Struggling to get into Army

[Saedrea]

I've been trying hard to get into the army for around 2 years, my husband and I were suppose to enlist together 2 years ago, I took the asvab passed with a 55(only have a GED) but I became pregnant again and you know how that goes...Since then my husbands joined up in the Coast guard but I really want to be in the Army reserves. I dropped 50lbs by working my ass off only to find out they closed out GED spots, so here I am trying to take CLEP tests on my own. My strengths are English and reading, etc, but I've been doing pretty poorly on the practice tests, they seem more tricky than I thought they would. I need 15 credits and I'm wondering what are some more simple tests I can take for a quick pass so I can get my foot in the door. (I plan to finish some college after AIT) or if there is any extra help I can find here or somewhere. Would it be worth hiring a tutor or are there some sort of free tutors that Coast guard have? I've been getting the run around lately and just need a little extra help. Thanks for reading.

[blu2blu]

Where is your husband stationed? If the base is of any significant size there should be a college/education office on the base that can advise you and you should also be able to take your tests there.

Here is some of a thread that was posted here a while back showing the percentage of military service members that pass which tests on the first try: http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...pass+rates

Take a look at that as you can see there are quite a few tests that people are passing quite easily. With minimal study you should be fine, join this website and look at the exam specific feedbacks and use the IC flashcards. I found the flashcards to be excellent.

Another option is to take FEMA (Federal emergency management agency) courses. They are FREE on the FEMA website. These aren't classes per say just online independent study courses. Each one is worth 1 credit and don't take long to finish. They are "open book" and don't require proctored testing, you do everything online! Once you finish 15 you can have FEMA send your transcript to Frederick Community College and for a small fee they will put them on a college transcript showing your 15 credits. Since Frederick Community College is a legitimate college there should be no reason why that transcript won't be good enough for the Army.

Ask any other questions you can think of, I and anyone else on this forum would be glad to help.

[cookderosa]

<gasp>
Where is my post!?!? Arghhhh I hit back space and now it's gone. Oh crap- I typed out like 2 pages for you.


Ok, so in a nutshell, forgive my forwardness. My reply was nice and welcoming, this one will just be to the point. <grrrr!>

How long do you want to spend on this?
A typical college student attending full time will earn 12 credits in one semester (about 4 months). I think you can earn 15 credits in 1-2 months.


Don't worry about the practice tests, don't hire a tutor. There is time to work through the details of a study plan. For now- I'd like to know 3 things-

1. How long, realistically, do you think you can set aside to study each week? (all day on a Saturday? A few hours every weekend? One hour each afternoon?)

2. What's your deadline? All things considered, when do you want to be into the Coast Guard? Give me a real date.

3. IF you could earn an Associates Degree in under a year instead of only 15 credits, would you rather do that? Would that be an advantage when you apply?



Also, I believe in you. I've been here a long time- and I can spot a "completer" a mile away and usually from their first post. YOU are someone who can do it.

I'd like to see you earn your Associates degree, and I'd like to help you. I hear that you feel embarrassed by your GED, but you are selling yourself short. That's behind you. Anyone who can work on this goal for 2 years-and have a baby- and drop 50 pounds in the middle of it AND THEN ASK FOR HELP to keep trying- all is someone who is a SERIOUSLY MOTIVATED when you have a goal. And I have said it here about a million times, motivation (not smarts) is the only difference between degree holders and those without. Motivation - period. Just something to think about

[blu2blu]

I think she would benefit more by getting the fifteen credits now and enlisting. She would earn ACE credits through her military training that would speed up her degree process. She would also have tuition assistance to pay for classes and her GI bill to cover expenses.

Going in with an associates would allow her to enlist at a higher pay grade, though, which is nice.

[nj593]

I've been trying hard to get into the army for around 2 years, my husband and I were suppose to enlist together 2 years ago, I took the asvab passed with a 55(only have a GED) but I became pregnant again and you know how that goes...Since then my husbands joined up in the Coast guard but I really want to be in the Army reserves. I dropped 50lbs by working my ass off only to find out they closed out GED spots, so here I am trying to take CLEP tests on my own. My strengths are English and reading, etc, but I've been doing pretty poorly on the practice tests, they seem more tricky than I thought they would. I need 15 credits and I'm wondering what are some more simple tests I can take for a quick pass so I can get my foot in the door. (I plan to finish some college after AIT) or if there is any extra help I can find here or somewhere. Would it be worth hiring a tutor or are there some sort of free tutors that Coast guard have? I've been getting the run around lately and just need a little extra help. Thanks for reading.

They take Credit banks for the 15 credits if i recall correctly.
FEMAS and NFAS then. they are free and you can have your 15 credits if you are that dedicated by the end of the week.

