Virtual counseling tool will help sailors use SMART

All Hands, August, 2005 by Jon Gagne

The Navy College Program (NCP) added a new tool to their Web site recently that is designed to guide Sailors and Marines in their quest for college credit for military experience.

The Sailor/Marine Online Academic Advisor (SMOLAA) is a virtual counseling tool that eases online navigation and helps compile college credit for Navy courses and experience for the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART).

This new concept promises to expedite the process of receiving college credits with 18 accredited colleges that have partnered with the Navy through distance learning. Sailors and Marines can use the tool to develop their own degree program with the school of their choice.

Since SMART was introduced in 1999, more than 3 million transcripts have been downloaded.

"SMOLAA really takes SMART to the next level," said Dr. Jeffrey Cropsey voluntary education director for the Naval Education and Training Command. "And Sailors will be able to do this from their work station, their home, aboard ship, or any other location that has Internet access."

Senior Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Jose Ramirez, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) command managed equal opportunity officer, is nearing completion of his degree program for a Liberal Arts degree. Ramirez is a big supporter of SMART.

"The SMART transcripts provided a clear and thorough acknowledgment of my Navy training to the college in which I am enrolled," Ramirez said. "It presented me and the college the necessary information needed to make an informed decision as to what course of study I should follow based on the number of credits recommended by SMART."

Ramirez was surprised how many credits he had actually earned through his Navy experience and training.

"SMART is easy to use and makes clear what degree you should follow, with the assistance of the college advisor," Ramirez said. "If it wasn't for SMART, I would have thought that I had a long way to go in completing my degree. The way SMART keeps track of your training has made it almost impossible not to get your education certified by any college."

Junior personnel are also making the connection for secondary education. Quartermaster 2nd Class Angela Golden, of Reagan's navigation department, has used SMART to formulate her degree plans. She is presently enrolled in an associate's degree program in education, with an ultimate plan of earning a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology.

"Before I was introduced to SMART, I was worried about how many classes I would need to take in college," Golden said. "My division officer informed me about many different programs the Navy offers for college-bound sailors, SMART being one of them.

When I walked in to the Navy College Office for the first time and downloaded my SMART transcripts, I was very excited when I saw what I was awarded for non-traditional training hours; it also made things a lot clearer to me. It told me exactly how many credits I have earned while on active duty and what area the credits would fall under. Once applied to a degree path, the SMART transcript basically fills in the blanks for you."

For more information on SMART and SMOLAA, visit the Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) Web site at www.nko.navy.mil or the Navy College Program Web site at www.navycollege.navy.mil.

Jon Gagne, who is assigned to the public affairs office, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs.