This book traces the history of the Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC) program, which allows military personnel to obtain civilian education at more that 1,000 designated community colleges, technical institutes, and four-year institutions nationwide. Among the topics discussed in this history of the SOC program's development as the Servicemen's Opportunity College Program in 1972 are the following: genesis of civilian education in the military; SOC program beginnings in 1969-1972; consortium development and expansion to include four-year colleges; SOC infrastructure; application of the SOC model to nonmilitary areas; extension of SOC to prospective recruits; SOC outreach with Army National Guard; SOC and developmental, teacher, veterans, and graduate education; SOC and adult family members of servicemembers and Department of Defense civilians; automation/degree planning; and information and assistance. Contains 98 references. Appended are the following: criteria for SOCs; SOC charter, bylaws, and principles/criteria; first SOC news bulletin; SOC associate degree (SOCAD) concept paper; 1981 report on feasibility of initiating SOCAD-type programs for the Navy; concept papers for SOC programs for Marines and veterans; 1993 SOC for Veterans concept paper; U.S. Patent and Trademark Office correspondence; and biographical sketches of SOC staff, 1972-1996. (MN)