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OCS Connect > Educational Planning
Educational Planning
This pillar helps parents support their enlistee’s academic and career growth. It covers military education benefits, balancing service with schooling, vocational training, career pathways, and long-term success. Parents will learn how to guide their child in making informed decisions about higher education, certifications, and skill-building opportunities during and after service.

Supporting Your Service Member's Career Development Through Military Training
Military training is the foundation of a successful career in the armed forces. Any member of the military looking to succeed in their chosen field needs to take full advantage of the training opportunities available to them. But military training is grueling and your service member would need all the support they can get to pull through.

Career Advancement Opportunities in the Military: What Parents Should Know
In this article, we will share with you everything you need to know about career advancement opportunities in the military and how to help your son or daughter make informed decisions that set them up for long-term success.

How to Help Your Young Service Member Choose the Right Career Path in the Military
The career selection process of the U.S. military is one of the most defining moments of any new service member’s military career. Since the career path a young service member chooses essentially determines their responsibilities and future opportunities, choosing the right career path is a necessity.
What Is a JST? Understanding the Joint Services Transcript
Understanding what a Joint Services Transcript - JST is and how it works can help you support your young service member in making the most of their military experience. So in this article, we’ll try to break it down as simply as possible.

Federal Tuition Assistance vs Post-9/11 GI Bill: Understanding Education Benefits for Military Families
Federal Tuition Assistance (TA) and the Post-9/11 GI Bill are two essential educational benefits for service members and their family members who may be looking to further their education. Despite their similarities, these bills serve different purposes and feature distinct eligibility requirements. Understanding these differences can help your service members.
From Enlistment to Education: Planning Academic Success for Service Members
You may wonder how your son or daughter can pursue their education while fulfilling their military duties. The good news is that the military offers several educational benefits designed to help service members achieve their academic goals without putting their careers on hold. In this article, we will share a few tips for helping your service member navigate their educational journey while serving.
Credentialing Programs in the Military: Certifications and Career Growth
Military credentialing programs are programs designed to help service members obtain professional certifications and licenses that are recognized both within and outside the military. These certifications help hone your service member’s skills in a given field and validate their expertise and experience, giving them a competitive edge in both military and civilian job markets.

Balancing Military Service and Higher Education: A Guide for Families
As a member of the US military, there are many opportunities your new service member can take advantage of to further their education. However, balancing military service and pursuing a higher education is no easy task. Thankfully, many service members have successfully achieved this, and so too can your son/daughter.