The Lejeune-New River Education Centers afford an array of opportunities to those that are seeking to earn a college degree, start their own business, improve their academic skills or level of literacy, enroll in on-site and online college, career, technical or vocational schools, or receive college credit for career and military training. Other on-site services include, but are not limited to: military and civilian testing and proctoring, financial management advising, Marine Corps Tuition Assistance (TA) counseling, and more!

Are you ready to advance in your career? Are you interested in obtaining a college degree or obtaining credits through examination? The mission of the Henderson Hall Education Center is to stimulate the lifelong learning process by effectively communicating the educational programs offered and to provide the requisite information, tools and support to the learning process.

 

Programs and services we offer:

• Advisement Sessions
• College & University Search Assistance
• Joint Services Transcript (JST) Assistance
• Tuition Assistance (TA) Program
• Veterans Affairs Education Benefits Assistance including Ch 33-9/11 GI Bill
• Scholarship & Financial Aid Assistance
• Military & Academic Testing Services
• United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) Assistance

  

The Voluntary Education Program provides personal and professional learning opportunities to the Marine Corps community. Services and resources are provided by qualified counselors and advisors in cooperation with education service providers through individual and group counseling, workshops and training opportunities to include testing for college credit and pre-admission. Service members can also receive recommended college credit for military training and experience, take tests to earn college credits, complete a trade apprenticeship, and enroll in post-secondary education programs that lead to associate’s, bachelor’s, graduate and post graduate degrees.

Tuition Assistance

The Tuition Assistance Program is available at any duty station and participating can even help you earn bonus points toward promotion. While you’re on active duty, 100% of your tuition is covered at accredited institutions. If interested in postsecondary education, from vocational certification through graduate study, TA will fund up to 100% of institution charges for tuition, instructional fees, laboratory fees, computer fees and mandatory enrollment fees combined.¹  Combinations of the different educational levels will not exceed the fiscal cap. 

First-time students must complete a TA Orientation Class PRIOR to using TA. Marines at remote sites (non-Marine Corps installations) may access the Higher Education Preparation Course on Joint Knowledge Online.

TA for remote Marines and those assigned to other service sites is processed at Camp Lejeune/Cherry Point for those east of the Mississippi and Camp Pendleton for those west of the Mississippi. I-I duty Marines apply through MARFORRES, New Orleans. Recruiters apply via their recruiting district or region headquarters.

¹ Limits and exceptions apply. Please contact your local education officer for more details and assistance.

SkillBridge Employment Training Program

Marine Corps SkillBridge supports DoD initiatives that promote civilian job training available to transitioning military service members. The MARADMIN 350/18 and DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1322.29 supports this voluntary program.  The Marine Corps SkillBridge initiative connexts Marines with available training, apprenticeships, and internship opportunities that offer a high pobability of employment for Marines who are separating; these services shall be provided at little or no cost to the Marine. With command approval, all Marines can participate in a SkillBridge program.

The Voluntary Education Program provides personal and professional learning opportunities to the Marine Corps community.  The program positively impacts recruitment, retention and readiness of all Marines.  Services and resources are provided by qualified counselors and advisors in cooperation with education service providers through individual and group counseling, workshops and training opportunities to include testing for college credit and pre-admission. Marines will be informed of the full breadth of tuition funding sources and how they can advance their degree plans and academic achievement with appropriate courses and institution selections.

Services

• College Level Exam Program (CLEP) test mastery of college-level material acquired in a variety of ways to include general academic instructions and significant independent study or extracurricular work.  Successfully completed exams are generally accepted by institutions of higher learning for academic credit.
• Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) provides nationally recognized examination and certification programs, in addition to consolidated management of contracts and programs to prevent duplication of effort among the Services.
• Education Service Officers are available provide information about other education programs and provide high quality individualized academic advisement to maximize resources.
• Joint Service Transcript is now the official transcript tool for Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard personnel that validates and documents the recommended college credits for professional military education, training courses and occupational experience of service members and veterans.  This unified and standardized document makes it easier for institutions to review and articulate these credits as appropriate to service members and veterans degree programs.
• Provides information on the American Council on Education college credit recommendations, the Montgomery GI Bill that funds college expenses for veterans or active duty service members who served after 1 July 1985, the Post 9/11 Montgomery GI Bill that funds college and living expenses for veterans or active duty Service members who served after 11 September 2001, and the United States Military Apprenticeship Program that documents skills acquired while on active duty, which leads to civilian recognition and journeyman status in a compatible civilian trade or skill.
• Tuition Assistance(TA) offers training, experience, and opportunities Marines need to develop to support personal and professional goals of individual Marines.

Education Services

Our mission is to help active duty members and their families successfully achieve their academic goals. We strive to ensure that you are well informed regarding all educational resources and benefits available to you! Services include processing of Tuition Assistance (TA) applications, providing college course prep material and online tutoring information, printing JST transcripts, providing access to career, university and degree selection tools, conducting academic counseling and testing referrals, providing Apprenticeship & Certification Program information and more!

**NOTICE**

Starting 5 Feb 2024, all first-time Marine Corps Tuition Assistance users are required to complete both the Skills Survey and Interests Survey in Career Path Decide prior to TA use per HQMC. Career Path Decide can be accessed at https://www.careerpathdecide.org/. After Marines complete the Skills Survey and Interests Survey, they must upload a screenshot showing completion to their Tuition Assistance portal at https://myeducation.netc.navy.mil/webta/. If you need assistance, please visit your nearest MCCS Education Center or email us at john.goodson@usmc.mil or nathaly.i.najar@usmc.mil.

