As part of its continued innovative efforts to open doors for military personnel and veterans, Indiana Wesleyan University has partnered with the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) to provide educational and career advancement opportunities for members of the Special Operations community. IWU’s programs are specifically designed to count Special Operations training toward a degree, rather than just elective credit, which allows service members and veterans to complete their degrees more quickly and make a smoother transition into the civilian work sector.
“Men and women in the Special Operations community undergo the most rigorous training in the world, but few universities maximize the amount of college credit awarded for their training,” says KC Haight, executive director of military relations for IWU-National & Global. “We’re honored to partner with SOAA to create the opportunities these valuable service members deserve.”
There are approximately 70,000 Special Operations Forces (SOF) members currently serving, which is about three percent of the joint forces. They are often charged with the military’s most dangerous, covert and sensitive missions. SOF responsibilities include direct combat, counterterrorism, hostage rescue, joint raids, forcible entry operations, humanitarian assistance, intelligence, training foreign militaries and unconventional warfare.
“SOAA’s mission is to serve past, present and future members of the Special Operations community,” says Daniel Elkins, founder of SOAA. “This degree pathway will create many opportunities for our members. We’re excited to continue our partnership with IWU, a leader in recognizing military service and training in academia.”
Historically, many schools have not accepted the transfer of military credits from these rigorous training experiences beyond potential elective credit. To create more opportunities for the SOF community, IWU has created programs that maximize the amount of transfer credits that meet actual degree requirements. For example, The Bachelor of Science in Global Security & Strategy Management is designed around SOF training. Many operators enrolled in this degree pathway have transferred 90 credit hours from prior experience, enabling them to complete their degrees in less than a year.
By partnering with SOAA, IWU aims to make its military-focused degree programs and military preferred tuition available to a wider audience, providing pathways of hope for current and former SOF members who want to find purpose and fulfillment in their transition to civilian work. IWU’s 100% online degree options offer accessible, flexible opportunities for career advancement both during and after service. To learn more about these military-focused programs, visit iwumilitary.com. For more information about SOAA and its work to serve SOF members, visit soaa.org.
About Indiana Wesleyan University
Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) is a Christian comprehensive university of The Wesleyan Church that is committed to global liberal arts and professional education. The university system includes IWU-Marion, where about 3,000 students are enrolled in traditional programs on the main campus in Marion, Ind.; IWU-National & Global, which includes more than 7,000 adult learners throughout the world who study online or onsite at education centers in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio; and Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University, which offers a practical and student-centered approach for busy, working ministers. IWU’s DeVoe School of Business, the School of Nursing, the School of Health Sciences, the School of Educational Leadership, the School of Service and Leadership and the Division of Liberal Arts are all housed within the National & Global campus. More information is available at www.indwes.edu.