DANTES Information Bulletin - November 2023

DANTES NOVEMBER 2023

INFORMATION BULLETIN

All Things Voluntary Education Enterprise Support (VES)

By: Michelle Alexander, Erin Roberts, Emily Bachman, VES

In this issue : VES / 2 DANTES Fact Sheets/ Infographics / 3

Website/Social Media / 4-5 Stakeholder Engagement/Webinars/MilEd Benefits / 7-9 Customer Support / 12 Contact Info / 13

All Things Voluntary Education Enterprise Support website, with a 24/7 updated, searchable knowledge base with an Answer Bot to assist, a customer inquiry tool, our monthly DANTES Information Bulletin (DIB) newsletter, monthly webinars, and an active presence on five social media platforms. Within this article, we’ll explore the impact of these platforms in boosting communication and raising awareness about our programs.

I’m Michelle Alexander, and I work closely with program managers to communicate information through the DIB. Additionally, I serve as the graphic designer for our organization. With a 24-year career in the Air Force, I’m committed to supporting service members in their educational pursuits.

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he DANTES Voluntary Education Enterprise Support (VES) Team, plays a vital role in assisting the Defense Department’s VolEd community.

Its primary functions are providing high-quality communication and products, customer support, stakeholder engagement, and training and education opportunities supporting the DANTES Sponsored Education Programs and Services. The goal is that information on voluntary education programs and services is easy to find.

Our outreach spans multiple channels, encompassing DANTES website management, the DANTES

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DANTES Informatinon Bulletin The DANTES Information Bulletin is a resource intended primarily for counselors to help service members with their educational needs, particularly those pursuing post-secondary education and training during or after service. The newsletter also provides details on program resources and upcoming events.

Click on the DIB links below to see some of our popular newsletters over the past year. Previous editions of the DIB can be found at https://www. dantes.mil/dib/.

See the Difference with Visuals!

To support both VolEd Counselors and Service Members, DANTES has created easy to read and visually esthetic fact sheets that can be printed or viewed online. The resources available here are user-friendly and convenient for discussing and learning about DANTES education programs. Click on the fact sheets and infographics below to get more info....

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY SELF-PACED, FLEXIBLE LEARNING • •

ACADEMIC SKILLS TRAINING Online Academic Skills Course (OASC)

24/7 access to lessons, videos, and knowledge checks Individually-customized course design skips content you already know Mobile app with off-line course material allows you to study anywhere

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COLLEGE CREDIT

BY EXAMINATION

Earn College Credit for What You Already Know

IMPROVES YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND TEST SCORES • • •

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CONTINGENCY AREA EDUCATION SUPPORT

Take tests at National Test Centers worldwide Take tests remotely through an exam proctor Exam scores are included on the Joint Services Transcript (JST) and Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript Test prep and study materials are provided at installation libraries, education centers, on-line, and via mobile apps

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No cost video tutoring Academic Help Desk via email Downloadable e-books with tips and tricks

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LEARN MORE WITH ONLINE RESOURCES

The Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education (VolEd) Program, through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), offers the Credit-by-Exam program to help service members earn college credit* for knowledge gained through previous experience, independent study, and your military training.

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DANTES funds credit-by-exam tests, including:

Build Skills in Math, English, and Science

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZTZKt0EJJk

CLEP: The College Board’s College Level Examination Program DSST: Prometric’s College Level Credit by Exam Program Credit by Exam Program

The Online Academic Skills Course (OASC) course provides easy-to-use instruction to help service members build foundational academic skills in math, English, and science. It can be used as a stand-alone course or as a supplement to other educational resources. Service education counselors can also register for an educator account to track a student’s progress and provide further guidance.

*College credit recommendations for these exams are made through the American

Access to face-to-face academic counseling services Opportunities to earn college credit and meet certification requirements Expanded test center accessibility through remote and mobile testing

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UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS Access to undergraduate and graduate academic programs Classes available face-to-face, online, and hybrid Graduation ceremonies in EUCOM, CENTCOM and AFRICOM areas of operation

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LEARN MORE WITH ONLINE RESOURCES As a military member serving outside of the continental U.S. (OCONUS), you have access to a variety of options to begin or continue your education online.

