U. S. Marine Corps Education and Commissioning Programs for Enlisted Marines 

  

Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) MECEP provides selected enlisted Marines with the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree by attending college or university as a full-time student. While in school, Marines continue to receive their full pay and allowances. Those individuals who successfully obtain a baccalaureate degree and complete officer candidate training are commissioned Second Lieutenants in the Marine Corps.

 

College Degree Program (CDP) The College Degree Program provides selected Marine officers the opportunity to earn a baccalaureate degree by attending an accredited college or university as a full-time student.

 

Special Education Program (SEP) The Special Education Program provides selected Marine officers the opportunity to receive advance training that will lead to a postgraduate degree in specified disciplines, as a full-time student at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) or selected civilian schools.

 

Staff Noncommissioned Officers Degree Completion Program This program provides selected Marine staff noncommissioned officers with the opportunity to obtain a bachelor's degree by attending college or university for no more than 18 months as a full-time student. The degree must relate to a Marine Corps billet that is specifically designed for Marine staff noncommissioned officers with four-year degrees. This does not lead to a commission.

1) What should Marines and sailors consider before applying for alternate means of financial aid?
Marines are encouraged to speak with their guidance counselors at their local MCCS Education Center early on to plan for alternatives to finance their education during the suspension of Tuition Assistance (TA).  Our professional counselors can assist Marines in applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Marines are advised to be careful and get the proper advice from their MCCS Education Center counselors prior to using the GI Bill while on active duty.  There are limitations set on active duty students using VA education benefits that they should be aware of prior to making the decision.

 
2) Where should Marines and sailors go, or who should they speak to for the best guidance before applying for alternate means of financial aid?
Marines and Sailors are encouraged to contact their local MCCS Education Center and schedule an appointment with a Guidance Counselor.  Our Guidance Counselors can also conduct unit briefs for units interested in a customized education brief at the unit location or at the MCCS Education Center.

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

Students should also contact their school’s Financial Aid Office for assistance.

3) With scholarships, federal student aid (grants, subsidized and unsubsidized fed loans) and the GI Bills available, how should Marines and sailors prioritize the type of alternatives to tuition assistance and why?
 Students should always consider federal aid in the form of grants first.  This is aid that is not required to be paid back as is the case of an education loan.  For most students, federal, state and school aid should be given priority and accepted as their first priority.  Schools will often offer students loans as part of a financial aid package in addition to a Pell Grant.  Students can elect to accept the Pell Grant without accepting the loan portion of the financial aid package.

Generally, it is not a good idea to use VA benefits while on active duty if you can qualify for other sources to finance your education as in the form of a grant.  There are a fixed amount of benefits using the GI Bill, and in the case of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the housing allowance is not provided to active duty military members.  However, if using the GI Bill now will help you make a smoother transition to the civilian work sector in the near future, then using the benefit may outweigh the disadvantage.


4) What are some good sources (online, or on base) for Marines and sailors (in Okinawa) to consider for further information in regards to an alternative to the tuition assistance program?
 All MCCS Education Centers have Guidance Counselors available to assist Marines and Sailors with all their educational needs.  We also have financial aid and scholarship publications available at each education center.  In addition, the colleges and universities on island have personnel who can also assist in answering questions.

Students should be aware of financial scams online.  Students should never pay to obtain scholarship information or to file a free FAFSA application.

5) What else can you tell me that is important for Marines and sailors to know about the alternatives available to them?
 Applying for financial aid is little more work than applying for tuition assistance – but it is well worth it.  You would be surprised how many students don’t think they would qualify but do.  If you don’t apply, you definitely won’t receive financial aid.

