By Lance Cpl. J. Gage Karwick , Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
Tuition assistance is an opportunity for Marines and sailors to earn a college education with little to no cost.
All first time students must complete a “TA Orientation” class (College 101) prior to using TA. Marines on major installations may access the course at local education offices. Marines at remote sites (Non-Marine Corps installations) may access the course via www.usmc-mccs.org, Lifelong Learning, Military Tuition Assistance or www.usmc-ccs.org/perssvc/per_serv_main.html, (Lifelong Learning), Military Tuition Assistance.
Remote on-line users will receive a certificate of completion. This certificate will be faxed to the appropriate Lifelong Learning (LL) Center with the initial TA request for processing and authorization.
The class is given every Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the first floor in building 411 aboard the station.
The class touches on what servicemembers have to do in order to get the most from tuition assistance as well as teaching how to build a road map to their education.
Colleges aboard the station visit the class to give information about their respective schools.
The three resident colleges aboard the station located in building 411 are the University of Maryland University College, Central Texas College and the University of Phoenix.
Servicemembers gain information about the number of credits required to attain a degree, how long it takes to achieve a degree, depending on whether the service member is a full time or part-time student, and ways to choose a major.
“The Marine Corps provides a good opportunity in helping to take the burden of paying for school away,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Travis W. Storie, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121 coordinates officer. “When you have been in for a while you want to keep your options open for when you get out.”
Servicemembers who attended the class received a copy of their Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript.
Some military occupational specialties offer more college credits than one would expect. According to SMART, every Marine gets eight credits just for going to boot camp.
“Taking college classes will help me progress not only in my military career, but also in whatever civilian career I choose,” said Lance Cpl. Bradley Price, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 aviation calibration technician who recently took the “College 101” class.
So to all those who are looking to receive tuition assistance, the class “College 101” is requires to receive tuition assistance and is every Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.