Dantes information bulletin (03) mar 2018

DIB

MAR

DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN

2018

Transcript Questions? We have Answers!

In this issue: Joint Services Transcript FAQs

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GED Transcript FAQs

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Counselor’s Corner

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Hot News

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Troops To Teachers Contact Information

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DANTES Information Bulletin

I need my transcripts! How do I find them?

Erin Roberts, Communications Division, DANTES

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here do I start? Will I have to pay swered to help military members sucfor my transcript? How long will cessfully reach their education goals and complete their college degrees. it take to get them?

DANTES is just one organization Most military members have lots of within the VolEd community offering questions when they begin pursuing active, National Guard and Reserve a post-secondary education. And, component military members, eduthe questions will likely continue as cation benefits and services. their education journey takes detours and gets off course from time to Last month, we provided FAQs for time. Thankfully, they have dedicated DANTES Education Planning Tools. education counselors and advisors to These tools included the Distance steer them in the right direction and Learning Readiness Self-Assessment help find the answers they are look- (DLRSA) program and Kuder Journey. ing for.

This month, we will focus on the all-important and vital document – The Department of Defense (DoD) Voluntary Education (VolEd) commu- the transcript; specifically, the JST or nity has the responsibility of ensuring Joint Services Transcript and the GED these education questions are antranscript.

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http://www.dantes.doded.mil

Joint Services Transcript FAQs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Joint Services Transcript (JST) Q. What is the JST? A. JST is the Joint Services Transcript, an academically accepted document approved by the American Council on Education (ACE) to validate a service member’s military occupational experience and training along with the corresponding ACE college credit recommendations.

Q. What benefit does the JST provide me?

A. The JST provides a description of military schooling and work history in civilian language. It serves as an aid in helping military members prepare resumes and explain military work experience to civilian employers. It can save members time and money by recommending academic credit for past experience, which could mean less tuition to pay and less time spent in the classroom. The JST also serves as a helpful counseling tool for academic and career counselors in advising service members.

Q. Do all colleges/universities accept the recommended credit listed on my JST? A. It is up to each institution to decide what credit recommendations can be accepted or rejected for a student. Whether an academic institution accepts the credit recommendations depends on its policies and procedures for transfer credit, the student’s program of study, and degree requirements.

Q. Who is eligible for a JST? A. All enlisted members, officers and warrant officers, both active and veterans from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard are eligible to receive a no cost transcript. JST receives its data from underlying Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard personnel systems updated regularly.

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Air Force personnel should contact CCAF to receive transcripts (URL: www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/transcripts.asp).

Q. How do I have my official JST sent to a school?

How much does it cost?

A. Register for a JST account at https://jst.doded. mil. After logging on to the JST website, the member will click the “Transcript” link at the top of the page. Next, on the “Transcripts Menu”, they will click the “Official Transcript Request. On the following page, the member should search for their school and select the institution from the list provided.

They should verify that the spelling and location are correct to ensure that they are selecting the correct institution. On the next page, acknowledge the consent statement and click “Yes”.

If the school is not listed, the member should ask their school representative to contact jst@doded. mil to request the school be added. There is no cost for JST transcripts.

Q. How can I correct/update my transcript?

A. Correction/update procedures vary for each Service (Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard), please refer to the Service documents available at https://jst.doded.mil/correction.html. Members should Include full name, the last 4 digits of their SSN, and an email address on all documents submitted. When documentation is submitted, members should wait two weeks before logging into JST to check their transcript for the change(s).

After logging in, the ‘Transcript Update Status’ link will let a member know when the documents were received and the current status of the request.

For more information, visit www.myvoled.com/jst

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GED Transcript FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about GED Transcripts Q. Where can I find my scores?

A. Scores are available the same day the military member takes the test. The member should login to the MyGED® online portal at https://ged.com/ login to see their scores, and look under the My Scores section.

