MCCS Education & Career Services- Okinawa

Camp Foster / Bldg. 5679 / 645-7160 / MCAS Futenma / Bldg. 407 / 636-3036 / Camp Courtney / Bldg. 4425 / 622-9694
Camp Kinser / Bldg. 1220 / 637-1821 / Camp Hansen / Bldg. 2339 / 623-4376 / Camp Schwab / Bldg. 3429 / 625-2046

All centers open M-F 0730-1630. Please visit our website at: https://mccsokinawa.com/educationandcareerservices.

How Can We Help You?

General Education Information: The MCCS Okinawa Education Centers provide adult education opportunities and support for active duty Marines, spouses, dependents, and DoD civilians in order to provide access to college courses, funding opportunities, and additional personal and professional development programs. Education specialists are available to assist students throughout the education process from career and personality exploration utilizing resources such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh) and O*Net Interest Profiler (www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip) as well as college and university selection research with resources such as College Navigator (www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator).

College Opportunities: There are five regionally accredited institutions offering face-to-face coursework and degree programs on Okinawa: Central Texas College, University of Maryland University College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Troy University. Classrooms are available at all Marine Corps sites on Okinawa.

Tuition Assistance: Tuition assistance (TA) may be available for active duty Marines with at least 24 months active duty service for up to $4500 each fiscal year. These funds can be used for tuition towards undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and certificate programs that meet certain requirements. For more information please contact your local MCCS Education Center or attend one of our MC TA Overview briefs held weekly.

Financial Aid Information: Education Specialists can also assist you in finding and applying for other types of financial aid such as federal grants, loans, and work-study funds for college from the vocational to graduate level including the FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov), scholarships, and other programs such as MyCAA which provides spouse career assistance (https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/).

GI Bill Information: Each Education Centers can provide information about both the Montgomery GI Bill as well as the Post 9/11 GI Bill through monthly briefs as well as one-on-one counseling sessions. In these sessions, education specialists will explain the differences and advantages of each type of GI Bill, how to select the program that best fits their individual needs and how to apply for and use these benefits when ready.

Camp Foster Testing Office: The Camp Foster Testing office offers a variety of military and DANTES testing options for military personnel, family members, DoD/NAF personnel, base contractors, and civilians. Some of these testing opportunities include:

Military Testing: Available military tests include the AFCT, DLAB, DLPT, ASTB, TABE, and OPI exams. These are available by appointment only and certain restrictions apply.

ACT/SAT Exams: ACT and SAT exams are offered several times each year, and are restricted to military personnel only. The exam may be free of charge for some examinees.

Certification Exams: The Camp Foster Testing Office is a Pearson Vue authorized test center and offers a variety of certification exams. Please check with the testing office to see if your exam is available.

Credit by Examination Program: Computer-based CLEP and DSST exams are available at UMUC’s National Test Centers throughout Okinawa. Please visit their website at http://labs.asia.umuc.edu/reserve to schedule an exam.

For more information regarding testing opportunities and requirements, please contact the Camp Foster Testing Office at 645-3944/2469 or .

Commissioning Programs Brief: Participants will receive an overview of USMC education programs designed to assist outstanding enlisted Marines in becoming commissioned officers.

United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP): United Services Military Apprenticeship Program is a registered, formalized apprenticeship with structured training programs. It combines on-the-job training and related technical instruction where participants receive practical and technical training. Each apprenticeship requires from 2,000 to 10,000 work hours to complete. For more information, visit https://usmap.cnet.navy.mil.

Marine Corps Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (MCCOOL): Marine Corps COOL helps Marines find information on certifications and licenses related to their Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs). COOL explains how Marines can meet civilian certification and license requirements and provides links to numerous resources to help get them started. Certain certification exams are now funded by HQMC. For more information, visit https://www.cool.navy.mil/usmc.

Joint Services Transcript: JST is an academically accepted document approved by the American Council on Education (ACE) to validate a service member’s military occupational experience and training along with the corresponding ACE college credit recommendations. It is at the school’s discretion to apply JST credits toward a degree or program. For more information, visit https://jst.doded.mil.

Leadership Scholar Program: LSP is a partnership between several universities and colleges and the U.S. Marine Corps. The program assists honorably discharging Marines continue their education at some of the best schools in the United States. LSP helps to identify Marines who might qualify to apply to an institution and presents their applications to admissions offices to provide an opportunity for admissions for qualified Marines. For more information, visit www.leadershipscholarprogram.com.

Accessing Higher Education: The 2-Day Accessing Higher Education course is designed to guide SMs and their families through a variety of decisions involved in choosing a degree program and college institution, using financial aid or VA benefits, completing the admissions process, and more. After completing this course, participants will be prepared to develop a customized plan for a successful transition to a higher education institution. This brief is offered once a month at Camps Foster and Hansen.

Junior Marine Brief: This brief will assist first-term Marines with less than 24 months on active duty in understanding available opportunities for pursuing higher education while waiting to become eligible for tuition assistance. Topics include: Federal Financial Aid, United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP), Marine Corps Credentialing Opportunities On-line (MCCOOL), CLEP/DSST testing, and earning college credit through military training.

Unit Briefs: Education specialists are also available to provide briefs for local units and organizations of any of the above programs as well as specialized, tailored briefs for your organization’s needs. To schedule a unit brief, please contact your nearest MCCS Education Center.

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“Inspiring Generations to Learn for a Lifetime” November 2016