The Servicemembers Opportunities Colleges (SOC) is a consortium of national education associations and more than 1,200 colleges and universities that have pledged to ease the difficulties faced by servicemembers seeking a postsecondary education. Consortium members subscribe to the following principles in offering voluntary higher education to servicemembers: (1) servicemembers should share in the postsecondary educational opportunities available to other citizens; (2) educational programs for servicemembers should rely primarily on programs/courses/services provided by appropriately accredited institutions and organizations; and (3) to enhance access to undergraduate educational opportunities for servicemembers, institutions should maintain a necessary flexibility of programs and procedures (particularly in admissions, credit transfer, course scheduling and formats, and academic residency requirements). In addition to the general protections and services provided by SOC, six service-specific degree network systems and programs have been developed that allow participating servicemembers to earn associate and bachelors degrees in 33 fields. Three degree delivery options are available: traditional delivery, alternative delivery, and learning assessment. Other SOC programs are as follows: developmental coursework to provide access to postsecondary education; outreach to veterans; and extension of postsecondary education opportunities to servicemembers' family members. For 25 years, SOC has been a model for giving servicemembers access to postsecondary education. (Contains 20 references.) (MN)