Earn college credit* for prior knowledge Reduce course completion time; the average exam takes only a few hours versus 8 - 15 weeks in class Save $$$; DANTES funds one attempt per exam title Avoid tuition assistance costs for courses replaced by credit earned

Depending on your location, you may have access to these education services: • • •

Online Education Counseling Services Testing Services On-site and Online Courses

PROGRAM OVERVIEW LEARN MORE WITH ONLINE RESOURCES • • • •

https://clep.collegeboard.org/clep-test-center-search https://clep.collegeboard.org/register-for-an-exam/ military-how-to-register-under-dantes https://www.dodmwrlibraries.org/continuing-education https://www.youtube.com/@DANTESDoD

The Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education (VolEd) Program, through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), provides Contingency Area Education Support for deployed military members and those stationed overseas in the USEUCOM, USCENTCOM and USAFRICOM AORs (areas of responsibility).

011-49-611-143-544-1230

Contingency Area Education Support ensures that military members have access to Voluntary Education programs and services to begin or continue your education journey.

Council on Education (ACE) and are subject to the acceptance of individual academic institutions.

DANTES recommends contacting your Service education counselor to verify that your exam credits meet your program requirements

Get ready to ace your exams and advance your career!

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STUDENT BENEFITS

SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF

COLLEGE & CAREER PLANNING PROGRAM

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SAVE TIME AND MONEY

ACCESS REAL-TIME SUPPORT • • •

EDUCATION SUPPORT

Education Support Down Range for your Educational Goals

EASY ACCESS AND SUPPORT

Increase your college readiness Predictive technology forecasts your test scores Avoid remediation and earn placement into college level courses Earn certificates of completion to qualify for officer training or other career fields 20% improvement on Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT)

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The Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education (VolEd) Program, through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), offers on-line, self-paced, academic skills training to help military members gain the knowledge they need to complete education credentials and college degree programs, advance in their military careers, and successfully transition into the civilian workforce.

Exams are funded for: • All actively-serving members in all military Services including the, National Guard,Reserve components and U.S. Coast Guard • U.S. Coast Guard (active and Reserve) spouses • U.S. Air Force civilian employees (excluding contract employees) • Military Eligible Spouses using My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarship

Free, self-paced college and career assessments that help you learn: • What you like to do (interests) • What you’re confident doing (skills) • What’s important to you in the workplace (work values)

Design Your Education and Career Pathways

MILITARY TRAINING EVALUATION PROGRAM (MTEP)

DANTES partners with a variety of stakeholders to evaluate your military training and occupational experiences • American Council on Education • Service training commands for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and U.S. Coast Guard

College Credit Recommendations for Your Military Experience

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COLLEGE COMPARISON TOOL

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PLAN FOR SUCCESS • •

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Explore a range of career options related to your interests, skills, and work values Build a personal career plan Find DoD approved post-secondary academic degree and certificate programs

100% of schools are eligible for military tuition assistance Easy online access for your convenience Self-paced or education counselor-guided Thousands of schools to choose from and compare to make the right decision

Choose the Right School for You WIDELY ACCEPTED CREDITS

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FIND ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS

Evaluated military training and occupational experiences are translated into ACE college credit recommendations listed on the JST ACE college credit recommendations are accepted at 2,300+ colleges and universities

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TA DECIDE can be accessed 24/7 2,500+ approved schools vetted by DoD for quality and value Official source for military TA eligible schools

BENEFITS SERVICE MEMBERS

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Enhance job search skills Create and refine resumes, cover letters, reference lists, and more Build your e-Portfolio and receive lifetime access to your files and individual assessments

KUDER JOURNEY The Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education (VolEd) Program, through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES provides customized college and career counseling services specifically designed for military students.

Kuder Journey is a comprehensive online resource that helps service members plan for the future. College and career planning requires learning about oneself first to ensure a member chooses the right career path for their future. Kuder Journey’s education and career counseling program is designed to help military students learn, access, and plan, based on their personal interests, skills and work values.

LEARN MORE WITH ONLINE RESOURCES • •

https://www.kuder.com/blog/ https://adms.kuder.com/adms-login/?portal=kuder

The Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education (VolEd) Program, through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), partners with the American Council on Education (ACE) to translate military learning experiences into comparable civilian postsecondary college credit.

ACE evaluates military training, education and job experience to provide recommended credits on the Joint Services Transcript (JST).

All enlisted, officers, warrant officers and veterans from active, National Guard and Reserve components in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and U.S. Coast Guard are eligible. Air Force personnel who attended joint training offered by another Service should contact JST Operations to have a JST created.

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TA DECIDE allows you to research and compare all the schools that have signed a DoD VolEd Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU) Compare schools side-by-side based on degree programs, costs, military and veteran student outcomes, and more Make informed decisions on schools and programs to meet your goals

TA DECIDE LEARN MORE WITH ONLINE RESOURCES •

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ACE Military Guide: https://www.acenet.edu/Programs-Services/Pages/Credit-Transcripts/Military-Evaluations.aspx Air Force personnel CCAF transcripts: www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/DisplayArticle/803247/community-college-of-theair-force-transcripts/

What do you have to lose? The program is no cost for eligible military members. Try it today!