MARINE CORPS CREDENTIALING ONLINE AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS

COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line) helps Marines find information on certifications and licenses related to their Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). COOL explains how Marines can meet civilian certification and license requirements and provides links to numerous resources to help get them started. COOL can also help you understand ways to get a credential or complete your education in order to maximize your professional development.

For more information please visit https://www.cool.osd.mil/usmc/

United Services Military Apprenticeship (USMAP)

Earn certification from the Department of Labor for skills learned through documentd MOS work experience and related techinical instruction.

Benefits

• Program is free and requires no off-duty hours
• Receive national recognition as a DOL apprentice
• Have documented proof of work experience
• DOL registered apprentices are sought after by employers

Requirements
A service member can become an apprentice if you meet all the following requirements: 

• Are active duty Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy
• Have sufficient time to complete the program while on active duty
• Possess a high school diploma or GED 
• Are assigned to, and are performing duties in, an authorized trade occupation

If you would like to learn more about USMAP, please visit https://usmap.osd.mil.

The Voluntary Education Program is staffed by trained counselors capable of providing academic and career counseling to active duty service members, adult family members, retirees, and civilians employed on MCAS Yuma.

To look for careers that match your abilities, interest and values, complete Kuder Journey or O*Net. To search for colleges that are approved for tuition assistance, click on the TA Decide link.

To view your military transcripts visit http://jst.doded.mil/

For tuitions assistance visit https://dodmou.com/TADECIDE

Additional resources;

https://www.onetonline.org/

https://dantes.kuder.com/landing-page

FINANCIAL AID GUIDE

The Education Center has created a Guide to Academic and Financial Aid that lists valuable information for researching colleges, financial aid and scholarship information, Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MYCAA), and websites to help you find discounted text books. Please stop by the Education Center to receive your free copy.

FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID

In order to qualify for financial aid, most academic institutions require students to complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The FAFSA can be completed online at https://studentaid.gov/.  

Please be aware that individual institutions have their own deadline.  To be sure that you are eligible to receive financial aid, file this application by the earliest deadline, whether it is the federal, state, or institution’s deadline.  Remember to renew your application annually in order to receive new assistance and/or continue to receive assistance.

MILITARY SPOUSE CAREER ADVANCEMENT ACCOUNTS PROGRAM (MyCAA)

MyCAA helps military spouses of (E1 to E5, W-01 to WO-2 and O-1 to O2) pursue licenses, certificates, certifications, or Associates Degrees (excluding Associates Degrees in General Studies, Liberal Arts, and Interdisciplinary Studies that do not have a concentration) necessary for employment in high demand, high growth occupations and career fields..

GI BILL 

The Education Office offers a monthly GI Bill brief that discusses the education benefits of the MGIB and the Post 9/11- GI Bill, the application process and the transfer of benefits requirements. 

To register for the Montgomery GI Bill please visit https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-active-duty/

To register for the Post 9/11-GI Bill please visit https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/

To transfer your Post 9/11-GI Bill benefits please visit https://www.va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/

ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE
https://www.azwestern.edu

Arizona Western College is a 2-year community college that offers Occupational Certificates and Associate’s Degrees.  They offer classes on the station, online and throughout Yuma County.

AWC MCAS Yuma Office
Education Center, Bldg. 850, Room #112
Phone: (928) 317-7605 or (928) 317-7626
Email: military.services@azwestern.edu
Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 12:00pm

TESTING SERVICES 

The Education proctors the following exams for free. For registration information, please contact (928)269-3248 or (928)269-5614.

AFCT

The Armed Forces Vocational Classification Test is a comprehensive test that measures knowledge of science, math, vocabulary, reading, mechanics, electronics, auto mechanics, and clerical skills. This test is used by all branches of the military as a predictor of success when working in a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Study guides are available at the Station Library or online.

COLLEGE EXAMS

College exams can be proctored at the Education Center if approved by your school.  This free service is available to active duty, dependents, reservists, and civilians aboard MCAS-Yuma. Please contact the Education Center at (928) 269-3248 to arrange for testing.

DLAB

The Defense Language Aptitude Battery is an 82 minute test that military services use to measure a service member's ability to learn a foreign language.

DLPT

The DLPT (Defense Language Proficiency Test) is designed for individuals who are already fluent in a specific foreign language needed by the military.

OPI

The Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) is a standardized procedure for the global assessment of functional speaking ability. It is a telephonic interview between a certified American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL) tester and an examinee that determines how well a person speaks a language.

BASIC SKILLS PREPARATION PROGRAMS - ONLINE ACADEMIC SKILLS COURSE (OASC)

OASC is a free online program designed to assist in building math, science, and reading comprehension skills to improve academic skills and readiness of services members as they progress through academic and occupational pathways during their military career.

Get started by creating an account and taking the pretests at https://dantes.petersons.com

Tuition Assistance

Marine Corps Tuition Assistance (TA) offers financial assistance to service members who elect to pursue higher education. TA will fund up to $250 per semester hour or equivalent with a maximum of $4,500 per fiscal year. TA may be used for high school equivalency, vocational/technical certification, Associate, Baccalaureate, and Master/Professional degrees. However, funding will not be authorized for duplicate degrees, double majors or degrees lower than currently held by the service member. The only exception is that service members are eligible to obtain one certificate regardless of degree(s) currently held.

The Voluntary Education Program provides personal and professional learning opportunities to the Marine Corps community. If you are interested in pursuing higher education, we are here to help you.

Contact the Education Services Office for questions on your personal and professional education goals, resources, training, support, and testing.