MCCS LIFELONG LEARNING
EDUCATION CENTER
Phone: (760) 830-6881
Fax: (760) 830-7243
Bldg. 1524 N (7^th Street)

Mon-Thurs 7:30-5:00
Fri 7:30-4:30

Welcome to the 29 Palms Education Center Web site.  The Education Center provides a variety of education services to Marines, Sailors, and their family members. 

All Marines and Sailors on regular active duty, enlisted reservists on continuous active duty and officer reservists ordered to active duty for more than 2 consecutive years are eligible. TA funds are authorized for vocational-technical, undergraduate, graduate, undergraduate developmental, independent study, and distance learning programs.

• Courses must be offered by institutions holding regional or national accreditation.
• Before using TA, servicemembers must attend a TA Information brief offered at the Education Center:
  • every Wednesday at 1pm
  • Friday at 11am
• In addition, Marines need a GT score of 100 or above OR score a 10.2 or higher on the TABE test offered:
  • Wednesday at 2pm
  • Friday at 8am  

Tuition Assistance Application

Your SMART transcript lists all of your military training including recruit training, MOS schools, and MCIs.  The American Council on Education makes recommendations as to how much college credit your military training is worth. 

You can view your SMART transcript by going to https://smart.navy.mil.  

You can also request to have an official transcript sent to the school of your choice.  Your school will then be able to evaluate your military training and determine how much college credit they will grant you for what you have learned in the military.

Testing

The Education Center offers a wide range of testing for members of the military.  The following tests are stocked at the Education Center:
ACT
CLEP (click here for a list of available CLEP tests)
DSST (click here for a list of available DSST tests)
GED
ECE (click here for a list of available ECE tests)
SAT
TABE
ASVAB
DLAB
DLPT (click here for a list of available languages)
GED

Visit Navy Knowledge Online to take practice ASVAB, CLEP, DSST, SAT or ACT tests.  After creating a username and password, click "Navy Library eContent", Click in the "Petersons - Navy Education Resource Center" box, Click either CLEP/DSST Center for CLEP & DSST study materials and practice tests or Click "Family College Planning Center" then "Free Test Prep" for SAT & ACT practice tests online.

The USMAP is a formal military training program that allows Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy personnel to complete a civilian apprenticeship program while on active duty. Marines are assigned an apprenticeable trade based on their respective MOS, while Sailors may apply for an apprenticeable trade based on their navy rating.  The program requires no outside or additional work.  Personnel are only required to record the hours they spend working in their field each day.  Once the service member has completed the required minimum number of hours, he or she receives a certificate of completion of apprenticeship from the Department of Labor. 

Check out the USMAP website at https://usmap.cnet.navy.mil to get more information or to enroll in the program. 

Top-Up: Servicemembers who take classes exceeding their TA benefits can use “Top-Up,” or part of their GI Bill to cover the difference.  They need to activate their GI Bill by filling out the 22-1990 and submitting this form to the VA.  Also, members using Top-Up need to submit their TA Voucher (the one printed off at the Education Center) to the VA.

Buy-Up: Also called the booster, servicemembers can elect to contribute additional educational monies into their GI Bill benefit, thus, receive greater monthly benefits.  While still on active duty, servicemembers can contribute an additional $600 towards their GI Bill benefits and receive in return $5400 from the Veterans’ Administration.  For those who contribute the additional $600, they will receive an additional $150 a month for each month of remaining benefit.  The paperwork for the Buy-Up may be picked up at the Education Center.

22-1990 (form to activate your GI Bill): http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/22-1990.pdf

GI Bill Website: www.gibill.va.gov

Education counselors are available to help you
with your education needs.  Usually, you can
see a counselor without an appointment. 
Call or stop by the Education Center to speak
with one of our counselors. Or, you can e-mail
our education counselors with any questions.

·   Jeff Fourier jeff.fourier@usmc.mil
·   Katrina Chlebik katrina.chlebik@usmc-mccs.org
·   Erin Itynre itnyree@usmc-mccs.org

COPPER MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
(760 ) 830-6133
Bldg 1526 North 7^th Street
29 Palms, CA 92277

WEBSITE

CMC is a 2-year community college that
offers a variety of Certificates and Associate
Degree Programs.
Active duty military students are eligible for
100% tuition assistance. Family members
are eligible for in-state tuition rates.
CMC is on an 18-week semester schedule
and offers accelerated 5-week courses and
other short term 6 and 8-week classes.