A variety of study materials-including practice tests and downloadable ebooks-may be found at the DoD MWR Libraries website: www.nelnetsolutions.com/dod

The Online Academic Skills Course (OASC) helps build and refresh basic math and verbal skills. Access to OASC is free for the military community and can be found at the DoD MWR Libraries' website (above) or by creating an account at www.nelnetsolutions.com/dantes

 

Additional Exam Study Materials Resources can be accessed via the links below:

 

GED- www.GEDtestingservice.com

CLEP- Study guides may be obtained by emailing the Foster Testing Office at FosterTesting@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org or online at http://clep.collegeboard.org

DSST- Fact sheets may be obtained by emailing the Foster Testing Office at FosterTesting@okinawa.iusmc-mccs.org or online at www.getcollegecredit.com

ACT- www.actstudent.org/testprep

SAT- www.satcollegboard.org/practice

GMAT- www.mba.com

GRE- www.ets.org/gre/prepare

LSAT- www.lsac.org

MAT- www.MillerAnalogies.com

 

Please email FosterTesting@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org or contact 645-3944 for any additional questions or concerns.

 

DSST

A History of the Vietnam War
An Intro to the Modern Middle East
Art of the Western World
Astronomy
Business Law II
Business Mathematics
Western Europe Since 1945
Criminal Justice
Substance Abuse
Environment & Humanity
Ethics in America
Foundations of Education
Fundamentals of College Algebra
Fundamentals of Counseling
General Anthropology
Here's to Your Health
Human Cultural Geography
Human Resource Management
Introduction to World Religions
Introduction to Business
Introduction to Computing
Introduction to Law Enforcement
Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Management Information Systems
Money and Banking
Organizational Behavior
Personal Finance
Physical Geology
Principles of Finance
Principles of Financial Accounting
Principles of Physical Science I
Principles of Public Speaking
Principles of Statistics
Principles of Supervision
Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union
Technical Writing
The Civil War and Reconstruction

 

CLEP

American Literature
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
College Composition
English Literature
College Composition Modular
Humanities
French Language I and II
German Language I and II
Spanish Language I and II
Biology
Calculus
Chemistry
College Algebra
College Mathematics
Natural Sciences
PreCalculus
American Government
Human Growth and Development
Introduction to Educational Psychology
Introduction to Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
Social Sciences and History
U.S. History I: Early Colonization to 1877
U.S. History II: 1865 to Present
Western Civ I: Ancient Near East to 1648    
Western Civ II: 1648 to the Present                                                                                         
Introductory Business Law
Financial Accounting
Principles of Management
Principles of Marketing

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

P&PD Education and Career Services Program Testing Office 

 MCCS Camp Foster Testing Office provides a variety of exams:

Academic Exams:

-College Entrance (SAT, ACT, TEAS)

-College Proctoring (on a space available basis)

 

Certification Exams:

-Pearson Vue Authorized Test Center

-Various Financial Management Exams-CDFM, AFCPE

-Various Medical Certifications-CCRN, AFCPE

 

Military Testing:

-AFCT-Armed Forces Classification Test (ASVAB Retest for Marines)

-DLAB-Defense Language Aptitude Battery

-DLPT-Defense Language Proficiency Test

-ASTB-Aviation Selection Test Battery

-TABE-Test of Adult Basic Education

 

All tests are by appointment only. For more information email fostertesting@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org or call 645-3944/2469.

View the Testing Calendar for upcoming test dates, times and contact information.

For the April Testing Calendar Click Here!

 

CLEP & DSST examinations are computerized!!
Please be advised that the CLEP & DSST exams are available at Camp Foster, Camp Hansen, and Kadena AFB. For more information and to schedule appointment reservations for CLEP/DSST exams, please visit the UMUC Asia webpage.

 

GRE

The Graduate Record Examination is required for most graduate level programs. The GRE testing program is divided into two separately administered programs, the revised General Test and the Subject Tests. The GRE is administered at Okinawa Christian School International.

 

GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission test is used as an admission tool for entrance into graduate business and management programs. the GMAT measures general verbal, quantitative, integrated reasoning and analytical writing skills; it does not measure achievement in any particular subject area. The GMAT is proctored by  the UMUC's National Testing Center.

 

Pearson Vue Testing

The testing office is pleased to announce we are an official Pearson Vue Testing Site! For information or scheduling, please contact FosterTesting@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org or call 645-3944.

• View the list of available Pearson Vue exams .
• Visit Pearson Vue online.