The enhanced score report is usually available within 24 hours of testing. The member will receive an email when their scores are ready for viewing.

Q. How do I get my GED transcript?

A. The military member’s transcript process varies based on when and where they passed the test.

If they passed their GED® between September 1974 and September 2016, they must go to: www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/gedrequest-a-transcript and look for the section titled “Military”.

Follow the instructions.

If the member tested after September 2016, visit www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/gedrequest-a-transcript. They must select the testing location where they completed testing in order to obtain their GED® credential.

If the member has tried and is unsuccessful in finding their record at the above links, they should go to: www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/military for more information.

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Q. Will passing the GED® test get me into college?

A. Roughly 98 percent of U.S. colleges and universities accept GED® graduates in the same manner as high school graduates. The member should check with the institution they are applying to in order to see if they accept GED® graduates. After earning the GED® credential, it is a good idea for the member to sign up to take the ACT and/or the SAT. The colleges to which the member has applied may also require them to take placement or achievement tests so they can determine whether the member needs additional coursework. DANTES may be able to pay for these exams, if eligible. Visit www.myvoled.com for more information.

Q. What is the Smart Transcript?

A. The Smart Transcript is available in certain states and jurisdictions that partner with the GED Testing Service for transcripts and diplomas.

The Smart Transcript provides: • Electronic transcript that the military member can save or email to colleges and employers • A description of the skills and abilities the military member demonstrated on the GED® test through links right on the Smart Transcript • Information about the GED® with Honors and what it means to be career- and college-ready Q. Where do I go if I have other questions about the GED? A. Visit the GED Testing Service’s FAQs at www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/mygedfaqs. http://www.dantes.doded.mil

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Counselor’s Corner Ever wonder who answers your JST questions?

In today’s world, service members are highly skilled multi-taskers with a wealth of knowledge and experience. The Joint Services Transcript (JST) team capitalizes on that knowledge and experience by providing an important tool to help service members build on their professional development and prepare for their next steps after serving.

For more information on JST, visit the program homepage at https://jst.doded.mil. Schools interested in establishing an account to view and order transcripts online should visit https://jst. doded.mil/institution.html.

Contact them via email: jst@doded.mil

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Program Updates

Hot News

military offices providing educational counseling (i.e. Wounded Warrior Education Counselors). Visit DANTES Pulse at http://dantespulse.dodlive.mil/ publications/ for updates.

CLEP Resources for Staff and Students

Keep your students and staff informed about CLEP with an array of free brochures, bulletins, posters, and more. Download individual materials or order bulk printed materials through the CLEP store.

You can also order a free tabling kit for orientation through the store. If you are ordering quantities larger than 200, please email clep@collegeboard. org and allow 4 weeks for delivery. https://clep.collegeboard.org/develop-yourclep-program/inform-students/orde r-free-clep-materials

DANTES Annual Publications Ordering

DANTES annual educational publications ordering process for this year will be announced soon. For questions or concerns regarding your account, please email refpubs@navy.mil.

DANTES education reference publications are available ONLY to Military Education Centers and other

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DANTES MATERIALS & PUBLICATIONS ORDERING PROCESS OVERVIEW DANTES uses the following process to enhance demand-driven, customer-responsive procurement and to provide efficient distribution of DANTES materials and publications.

1. DANTES Education Services Advisory Group (DESAG) Vetted: Once a year needs of the field are vetted by the DESAG representative of each service and provided to the DANTES Ref Pubs Manager. The publications catalog is based on this input.

2. Annual Catalog: DANTES provides authorized ordering centers (Military Ed Centers with DANTES ID#, TCOs, SFACs, etc.) access to a catalog of products. The catalog lists the item title, brief description, DANTES stock #, link to electronic sources (if available), and other pertinent information.

3. Interservice Voluntary Education Board (IVEB) Vetted: In accordance with USD(P&R) annual supplemental guidance (2018), the DANTES Ref Pubs catalog is vetted and approved by the IVEB team.