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RESEARCH & COMPARE SCHOOLS

College credit recommendations on the JST: • Provides a head start by helping members begin college with credit • Saves time and money because fewer courses are needed to complete degree requirements, avoiding the cost of tuition, books, and fees • Helps prepare for college by potentially waving prerequisites for advance courses

PREPARE FOR TRANSITION

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The Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education (VolEd) Program, through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), manages TA DECIDE, a college comparison tool to assist military members with selecting the right college for their needs.

TA DECIDE includes all educational institutions that have signed a DoD VolEd Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU) and are eligible to receive DoD tuition assistance (TA) funds. TA DECIDE is fueled by more than 10 recognized and trusted data sources from across the Departments of Defense, Education and Veterans Affairs.

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LEARN MORE WITH ONLINE RESOURCES • •

https://www.dodmou.com/Home/InstitutionList https://dodmou.com/TADECIDE/

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For more visuals, check out the DANTES resource page at: https://www.dantes.mil/infographics/

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Public Affairs and Communications Lets talk to the rest of our team! Meet Erin Roberts!

She will talk to you about her part in helping military service members get their education...

You can find a wide variety of information on the DANTES site: – Education Programs, Counselors Tools, Webinars, and other outreach materials. These are just a few dropdown menus at the top of every page on the website.

Each education program webpage varies in content but contains some or all of the following areas of information: • Program Eligibility • Student Benefits • Need Help?

• Recent Videos or Podcasts • Mobile App Information • Contact a Counselor Some of you have also asked for downloadable material and program flyers to use in your offices. You can find these in three different areas of the website:

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i, I’m Erin Roberts, the DANTES Public Affairs Specialist and Web Content Manager. I am a 21-year Air Force veteran who served as a video production specialist and a public affairs specialist in various locations worldwide. I hold a Masters in Communications from the University of Maryland University College, 2011. I am responsible for all aspects of DANTES messaging to help provide Services education professionals with the following resources to increase DANTES program awareness and share program benefits with service members: • • •

DANTES Website: www.DANTES.mil Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter MilEd Benefits Mobile App: available on the Apple and Google Play stores

DANTES Website The DANTES website was redesigned earlier this year and launched in June 2023, with a shorter URL, www.DANTES.mil. The new website URL will be easier to remember and help you find our program information faster. DANTES’ education programs are specifically designed for actively serving U.S. military members and are provided at no cost to eligible users.

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• • •

under the “Counselor Tools” tab, you can find handouts from our DoD program vendors under our “Outreach” tab and select “Marketing Resources” go directly to www.dantes.mil/infographics/ for program fact sheets, infographics, etc.

Lastly, if you cannot find what you are looking for, please try the following options: • • • •

“Search DANTES” - located at the top right of the website Use the “FAQs” tab - located at the top right of the website Use the “HELP” icon - located in the bottom right of the website “Contact Us” using the “About” tab – located in the top left of the website

Social Media

Why does DANTES use social media to reach service members? According to www.pewresearch.org, “Today, half of U.S. adults get news at least sometimes from social media.” Facebook and YouTube were used regularly for news; 82% of YouTube and 70% of Facebook. Furthermore, teenagers don’t see life without access to social media.

DANTES uses the following social media platforms, and we encourage the Services’ VolEd community of professionals to visit our sites regularly and share our information. We post several times weekly and would like to share more of your information. Please follow us and use our messaging and graphics to increase awareness of DANTES programs, our webinar training sessions, etc.

We want to help you share our messaging with your Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Coast Guard personnel. We’ve made it easy, too. You can find all of our media platforms in one location, www.dantes. mil/connect/, or separately as listed below:

DANTES.DoD

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DANTES.DoD

DANTES.DoD

DANTES.DoD

company/DANTES.DoD

MilEd Benefits Mobile App MilEd Benefits” is the DANTES mobile app. We mainly offer a mobile app to provide visibility and information to our service members 24/7, anywhere they can connect. When our customers want to reach us, they can. The MilEd Benefits mobile app provides DoD education program information at the touch of a button, anytime, anywhere. eGuides: The mobile app provides several DoD/VA Education eGuides that are essentially digital books offering a variety of education topics from the Veterans Administration and each of the Military Services. DANTES also provides program information, downloadable handouts, and podcasts and videos from the mobile app.

