Camp Pendleton  Education

Academic Counseling

Need help putting the pieces together? The Base Education Center has education specialists who can offer academic guidance to active duty military personnel, family members, and federal employees who want guidance when preparing for college. Counseling appointments are one hour long and available Monday – Friday at both locations (Mainside & SOI).

Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance (TA) is the military’s financial assistance program. Tuition assistance helps cover tuition costs for courses taken at an accredited college, university, or vocational/technical institution leading to an associates, bachelors, or master’s degree. Marine Corps requirements to qualify for TA can be found on our webpage: http://www.mccscp.com/bec.

To apply for TA benefits:

1.       All first time TA users must complete the online higher education preparation [HEP-US001] course which can be found at https://jko.jten.mil/
2.       Once complete please email your HEP certification and EDI PI # to cpec@usmc.mil.
3.       Visit https://myeducation.netc.navy.mil to create your TA application

TA is only available to active duty personnel and must be approved prior to the course start date. Marines have a max of 60 days prior to the course start date to submit their TA request application. All schools must have a DoD Memorandum of Understanding on file in order to receive Tuition Assistance funds. To verify if your school is in compliance with this requirement please visit http://www.dodmou.com.

Financial Aid Brief

Students who decide to apply for federal student aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit it to their school. It is strongly recommended that students create a FSA ID number at https://fsaid.ed.gov prior to applying for FAFSA. This username and password allows you to sign your FAFSA electronically. In addition, you may be able to have your tax information imported automatically from the IRS website. For more information and/or to submit your FAFSA for to https://fafsa.ed.gov. This application is open to EVERYONE who is or will be attending college.

Academic Skills Program
This program is designed to help improve reading, writing, communications, and math skills for active duty military personnel, dependents, and civilians. Academic Skills Program is not an Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT) prep course but can help members strengthen skills on subjects tested on the AFCT. This can help improve work performance and assist in future educational goals. Priority goes to enlisted Marines who have a GT score of 99 or below. To enroll, the Acknowledgement of Responsibility letter must be signed and the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) must be taken. This program is free and requires 30-day permissive TAD orders for active duty personnel.

USMAP Apprenticeship Program
This Department of Labor (DOL) program is open to all active duty personnel and combines on-the-job training with related technical instruction. The United States Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) enhances your job skills and shows your motivation for more challenging military assignments. Having a DOL certificate of completion of apprenticeship is a definite advantage in getting better civilian jobs since employers know the value of apprenticeships. Information on the apprenticeship program is available at https://usmap.netc.navy.mil.

Marine Corps COOL Program
Marine Corps (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line) COOL helps Marines find information on certifications and licenses related to their Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). Marine Corps COOL explains how Marines can meet civilian certification and license requirements and provides links to numerous resources to help get them started. Marine Corps COOL can also help you understand ways to get a credential or complete your education in order to maximize your professional development. To get started go to https://www.cool.navy.mil/usmc/index.htm.

Testing Programs

Military Classification Testing: All military testing is made by appointment only. Service members from all branches of service can take the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) and Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) at the BEC. Marine Corps, Navy, and Army personnel may retake their Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT), but are required to provide documentation before scheduling an appointment.

Civilian Testing: There are a wide variety of civilian college tests conducted at the BEC (Mainside) including ACT, SAT, and proctoring services. These tests are only available to active duty personnel. Each exam requires an appointment. To schedule an appointment please call our Mainside office at 760-725-6660/6414.

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Testing: College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST), and Pearson VUE tests are offered through Coastline Community College located at BEC (Mainside). 

Please visit the BEC webpage for information on workshops/events and On-Base schools: www.mccsCP.com/bec