4. Acknowledge Requirements: Once a year, ordering centers are prompted by DANTES to project annual publication and material requirements using an online preorder. Negative replies are also required.

5. Procurement Analysis: DANTES collects orders and analyzes them based on budget restraints and preset limits. Adjustments to quantities requested may be required.

6. Procurement: DANTES orders requested materials and publications from source providers, publishers, and vendors.

7. Distribution: Materials are distributed according to requested/ adjusted orders. Ordering centers must plan ahead to ensure adequate storage space is available for quantities ordered.

8. Out-of-Cycle Orders: Ordering centers should contact DANTES at refpubs@navy.mil, if materials are needed outside the annual ordering window. Extra materials are stocked on a limited basis and may not be available.

New Fiscal Year (FY) ordering dates will be announced at: http://dantespulse.dodlive.mil/publications/

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Troops to Teachers Highlight

Teaching Assistance in TTT’s Big Sky Country

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n 2017, ten states received grants to support the Troops to Teachers (TTT) program with helping military members transition successfully and find employment in the classroom as teachers. Last month, we introduced you to the Virginia TTT grant office. This month we are highlighting the successes in Montana.

Montana is one of three states to form a consortium to expand outreach and services to additional states. Its’ consortium includes seven other states: Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. While Montana State University has a long history of providing assistance to those veterans who want to become teachers, this new grant expanded the formally known Lewis and Clark Region, to include the state of Washington. This increased the program’s outreach opportunity to include an additional 600,000 military and veterans.

According to Byron McKinney, participant services coordinator, Montana TTT, “We are currently serving almost 1900 veterans, to include currently serving active duty, Reserve and Guard members. During this grant year, 63 participants have gained teaching positions with 37 teachers (59%) being placed in positions of high needs (schools and/or subjects).”

McKinney says the two critically important services the office provides are counseling/advising and job placement assistance. When asked what the hardest part about the transition process from the military DANTES Information Bulletin

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to the classroom is, McKinney says, “The hardest part is understanding that teaching is a professional occupation. There are licensing requirements that have to be completed to meet state statutes for certification. Regardless of how much education one has, there are certain hurdles that have to be overcome to meet these certification requirements.

Many participants do not expect or realize the number of hurdles they must go through.”

The Montana office and offices throughout the consortium strive to provide TTT participants with a clear understanding of what they need to do in order to gain a teaching license. The Montana office also works with the other states to mediate some of these hurdles, so the process is not too cumbersome and so their TTT participants can begin teaching as soon as possible. Le Gaub, Montana’s TTT grant program manager, says that veterans can help themselves make the transition process to the classroom easier by planning ahead, “The time to think about their next career is not as they are transitioning out of the service, but rather 2-3 years prior to leaving. They need to figure out what they want to teach and to what grade levels.” Once a member or veteran figures this out, they should contact a TTT representative in their state and set up an action plan, so they can begin teaching shortly after leaving the service. Planning ahead can really make a participant’s transition time shorter and the process smoother. continued

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Troops to Teachers Highlight

The biggest challenge for the Montana grant office when helping veterans pursue employment as teachers is the fact that many veterans are “place bound” when they leave the service. They know where they are going and they are limited to openings in that area. As a result, they may have to wait for an opening that is within a reasonable commuting distance in order to apply. Gaub says that many locations within our states are rural and thus there are not as many openings as one may find in more urban or densely populated areas.

Knowing the challenges one may face, a veteran can prepare for transition by doing these three things: 1. Prepare early. Know what you want to teach and find out what it’s going to take to get there.

2. Talk to teachers, ask questions and determine if teaching is what you really want to do. Visit multiple classrooms of different grades and ages. Find out if teaching a different age group than originally thought may be something for you. Don’t close your mind to other possibilities.

