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How Does Credit for Military Rank Work?

As military servicemembers gain experience and are promoted in the military, they may serve in positions of increasing responsibility and begin leading teams of other servicemembers. In many instances, they also receive military education that prepares them for their increasing responsibilities. When servicemembers reach the rank of E5, many are leading groups of five to ten people, and the scope of their leadership responsibilities continues to increase as they are promoted to higher ranks.

“Through the credit for military rank initiative, UMGC has moved away from traditional methods of content review and credit articulation,” says Keith Hauk, vice president of stateside military operations at UMGC. “We are using machine learning and AI to map military leadership and management skills to specific UMGC courses and then automatically post credit for those courses to the servicemembers’ UMGC degree plans.”

How Many College Credits Can You Earn for Military Rank?

At the program’s launch, servicemembers and eligible veterans who achieved a rank of E5 or above can benefit from the credit for military rank program.

At the E5 level, servicemembers can receive three credits for the principles of management course (BMGT 160). At the E6 and E7 levels, servicemembers can receive up to six credits hours for the course organizational leadership course (BMGT 160 and BMGT 365). At the E8 level, servicemembers can receive up to 12 credit hours for organizational leadership courses (BMGT 160 and BMGT 365), plus human resource management (HRMN 300) and organizational collaboration courses (BMGT 484). These credits can also be applied to certificate programs that include these courses.

What Are the Benefits of Credit for Military Rank?

Credit for military rank gives UMGC military students a comprehensive and meaningful way for their military experience to be recognized. In this initiative, UMGC’s qualifying degrees and courses align with the knowledge, skills, abilities and dispositions (KSADs) students have acquired through their work in the military.

“We know these skills directly translate to academic success because military personnel routinely demonstrate the kind of discipline, critical thinking, and problem-solving that are essential in both the classroom and the workplace,” says McCall. “By awarding credit, we’re recognizing that their real-world experience is on par with the learning outcomes of traditional coursework. This initiative not only validates their experience but also accelerates their academic journey, aligning with our mission to make education accessible and affordable for those who serve.”

By receiving credit for their military rank, students can save both time and money while earning their degree. Military students who rely on TA education benefits can also stretch those benefits further. Whether students are looking to advance their military careers or transition into civilian roles, this program can help them get on the fast track.

“Military service provides invaluable skills and leadership experience, and this new program ensures that those achievements are recognized in an academic setting,” says Hauk. “Students can feel confident knowing that their professional experience is being translated into academic credit.”