What is the Enlisted Education Program?
The Enlisted Education Program (EEP) is a sub-set of the College of the American Soldier (CAS) and also an extension of the SOCAD Army Career Degree Program. The EEP seeks to provide entry-level Soldiers in Combat Arms Career Management Fields (CMFs) 11 Infantry, 13 Field Artillery, 14 Air Defense Artillery, and 19 Armor an opportunity to achieve an associate degree during their first term of enlistment.
What does TRADOC stand for?
Army's Training and Doctrine Command. TRADOC's mission "TRADOC recruits, trains and educates the Army's Soldiers; develops leaders; supports training in units; develops doctrine; establishes standards; and builds the future Army." (http://www.tradoc.army.mil/about.htm)
What are the criteria established by TRADOC for degree inclusion in the Enlisted Education Program?
Based on the criteria established by TRADOC, degrees selected must:
- Accept ACE recommended credit for:
- Basic Training
- AIT (Advanced Individual Training) or OSUT (One Station Unit Training)
- SSD I (Structured Self Development)
- WLC (Warrior Leader Course)
- Provide AA, AS, and AGS degrees
- Minimize academic residency requirements
- Maximize credit transfer between colleges
- Provide assessment of prior learning/career experience
Who can enroll in the Enlisted Education Program?
The program is geared toward Soldiers in Combat Arms Career Management Fields (CMFs) 11 Infantry, 13 Field Artillery, 14 Air Defense Artillery, and 19 Armor. Enrollment in any of the degrees identified as an EEP degree follows the standard GoArmyEd procedures and Soldiers must meet any college-established requirements established for the selected degree. Colleges will evaluate each student individually to determine what credits can be awarded for prior learning, including Army training and MOS workplace experience, based on a review of the Soldier's AARTS transcript. Because all of the EEP degrees are SOCAD degrees, colleges will complete a SOCAD Student Agreement for each Soldier enrolling in these degrees, in accordance with SOC Degree Network System requirements and GoArmyEd procedures.
How were degrees selected for the Enlisted Education Program?
TRADOC reviewed all eligible SOCAD degrees. After its review, TRADOC selected degrees to be included in the EEP. Selection was based on degree type, SOCAD membership, maximized credit awards, the amount of academic residency with the participating college, and the amount of tuition.
How many colleges currently provide degrees for the Enlisted Education Program?
TRADOC selected 56 associate degrees from 31 colleges and universities.
How do Soldiers know how much credit a college/university will award for their entry-level training?
Potential credit awards for 15 MOSs from CMFs 11, 13, 14, or 19 are listed on fully-developed degree maps on the GoArmyEd portal. For drop-down degrees OR for schools without fully-developed or drop-down degrees, Soldiers should contact the point of contact for that college or university to learn the amount of credit that will be awarded for their MOS. Soldiers can also contact the Army Education Counselor for assistance. The actual amount of credit awarded is based on a review of Soldiers' transcripts, including their AARTS transcripts.
How do I view the degree requirements of a degree?
All degrees in the College of the American Soldier have a superscripted 'c' after the degree title if the degree is listed in the GoArmyEd portal.
- Fully-developed degree plans: Search for degree by college, then click on degree title to view degree requirements. "Enlisted Education Program" is identified in the GoArmyEd degree map header (page 1 of a degree map).
- Drop-down degrees: Search for degree by college, contact the college point of contact to obtain the degree requirements. Drop-down degrees are identified by a superscripted 'd'.
- For schools without fully-developed or drop-down degrees, contact the college point of contact to obtain the degree requirements. Soldiers can also talk with an Army Education Counselor. Remember that the GoArmyEd system does not have a mechanism that will alert the institution if a Soldier has been approved for the selected Home College. It is the Soldier's responsibility to alert the school. Additionally, the Soldier is required to deliver his/her Tuition Assistance Request (TAR) to the college when registering for classes, which should alert the school that the student is using GoArmyEd.
Are there different procedures, processes or reporting requirements that schools need to know for Soldiers enrolling in the Enlisted Education Program?
Colleges and universities with fully-developed degree maps and drop-down degrees in GoArmyEd selected for the Enlisted Education Program agree to contact Soldiers selecting those degrees as soon as GoArmyEd notifies them that a Soldier has selected the degree and them as the Soldier’s home college. The college will discuss how credits from Army training will apply to the degree chosen by the Soldier and will advise the Soldier about which courses to take. Once the college has received a Soldier’s AARTS transcript and related educational information, the college will conduct a formal assessment of the Soldier’s prior learning and will complete a SOCAD Student Agreement in accordance with SOCAD policies and GoArmyEd portal requirements. This official college degree plan will be part of the Soldier’s GoArmyEd file.
For schools without fully-developed or drop-down degrees, the GoArmyEd system does not have a mechanism that will alert the institution if a Soldier has been approved for the selected Home College. It is the Soldier's responsibility to alert the school. Additionally, the Soldier is required to deliver his/her TA Request to the college when registering for classes, an action that should alert the school that the student is using GoArmyEd.
Are Soldiers REQUIRED to enroll in the Enlisted Education Program?
No. Coursework taken from colleges and universities to complete an Enlisted Education Degree does NOT substitute for military training courses core to NCOES. This coursework should, however, be complementary and supportive of Soldiers' career development.
Do courses provided by institutions as part of the Enlisted Education Program replace training instruction core to NCOES?
No. Coursework taken from colleges and universities to complete an Enlisted Education Degree does NOT substitute for military training courses core to NCOES. This coursework should, however, be complementary and supportive of Soldiers' career development.
What is the role of the ACES counselor?
All ACES Guidance Counselors, Education Service Specialists (ESSs) and Education Services Officers (ESOs) should be familiar with the College of the American Soldier and the Enlisted Education Program. When Soldiers in-process, ACES personnel need to explain the program, degree options, academic residency requirements, and how to navigate the GoArmyEd portal. They should also explain how Soldiers request an official evaluation of prior learning and how a SOC Degree Network System (DNS) Student Agreement reflects the results of that evaluation for a clear road map to degree completion.
How are the Enlisted Education Program and the College of the American Soldier marketed?
Army's TRADOC personnel have made numerous presentations to Army personnel both in the US and at overseas locations. Colleges and universities can market the program to Soldiers as part of their participation in SOCAD. Additional information about the Enlisted Education Program may be provided at Education Centers on Army installations.
Where can I view a complete list of degree programs in the Enlisted Education Program?
Go to SOCAD's College of the American Soldier Web page, http://www.soc.aascu.org/socad/CollAmSoldier.html. Or, go to the GoArmyEd portal Web page, https://www.goarmyed.com/public/public_eep.aspx. Both sites provide a list of degrees. Or, go to the Army Career Tracker portal Web page, https://actnow.army.mil/wps/myportal. After you log in, click on the Career Resources tab, then the CAS tab. For enrollment questions, Soldiers should contact the point of contact for that college or university
Whom should I contact about my institution joining the Enlisted Education Program of The College of the American Soldier?
Send an e-mail to Darcey Cuffman, SOCAD Army Career Degree Program Manager (socad@aascu.org) or call 800-368-5622.
NOTE: Interested college/university POCs should NOT contact Army Education Center, TRADOC, or ACES personnel. SOCAD is the Army's point of contact for degree development and broker with the academic community. SOCAD will, in conjunction with ACES and TRADOC, continue to coordinate the participation of colleges and universities within the Career NCO Degrees Program.
SOCAD membership is based on Army-identified needs for specific education programs. Inquiries about SOCAD membership may be directed to Judith Loomer, SOCAD Project Director, at socad@aascu.org.