3. Volunteer in the school system, especially if they are already in the community where they want to teach. This allows the veteran to network and become a known quantity. Networking can be extremely valuable.

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Meredith Dod, Montana’s TTT grant program coordinator, says that Matt Bakken is one of their participant success stories. Bakken is a Bozeman, Montana high school graduate, a Marine Corps veteran from 2001-2005, and a Technology Education graduate of Montana State University. Dod says, “Upon graduation, Bakken was hired at Big Sky School District #72 to teach Tech Ed for a small, K-12 school with about 350 students. Normally the Tech Ed teacher is responsible for teaching students anything from the old vocational wood shop and welding to computer design (CAD). However, Matt was hired with much more in mind.” Bakken was also asked to completely rewrite the technology plan for the entire K-12 curriculum and create the high school’s technology vision for the future. He formed a committee and through his work with Friends of Big Sky Education (FOBSE), an organization dedicated “to enhance and support the education of Big Sky stucontinued dents and the community”, http://www.dantes.doded.mil

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Troops to Teachers Highlight

they worked on everything from fund raising to grant writing. Together they were awarded a 3-year grant through the Yellowstone Club Community Foundation (YCCF) to purchase computers, wireless laptops and tablet PCs for his students. Smartboards and other digital instruction aides were also provided for the teachers, so that students could literally learn “anytime, anywhere”. Bakken incorporated such courses as 2D and 3D modeling, web design, robotics and film to the school curriculum.

He is also the football coach and Athletic Director.

In his classes, Bakken has taught his students how to write, film, and produce their own newscasts. He teaches Intro to Tech Ed at the middle school level and is also the school’s yearbook advisor.

Because he teaches courses where he does a lot of creative work and has one-on-one sessions with students, he has the chance to meet his students on a more personal level. “Previous students always stop in during holidays or vacations to see me and to see what we are doing”, Bakken says. He also feels that it is “deeply rewarding to watch my students transition through our time together (in the classroom)”. As Bakken begins his 5th year of teaching, he smiles as he explains his next phase of planning and community engagement. He is once again working with local architects and construction firms to design a comprehensive shop, so the school can offer traditional tech-ed courses, as well as have more room for 3D printing capabilities and computer design. This will enable District #72 to satisfy requirements of the school standards for design technology, and it will also broaden the courses taught within the K-12 public school system

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in Big Sky, Montana, so that students can graduate with the skills necessary to move into the community and beyond.

For more information about TTT services provided by the Montana grant office, call: 406-994-4173, or email: Byron McKinney, Montana Grant Office’s participant services coordinator at byron.mckinney1@ montana.edu.

Other states that received a grant and provide assistance to service members and veterans include: • Michigan • Missouri • New York • North Carolina • Ohio • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania • Texas • Virginia As mentioned, three of these states formed a consortium to expand outreach and services to an additional ten states: • Missouri is working with Kansas and Iowa • Oklahoma is working with Colorado • Montana has a consortium with Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming You can find all state TTT office’s contact information by clicking on the state map on the TTT website, http://www.proudtoserveagain.com/.

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DANTES Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support

DANTES OCONUS European Advisor (Contingency Operation Support)

6490 Saufley Field Road, Pensacola, FL 32509 (850) 452-1901

011-49-611-143-544-1230/1210

usarmy.badenwur.usareur.mbx.dantes-euro@ mail.mil

DANTES_Outreach@navy.mil

www.DANTES.DoDed.mil DANTES4Military.Education

DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN

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DANTES Information Bulletin The DANTES Information Bulletin is published monthly to inform education personnel about DANTES programs and to help promote more efficient customer service to service members.

Email all inquiries to DANTES_Outreach@navy.mil.

Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for any purpose of the United States Government, except that copyrighted materials cannot be reproduced without written permission from the copyright owner. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by DANTES of the linked websites, or the information, products, or services contained therein.

Jeff Allen, Director Michelle Alexander, Editor DANTES Information Bulletin

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