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Active Duty Degrees: ArmyIgnitED

The military education landscape changed in 2019, when the Army phased out the old Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC) system. Enter ArmyIgnitED, now used by servicemembers at very different points in their careers. Some are still juggling field rotations and classes. Others are preparing for life after the military. In any case, ArmyIgnitED helps make your military experience count toward academic goals.

ArmyIgnitED

ArmyIgnitED allows you to complete your program’s courses however it fits your active-duty schedule, whether that’s online, on-site, or at an Education Center. If you go with online learning, there are tons of schools and vendors that let you make real progress on your goals without you ever having to set foot in a classroom.

But if you’d rather learn in person, there are plenty of chances to take classes on nearby campuses or at training sites. Most Army posts have their own Education Centers that provide direct links to local colleges and universities. Even though specific classes might change depending on where you’re stationed, there are always ways to keep your education plan moving forward.

Degrees, Certifications, and Skillsets for Active Duty

Service members can find several educational pathways through ArmyIgnitED. For example:

• An associate’s degree takes about two years (or 60 credits) to complete.
• A bachelor’s degree is a four-year (120-credit) undergraduate degree.
• A master’s degree is a specialized graduate-level program that takes two to three years to complete.
• Service members can also earn professional credentials in fields ranging from IT to skilled trades.
• Academic certificates are shorter undergraduate or graduate programs. Soldiers are authorized up to 21 semester hours of Tuition Assistance (TA) every 5 years toward academic certificates.
• Special programs allow you to focus on skillsets separate from standard degrees, for example, prerequisites for medical programs (AMEDD), strategic foreign language courses, or host country courses.

Accessing Financial Assistance for Your Educational Path

There are a few paths you can take to get financial assistance through ArmyIgnitED. If you are using Tuition Assistance (TA) for a degree, you can research your program with CollegeRecon’s School Finder to vet one of 2,000+ partner schools. After finding what you’re looking for, you’ll log into the ArmyIgnitED site to set your goal and upload an Evaluated Degree Plan (EDP) from your school. You must submit your request at least seven days before class starts.

Credentialing Assistance (CA) is another option. To access it, you’ll use the Army COOL tool. Make sure to submit your CA request at least 45 business days before the start date. You’ll need to take the exam associated with the credential, or the Army will recoup the training costs.

Are you in ROTC? Find your school via CollegeRecon’s search too, then apply for an ROTC scholarship, and manage your scholarship funding directly through the ArmyIgnitED portal.

How to Use ArmyIgnitED

Some servicemembers may want marketable skills when transitioning to the civilian workforce, while others may want to certify the expertise they’ve gained during their service. Because every soldier’s goals are different, your experience will be unique to you. Here are the steps you’ll need to use the ArmyIgnitED portal.

• First, you’ll need to register with ArmyIgnitED. Head over to the website and log in with your CAC. Even if you had your educational information in the old system, you’ll need to start from scratch here.
• Click “Education Goals” or “Create New Goal” near the bottom of the homepage and choose your degree type. If it comes up as “N/A,” you may be listed as ineligible for that degree level. If so,  talk to your S1 to fix your civilian education level in your personnel record. You can also go to your base’s Education Center with your docs, and a counselor can do a one-day update for you.
• Once you’ve logged in to the site, choose your school by typing the name and picking it from the drop-down menu.
• Enter your student ID number if you know it, then click “Next.” You’ll be taken to a screen where you’ll upload your Evaluated Degree Plan. It must be specific to you and include your name, the school name, the degree name, the total credits needed for degree completion, the credits you’ve already earned, accepted transfer credits, and the remaining credits needed.
• If you don’t have this yet, check “No Degree Plan File” and hit “Next.” You’ll need to get the official plan to an Education Counselor before you finish six semester hours, or you’ll be put on hold.
• If the credits field isn’t already filled out, enter the total manually. You can also update your transferred credits in the “Previous Credits” box.
• If your credits are in quarter hours, check “Yes,” then click “Submit Goal.” From there, your goal goes to your base’s Education Center for review. You’ll then get a message letting you know if it’s approved or disapproved.

Once approved, you’ll apply for tuition assistance. You must request it in ArmyIgnitED before you register for a class through your school.

 

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• 4 Top Online Schools for Active Duty Military
• Getting Your College Degree While Serving