It’s one-stop shopping, free of charge, available at your convenience, offering the first step towards planning for your degree, future career, or other educational goals.

Download the app and get started planning your future. Take that first step!

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DANTES Stakeholder Engagement Let’s see what Emily Bachman, the DANTES Stakehol- ness Support Assistant at the Brigade level. der Engagement Manager has to say!!

I have experience as an active-duty military and veteran student while completing my BS in Political Science and Paralegal from Methodist University, a second BS in Psychology from Fayetteville State University, and an MBA from Columbia Southern University.

Whether you’re a Voluntary Education Partner or affiliated with the Services Voluntary Education Community, DANTES wants to connect and learn more about your upcoming events.

Event Coordination DANTES supports external engagements through in-person and virtual speaker requests, exhibitor booth coordination, and education fairs.

DANTES Stakeholder Engagement

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i, my name is Emily Bachman, and I am the DANTES Stakeholder Engagement Manager.

DANTES stakeholder engagement encompasses staff-initiated or externally requested virtual and in-person events focused on increasing awareness of the DANTES-sponsored quality Education Programs.

I joined the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) in May 2020 as the DANTES Stakeholder Engagement Manager. Before joining DANTES, I served nearly 13 years in Family Programs as an Air National Guard Airman & Family Readiness Program Manager and Army Family Readi-

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Speaker requests include in-person and virtual presentations between 15 to 60 minutes in length, highlighting DANTES Sponsored Education Programs and Services. Longer training sessions can range upwards to three hours.

Exhibit Support: DANTES hosts exhibit booths at select conferences and symposiums to share information and promote program awareness.

Education Fairs include in-person/virtual attendance, with speaker and exhibitor support.

For more information or to submit a request, contact Ms. Emily Bachman, DANTES Stakeholder Engagement Program Manager, dodhra-outreach-dantes@mail.mil.

DANTES Webinars DANTES provides regular hosted and Service-supported webinars to the VolEd Workforce and facilitates webinars provided by DoD Education Partners. Webinars enhance professional development for the VolEd Workforce by increasing program awareness of the DANTES Education Programs and other DoD Education Resources, such as EBSCO Learning Libraries.

An additional line of effort includes the Quarterly DANTES Counselor Support Network (DCSN), a forum facilitated to share information, discuss best practices, and collaborate among peers.

Training delivery has been incorporated using platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom for Government.

The use of these platforms has allowed DANTES an opportunity to meet the needs of our customers better, reduce travel costs for in-person training, broadly connect with those in different time zones, and build upon the DANTES YouTube Channel with recorded webinars and other promotional videos for customers to reference.

All DANTES-hosted webinars are recorded and available for viewing via the DANTES YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/c/DoDDANTES/.

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DoD Voluntary Education (VolEd) Professional Development Institute (PDI) The Professional Development Institute (PDI) is a two-day training forum that focuses on keeping educational and career counselors informed about the latest programs, services, developments, and best practices in the voluntary education function area. By doing so, PDI ensures that these counselors have the necessary knowledge and tools to guide military personnel in making well-informed decisions regarding their education and career trajectories.

Additionally, such institutes often act as pivotal networking hubs, allowing counselors from various military branches and regions to connect, exchange best practices, and deliberate over challenges and solutions unique to their duties. A significant aspect of PDI is its emphasis on creating awareness about the distinct challenges faced by counselors serving the military community. These can range from grasping the intricacies of military life and deployments to comprehending the transition phases from military to civilian careers.

PDI Registration Kickoff will be announced via the DANTES website and Services Registration POCs. Visit www.dantes.mil/PDI for more information.

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CONNECT WITH DANTES DoD VolEd programs can help you get promoted, complete your college degree, and successfully transition to civilian employment after serving.

DANTES provides service members and the Services’ Voluntary Education (VolEd) communities with no-cost education and career planning resources.

Check us out today!

3 EASY WAYS TO CONNECT: 1. Download the MilEd Benefits app to get started on your education anytime anywhere 2. Follow us on our website and social media: • facebook.com/DANTES.DoD • twitter.com/DANTES_DoD • linkedin.com/company/dantes-dod/ • instagram.com/dantes_dod/ 3. Join our monthly webinars or watch them on youtube/DANTES DOD

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www.DANTES.com

The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Libraries, operated by the Department of Defense (DoD), offer complimentary library resources to military personnel and their families. This service is especially advantageous for active duty members who might not have access to libraries on military installations.

EBSCO LearningExpress® | DoD Test Prep

How You Can Find Practice Exams on

1 2 3 4 5

Empower yourself to achieve your goals!

