SOC Consortium includes more than 1,800 institutions that agree to military friendly policies. SOC schools award credit for a national testing program, recognize non-traditional learning gained through work/life experience, and have a designated point of contact at the institution who understands military life. Also, within the SOC Consortium is a subset of schools that participate in the SOC Degree Network System (DNS) – institutions that provide degree programs often on or near military installations. Core members within the SOC DNS guarantee transfer of credits among participating institutions. Military spouses and children are eligible to enroll in SOC, if the dependent holds a military ID. College-age dependents should check with the SOC institution’s counselor to confirm eligibility.
Eligible military spouses may receive as much as $6,000 (over two years) toward the cost of tuition, books and fees through Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (CAA). The demonstration program began in 2007 and will run through 2010. The Department of Defense and the Department of Labor created CAAs to help military spouses earn degrees that will lead to portable careers in high-growth, high-demand fields. Spouses must be married to active duty service members based at one of the 18 targeted installations in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, North Carolina, and Washington. Spouses must be also pursuing careers in: information technology, education, health services, financial services, construction trades, human resources, business management, hospitality management or homeland security. For more information visit https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/.