Credit for Military Training

Applying Joint Services Transcript/Military Training at SUU

Through your Joint Services Transcript (JST), the American Council on Education (ACE) provides Southern Utah University (SUU) with a suggested credit hour and course evaluation for the various types of military training. ACE provides the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard quality assurance and policy guidance for JST.

Your credit recommendations will appear on your JST. Official transcripts must be sent directly to SUU; paper copies will not be accepted. Actual credit is awarded solely at the discretion of SUU.

Your military credits at SUU are most often applied to help fulfill elective credit hour requirements in your degree plan. To graduate with a bachelor’s degree, SUU requires that you graduate with at least 120 credit hours, some majors may require slightly more. The difference of your general education, major, minor (if required), and other possible requirements will not always add up to 120 credit hours. That extra credit hour space can be filled with elective hours from your JST. However, not all bachelor degree plans leave space for electives, so elective military credit may not be needed.

Military training may be determined to be equivalent to courses within your major or minor requirements. This is more likely when your training is related to your selected major or minor. In such cases, the department chair may decide to give specific SUU course credit. Some departments at SUU will be unable to consider credit recommendations for your specific major course requirements due to restrictive accreditation standards for those majors.


SUU offers you two ways of getting credit for your military service.

Option 1 - SUU’s Military Credit by DD-214:

  • Students who have active military service may be granted PE 1098 - Wellness Dynamics to fulfill the knowledge area requirement for social and behavioral sciences plus another 6 elective credit hours.
    • Active Military Service
      • Completed Boot Camp
      • Completed 24 months of active service
      • Honorable discharge or current orders
    • National Guard or a Reservist
      • Completed Boot Camp
      • Completed 48 months of service
      • Honorable discharge or current orders

Option 2 - Joint Services Transcript (JST) Military Credit Evaluation:

  • Additional credit may be granted if specific requirements are met.
    • Note: Credits may be awarded as elective credit. Certain credits may also be articulated as equivalent to SUU coursework, if applicable.
  • Military credit will be evaluated and applied only if it can be applied to your current degree program.

You will meet with your academic and the Veterans Center to discuss the applicability of your military credit to your program of study after your JST/ DD-214 has been evaluated before they can be added to your SUU transcript. If you decide to change your program of study later on, you can request a re-evaluation of your JST. However, once credits are added to your SUU transcript they cannot be removed.

For more details see Transfer Guide: Understanding Your Military Transcript and ACE Credit Recommendations.

Process for reviewing Joint Services Transcript/Military Training

  1. Fill out the Military Credit Application and select option 1. A hard copy can be found at the Veterans Center located in the Sharwan Smith Center room 113.
  2. Submit your form and DD-214 or current orders for non-separated personnel to the Veterans Center. Additional documentation may be requested to confirm the length of service or level of training completed.
  3. The Veterans Center will review the submitted documentation to verify that all requirements meet standard DD-214 credit and notify you of the outcome.
  4. Before credits can be added to your account you must first obtain signatures from your academic advisor and a Veterans Center advisor.
  5. Submit your form to the Registrar's Office located in the Sharwan Smith Center room 166. Please allow five business days to process.  You can view updated changes through Degree Works or unofficial transcript. 
  1. Fill out the Military Credit Application and select option 2. A hard copy can be found at the Veterans Center located in the Sharwan Smith Center room 113.
  2. The Veterans Center will coordinate with your academic advisor to review your credit hours and contact the academic departments for possible credit articulations. Our goal is to be able to review your JST within three weeks of receiving them.  However, since this step depends on what is on your JST as well as department feedback, sometimes it may take longer.
  3. When the official review is completed you will receive notification directing you to meet with your academic advisor.
  4. You must set an appointment with your academic advisor to discuss the applicability of adding credits to fulfill program requirements and other factors that may impact the attainment of your educational goals.
  5. Your advisor will indicate the degree applicable credits on your form, directing the Registrar's Office on which credits should be applied.
  6. Lastly, you must set an appointment with the Veterans Center to discuss possible financial aid implications and other factors that may impact your educational goals.
  7. The Registrar's Office will apply your credits as directed by your academic advisor. Please allow five business days to process. You can view updated changes through your Degree Works or unofficial transcript.