Supporting the Relocation, Travel, and Lifestyle Needs of the American Military Family

Tuition assistance (TA) is available to all active duty Marines at 100% of the cost of tuition, up to $250 per semester hour, for an annual cap of  $4,500 per fiscal year. Navy and other service components have differing limits and requirements. The eligibility guidelines are as follows. You must:

Have TA authorization prior to beginning of course
Have min.GT score of 100 (or 10.2 TABE Test or MASP)
Have completed College 101 orientation
Have no outstanding TA debt
Have no more than two grades outstanding
Have no disciplinary actions pending

Marine Corps Community Services South Carolina's Lifelong Learning program provides voluntary education and library programs that can help prepare Marines for success in their professional lives, both while in the Corps, and later in civilian life.

Programs include:

The Military Academic Skills Program (MASP) improves skills in reading, writing and mathematics for active duty Marines. Active duty family members are invited to attend on a space-available basis. A TABE placement test is required for admission to the program. This is an excellent resource for improving competency at work, ASVAB scores and other testing abilities.

The United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) provides professional training in technical occupations. We assist with the initial sign-up and documentation; you provide the on-going documentation to complete the program through on-the-job training. The program's national standards are registered with the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training.

Marine Corps Deployed Education is coordinated by MCAS Cherry Point and MCB Camp Pendleton. Deployed instructors teach basic skills and college courses to deployed Marines. Park University is the local provider for the Beaufort area.

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support Testing Program (DANTES) includes more than 200 examinations. Testing includes High School equivalency (GED), College Level Examinations (CLEP, DSST, Excelsior), certification examinations in many fields, plus SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, Praxis, and GED Practice for spouses. If you want to take a test, check with us first! Classification testing includes tests provided by HQMC and USN including ASVAB, DLAB, DLPT, ASTB, and EDPT. Test proctoring services are also available for Distance Learning college courses.

The Servicemember Opportunity Colleges Marine Corps (SOCMAR) is a contract-for-degree agreement between the home college and student at the Associate and Bachelor degree levels. Reduces transfer complications and has limited residency requirements for Marines. All colleges aboard the Tri-Command area are SOCMAR participating colleges. Agreements are available for military spouses as well.

Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART) documents recommended college credit for military training in a format widely accepted by colleges and universities. Eliminates the lengthy manual process previously used to determine possible course credit.