcripts are available at no charge to the servicemember and must be ordered from the respective AARTS and SMART Operations Centers.

Who is eligible to receive them?

AARTS transcripts are available to regular army enlisted Soldiers and veterans, as well as active-duty Army National Guard personnel and reservists. Since the previous basic active service date of October, 1981 has been removed, all soldiers are advised to contact the AARTS Operations to determine their eligibility to receive an AARTS.

Similar in format to the AARTS transcript, the SMART transcript presents a record of the student’s military coursework and training evaluated by ACE, with college-level equivalent credits earned while serving in the Navy or Marine Corps. SMART transcripts are available to active duty Sailors and Marines, enlisted and officers, reserve component personnel, and separated or retired Sailors and Marines. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, servicemembers should contact their education services centers or the SMART Operations Center.

How does a student request an AARTS or SMART transcript?

Both AARTS and SMART are available in personal and official copy formats. They may be ordered online from the respective websites by completing the required order form, via the mail at the address below, or by calling the toll-free numbers listed below. Requests for official copies sent to colleges and universities require the completion of an order form (available online) and the student’s signature. ACE does not issue or make any adjustments to AARTS or SMART transcripts. All requests must be sent to the respective Operations Centers for processing.

What if a servicemember or veteran is not eligible to receive an AARTS or SMART transcript?

Servicemembers not eligible to receive either transcript should contact their education services center or the college registrar or admissions officer at the school where they wish to enroll to determine what additional documents are acceptable. Most schools will accept the DD Form 295, Application for the Evaluation of Learning Experiences During Military Service and DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Veterans who do not have access to DD Form 295 should obtain copies by contacting the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100, or by visiting the center’s website at: http://www.nara.gov/regional/stlouis.html.

If an applicant has served in more than one branch of the Armed Services, can all of the information be consolidated into one transcript?

No. The AARTS and SMART are separate and distinct documents that are products of the Army (AARTS) and Navy and Marine Corps (SMART) Operations Centers at Ft. Leavenworth, KS and Pensacola, FL, respectively. They must be ordered individually by the servicemember who has served in more than one branch of the Armed Services. Depending on the dates of service and the availability of personnel and training records, each transcript will list only those courses and occupations held by the active-duty or reserve-status servicemembers from that service branch, with college credit recommendations for those evaluated by ACE.

What should I do if courses I took are not included on my AARTS/SMART transcript?

If your AARTS or SMART transcript does not list courses or occupations that should have been included, it will be necessary to contact the respective Operations Centers for adjustments, as ACE does not generate the transcripts or make any adjustments to them. It may be necessary to submit additional documentation that will confirm your attendance in a class not included to update the document. Course completion certificates verifying attendance, Navy Page 4s, Army EERs, and Marine Corps MATMEP forms are important to evaluators attempting to award college credit for courses or occupations evaluated by ACE but not listed on the transcripts. If you are not sure if a course or occupation has been evaluated by ACE, you may consult the ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services online at: http://militaryguides.acenet.edu to review the course or occupation, or call ACE’s Military Evaluations Department at (202) 939-9470 to obtain more information. As new courses are completed or occupations held, you should order additional copies of the transcript to confirm their addition.

Which military schools are accredited or have been approved for degree-granting status?

• Community College of the Air Force at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools at the two-year community college level.
• Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS. Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as a graduate (MS) degree-granting institution.
• Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association and currently offering degrees at the graduate (MS) and the doctoral (PhD) level.
• Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center at Presidio of Monterey, CA. Accredited by The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges/Western Association of Schools and Colleges and offers an Associate of Arts in Foreign Language degree.
• Joint Military Intelligence College (formerly Defense Intelligence College) in Washington, DC. Accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools and currently is authorized by Congress to award a Bachelor of Science in Intelligence and a Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence.
• Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and currently offers degrees at the graduate (MS and MBA) and doctoral levels (PhD).
• Naval War College in Newport, RI. Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges to award a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies degree.
• Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences School of Medicine in Bethesda, MD. Approved to grant degrees through the doctoral level.
• The National Defense University’s National War College in Washington, DC. Accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association and currently offering a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy degree.
• Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, DC. Accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association and currently offering a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy.

What if a college or university doesn’t accept my AARTS/SMART for transfer credit?