[Saedrea]

Wow, I actually didn't expect so many great responses! Thank you so so so much for the FEMA information, it was kind of confusing how to find the courses at first but I'm already taking one right now! This is so much easier and a huge relief of stress for me, also it's great because if I get 15 of those credits that easily then take some CLEP tests I can have a full year of college under my belt in no time. Also thank you very much for all the words of support they mean a HUGE deal to me and made me feel better just reading that someone has faith in me, I thank you a lot! I really believe I can be well on my way into the army in less than a month with this new info. Thank you all so much this means such a great deal to me!

[nj593]

Wow, I actually didn't expect so many great responses! Thank you so so so much for the FEMA information, it was kind of confusing how to find the courses at first but I'm already taking one right now! This is so much easier and a huge relief of stress for me, also it's great because if I get 15 of those credits that easily then take some CLEP tests I can have a full year of college under my belt in no time. Also thank you very much for all the words of support they mean a HUGE deal to me and made me feel better just reading that someone has faith in me, I thank you a lot! I really believe I can be well on my way into the army in less than a month with this new info. Thank you all so much this means such a great deal to me!

Make sure with the recruiter first that they will accept the credit bank credits ....
then knock them out.
And if you are going to do that you might as well knock out the 30 and bank them all.
It will get you promotion points that you need for the Army I think later on.

[HawkGuy]

Make sure with the recruiter first that they will accept the credit bank credits ....
then knock them out.
And if you are going to do that you might as well knock out the 30 and bank them all.
It will get you promotion points that you need for the Army I think later on.

+1 to what he said.

[Saedrea]

Okay so a little update...I've been taking some of the tests some of them are instant results some are not. I took some on accident that I noticed wern't a full credit but half of one I guess so I took the other tests to get the full credit...If I pass the ones that take a few days I should probably have around 5-6 credits I'm hoping, lol. But when I complete 15-30, I'm thinking of just knocking out 30 because these tests have a lot of common sense on them....How do I get them turned into transcripts? About how much is it going to cost for 30 credits...and How do I show them which ones I have passed or what type of database holds all my info? I've kept all the certificates they've emailed me and I've even printed them out as I've passed them though I don't think its necessary, lol. It seems like it would be a lot to attatch to a form for 30 credits unless they just KNOW what's Ive taken by my name I guess...Anyway wish me luck I'm gonna keep knocking out as many as I can, I've been up for a LOOOONG time doing these but I feel like it's getting me somewhere! Thanks again for all the info and good words.

[nj593]

Okay so a little update...I've been taking some of the tests some of them are instant results some are not. I took some on accident that I noticed wern't a full credit but half of one I guess so I took the other tests to get the full credit...If I pass the ones that take a few days I should probably have around 5-6 credits I'm hoping, lol. But when I complete 15-30, I'm thinking of just knocking out 30 because these tests have a lot of common sense on them....How do I get them turned into transcripts? About how much is it going to cost for 30 credits...and How do I show them which ones I have passed or what type of database holds all my info? I've kept all the certificates they've emailed me and I've even printed them out as I've passed them though I don't think its necessary, lol. It seems like it would be a lot to attatch to a form for 30 credits unless they just KNOW what's Ive taken by my name I guess...Anyway wish me luck I'm gonna keep knocking out as many as I can, I've been up for a LOOOONG time doing these but I feel like it's getting me somewhere! Thanks again for all the info and good words.

Like I said you should check with your recruiter that they will accept a credit bank. I would say go with TESC unless someone knows of a cheaper school. You would fill out your app $75.00 bucks and have your transcripts from FEMA sent there http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/downloads/tranrqst1.pdf
Then pay the credit bank fee at tesc which i believe is $400.00 app here Powered by Google Docs
Then wait about 4-6 weeks for the transcript to be done. Get on them every 2 weeks explaining you need it for the Army they might be quicker since they are military friendly at TESC.
But again clarify with your recruiter this will work if not a big waste of money.
If you are good with math pay $20.00 bucks and try to snap out some ALEKS math work too ALEKS Course Products they are about 3 undergrad credits also each. If you are good up to trig thats about 15 credits there. So in theory you could have 45 credit banked if you do 30 fema and 15 math. When you get done with A school then you can transfer some of that training at TESC into credit out of it. All said and done coming out of 6 months of Army doing the prereqs here you could be close to some sort of an associates degree through TESC.
Hope this helps. BUT CHECK WITH THE RECRUITER !
And make sure your final depart papers state everything you and your recruiter spoke about and agreed about. I think you stated you were doing this for your husband. But in the military you are the one facing it alone so get as much as you can.