VISIT dodmwrlibraries.org to create your account

SELECT Continuing Education

Tap into online learning resources designed specifically for your test preparation needs.

SELECT EBSCO Learning Express

EBSCO LearningExpress DoD Test Prep allows you to: •

SELECT Prepare for DSST Exams

CHOOSE from the options provided

®

Improve academic skills, explore colleges and careers, prepare for occupational license exams, search jobs and more ― on the go!

Intuitive user experience: Access hundreds of LearningExpress practice tests, e-books, articles and flashcards in a modern, userfriendly app.

1. To create a new account, you must first register as a user with LearningExpress through your Service library or the Military One Source MWR Digital Library.

2. Once you’ve registered, return to the app.

You may now log in to the app using your new account credentials.

Home Screen & Learning Centers From the home screen, you may have the option of accessing different LearningExpress resources by toggling by library type.

1. Click on a learning center, such as Career Preparation, to view a list of categories.

2. Click the blue arrow to expand the category.

3. Click a topic link to browse individual tests, e-books, flashcards and articles ― all of which can be downloaded for offline use.

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•

Prepare for high school equivalency exams ― GED®, HiSET® and TASC™

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Access resources to help Service members transition to civilian careers

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Discover careers that match your interests and skills

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Prepare for career certification exams in a wide range of occupations, including air traffic controller, firefighter, electrician, border patrol and many more

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Search for jobs and internships

Sign up for EBSCO DoD Test Prep at:

EBSCO LearningExpress® | DoD Test Prep

Prepare for DSST® Exams with DoD Test Prep Demonstrate your knowledge of collegelevel material and earn college credits without having to attend classes. Use

Key Benefits

The LearningExpress Mobile App is available for iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded from the iTunes and Google Play app stores.

Brush up on math, science, reading, writing, grammar and computer skills

Disclaimer: DSST® is a registered trademark of Prometric. HiSET® and TOEFL iBT® are registered trademarks of ETS. IELT® is a registered trademark of IELTS Partners. SAT® is a registered trademark of the College Board. GED® is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education. TASC™ is registered trademark of CTB/McGraw-Hill, LLC. None were involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this product.

EBSCO LearningExpress Mobile App Getting Started Guide

Getting Started

Study for the DSST®, SAT®, IELTS™ and TOEFL iBT® tests

•

Ask a Service Librarian for more information.

www.dantes.mil/DSST

Offline access to downloaded resources: Connect to the internet to download resources from within the mobile app. Once you’ve downloaded them, you can use them offline ― anywhere, anytime.

Prepare for military tests

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the knowledge you have acquired Multi-device support: Download resources to as many devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets) as needed.

Note: Work completed using the mobile app will not sync with the desktop platform at this time.

through military experience, work, or studying on your own at home.

Access critical DSST® resources through EBSCO LearningExpress DoD Test Prep •

Full-length practice tests with instant diagnostic scoring

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Comprehensive study guides for each test

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Additional recommended supporting resources

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Available online and in the mobile app

Find study materials for the following DSST® tests •

Business Ethics and Society

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Introduction to Geography

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Business Mathematics

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Computing and Information Technology

Introduction to World Religions

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Environmental Science

Lifespan Developmental Psychology

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Ethics in America

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Ethics in Technology

Management Information Systems

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Foundations of Education

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Math for Liberal Arts

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Fundamentals of College Algebra

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Organizational Behavior

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Personal Finance

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Fundamentals of Cybersecurity

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Principles of Advanced English Composition

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General Anthropology

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Principles of Finance

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Health and Human Development

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Principles of Public Speaking

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Principles of Statistics

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Human Resource Management

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Principles of Supervision

Introduction to Business

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Substance Abuse

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Technical Writing

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Disclaimer: DSST® is a registered trademark of Prometric.

Start preparing today!

Visit your LearningExpress Library homepage and click the “Prepare for the CLEP and DSST® Exams” learning center

Need help? Ask a Service Librarian.

DANTES Customer Support

For any inquiries, the DANTES team is ready to assist you! You can find helpful answers by visiting our website at www.DANTES.mil and exploring the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section. Additionally, you can submit your questions directly through our site.

For immediate support, our DANTES Help Center is available around the clock. This online resource features a comprehensive knowledge base that allows you to find answers to common queries at any time quickly.

To submit a request, click our website’s blue “Submit a Request” button. Remember to include a valid email address in your submission so we can respond efficiently. We strive to answer all queries within 24 hours, ensuring timely and effective resolution of your concerns.

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https://www.dantes.mil/ Jeff Allen, Director Michelle Alexander, Editor 13