Although ACE surveys indicate that a growing number of colleges and universities do accept AARTS and SMART transcripts for transfer credit, the school you are considering for enrollment may not accept AARTS or SMART transcripts for the award of the desired college credit you seek. It is therefore important that you know as much as possible about the policies in place for the award of extra-institutional credit at the school you are considering. How the desired credit fits into your program of study and the total number of semester hours acceptable may also have an effect on your enrollment decision. It may also be important to know about the institution’s participation as a Servicemember Opportunity College (SOC) institution and just how much credit may be accepted to meet degree requirements. As the decision to award credit for any military training and coursework will rest entirely with the receiving institution, it may be wise to research more than one school to maximize college credit transfer potential for your military experiences.

ARMY TRANSCRIPTS (AARTS)

Who is eligible to receive an AARTS transcript?

AARTS transcripts are available to regular army enlisted Soldiers and veterans, as well as active-duty Army National Guard personnel and reservists. Since the previous basic active service date of October, 1981 has been removed, all soldiers are advised to contact the AARTS Operations to determine their eligibility to receive an AARTS.

How does a student request an AARTS transcript?

AARTS transcripts are available in personal and official copy formats. AARTS transcripts may be ordered online from the following website by completing the required order form, via the mail at the address below, or by calling the toll-free number listed below. Requests for official copies sent to colleges and universities require the completion of an order form (available online) and the student’s signature. ACE does not issue or make any adjustments to AARTS transcripts. All requests must be sent to the respective Operations Centers for processing.

What information does the transcript provide?

Similar in format to college transfer transcripts, AARTS transcripts list personal student data, courses, and occupations evaluated by ACE, including descriptions, learning outcomes, and equivalent college credit recommendations, as well as national college-level exam results. AARTS transcripts are endorsed by ACE, carry the official ACE seal, and are regularly monitored for quality assurance by ACE.

What if a soldier or veteran is not eligible to receive an AARTS transcript?

Servicemembers not eligible to receive either transcript should contact their education services center or the college registrar or admissions officer at the school where they wish to enroll to determine what additional documents are acceptable. Most schools will accept the DD Form 295, Application for the Evaluation of Learning Experiences During Military Service and DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Veterans who do not have access to DD Form 295 should obtain copies by contacting the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100, or by visiting the center’s website at: http://www.nara.gov/regional/stlouis.html.

If an applicant has served in more than one branch of the Armed Services, can all the information be consolidated into one transcript?

No. The AARTS and SMART are separate and distinct documents that are products of the Army (AARTS) and Navy and Marine Corps (SMART) Operations Centers at Ft. Leavenworth, KS and Pensacola, FL, respectively. They must be ordered individually by the servicemember who has served in more than one branch of the Armed Services. Depending on the dates of service and the availability of personnel and training records, each transcript will list only those courses and occupations held by the active-duty or reserve-status servicemembers from that service branch, with college credit recommendations for those evaluated by ACE.

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TRANSCRIPTS(SMART)

Who is eligible to receive a SMART transcript?

The SMART transcript presents a record of the student's military coursework and training evaluated by ACE, with college-level equivalent credits earned while serving in the Navy or Marine Corps. SMART transcripts are available to active duty Sailors and Marines, enlisted and officers, reserve component personnel, and separated or retired Sailors and Marines. For more information regarding eligibility requirements, servicemembers should contact their education services centers or the SMART Operations Center.

How does a student request a SMART transcript?

SMART transcripts are available in personal and official copy formats. SMART transcripts may be ordered online from the respective website by completing the required order form, via the mail at the address below, or by calling the toll-free number listed below. Requests for official copies sent to colleges and universities require the completion of an order form (available online) and the student’s signature. ACE does not issue or make any adjustments to SMART transcripts. All requests must be sent to the respective Operations Centers for processing.

What kind of information does the transcript provide?

Similar in format to college transfer transcripts, SMART transcripts list personal student data, courses, and occupations evaluated by ACE, including descriptions, learning outcomes, and equivalent college credit recommendations, as well as national college-level exam results. SMART transcripts are endorsed by ACE, carry the official ACE seal, and are regularly monitored for quality assurance by ACE.

What if a Sailor or Marine is not eligible to receive a transcript?

Servicemembers not eligible to receive either transcript should contact their education services center or the college registrar or admissions officer at the school where they wish to enroll to determine what additional documents are acceptable. Most schools will accept the DD Form 295, Application for the Evaluation of Learning Experiences During Military Service and DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Veterans who do not have access to DD Form 295 should obtain copies by contacting the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 9700 Page Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63132-5100, or by visiting the center’s website at: http://www.nara.gov/regional/stlouis.html.

Please direct questions about this page to:
mileval@ace.nche.edu
This page last updated on 7/28/2006