The Base Education Center (BEC) provides personal and professional learning opportunities through education counseling, military and civilian testing, education workshops and briefs, on-base college classes, tuition assistance, administrative support, and world-class customer service. There are five higher education institutions aboard the base that provide academic programs from associate to master’s degrees. Along with base programs, students have options to seek programs with visiting schools. For more information or to schedule an appointment contact us at one of our two locations.

Education Services

The Voluntary Education Program assists the Marine Corps community in reaching their personal and professional education goals. Through resources, training, and one-on-one support, the Education Office can prepare you for success in the Corps and civilian life. The services we provide are:

  • Academic Counseling
  • Academic Skills Program
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Joint Service Transcript
  • USMAP Apprentice Program
  • Financial Aid Brief
  • Leadership Scholar Program
  • Higher Education Track
  • Marine Corps COOL Program
  • Testing Program

Additional Info and Resources

Need help putting the pieces together when it comes to your educational goal? The Base Education Center has specialists who can offer academic guidance to active-duty services, dependents, and DoD personnel who need assistance preparing for college. Counseling appointments are one hour in length and can be made at both locations. 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact us at:
(760) 725-6660/6414 – Mainside BLDG 1331
(760) 725-0606 – SOI BLDG 520512
cpec@usmc.mil

Tuition Assistance is a Marine Corps financial assistance program that helps cover the cost of tuition. It can be used for courses taken at an accredited college, university, or vocational/technical institution leading to certificates, associate's, bachelor's, or master's degrees. Tuition assistance is only available to active-duty personnel and must be approved by an officer within the applicant's unit and prior to the start date of the course. Only schools with a DoD MOU with the Marine Corps can receive tuition assistance funds. To apply for TA benefits, go to https://myeducation.netc.navy.mil.

The Academic Skills Program is a 4-week TAD permissive program designed to help improve reading, writing, communication, and, math skills. This program is not an ASVAB prep course but can help members strengthen skills in subjects tested on the ASVAB. This can help improve performance and assist in future educational goals. Visit the Base Education Center to enroll.

STUDENT OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS

  • Strengthen areas of weakness and reinforce knowledge areas to:
    • Potentially improve ASVAB scores
    • Increase your college readiness
    • Avoid remediation and earn placement into college level courses
  • Diagnostic assessments to identify strengths and weaknesses
  • Engaging interactive lessons, practice tests, and quizzes
  • Earn certificates of completion to qualify for officer training or other career fields
  • Access face-to-face support

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
All active-duty, enlisted, officers and warrant officers, in all military branches are eligible for this program. Family members and DoD civilians are eligible as well.

The mission of the Leadership Scholar Program (LSP) is to provide academically and professionally qualified Marines with assistance in academic preparation and application process to highly selective academic institutions throughout the country in an effort to offer the most expeditious route for the attainment of their respective educational goals. Successful candidates will receive individualized academic counseling and assistance reviewing appropriate application documents such as, but not limited to, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and personal statements.

For more information, contact the Base Education Center at (760) 725-6660 or cplsp@usmc.mil.

Marine Corps COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line) helps Marines find information on certifications and licenses related to their MOS. Marine Corps COOL explains how Marines can meet civilian certification and license requirements and provides numerous links to help them get started. Marine Corps COOL can also help Marines understand ways to get a credential or complete their education in order to maximize their professional development. To get started go to https://www.cool.osd.mil/usmc/index.html.

This Department of Labor (DOL) program is open to all enlisted personnel and combines on-the-job training with related technical instruction. The United States Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) enhances your job skills and shows your motivation for more challenging military assignments. Having a DOL certificate of completion of an apprenticeship is a definite advantage in getting better civilian jobs since employers know the value of apprenticeships. For more information on this program go to https://usmap.osd.mil/.

The Base Education Center provides military classification exams plus college proctoring (for authorized base individuals only). Exams such as Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT), Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB), Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), Air Force Career Development Courses, and Armed Forces Classification Test (in-service ASVAB). For more information and to ensure you are qualified to test, please contact the base Test Control Officers at (760) 725-6414 (Mainside) / (760) 725-0606 (SOI; information only) or cpmiltesting@usmc.mil.

The National Test Center is operated by Coastline Community College, and they offer CLEP, DSST, and Pearson Vue exams. For more information and to schedule an exam, please contact the test administrator at: https://eld.coastline.edu/military/ntc_contacts

The Base Education Center hosts several educational resource events per year. For more information, call our office at (760) 725-6660/6414, email us at cpbecevents@usmc.mil, or visit our Facebook page.

Juneteenth Education Fair
The Juneteenth Education Fair highlights on-base, visiting schools, and supporting services that we have trusted partnerships with to celebrate and bring awareness to the Juneteenth holiday while providing educational resources to active-duty service members, veterans, family members, and DoD employees.

MCB Camp Pendleton Commencement Ceremony
The MCB Commencement Ceremony recognizes the accomplishment of students who have successfully completed the graduation requirements for an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree. 

Leadership Scholar Program Forum
The Leadership Scholar Program (LSP) Forum brings awareness to the Leadership Scholar Program (LSP) and connects qualified Marines with 50 four-year, not-for-profit colleges and universities across the nation. The Leadership Scholar Program (LSP) program provides academically and professionally qualified Marines with assistance in academic preparation and application process to highly selective academic institutions throughout the country in an effort to offer the most expeditious route for the attainment of their respective educational goals.

MCB Camp Pendleton College Fair
The Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Pendleton College Fair hosts two and four-year higher education institutions from across the country, connecting active-duty service members, veterans, family members, and DoD civilians who have an interest in beginning or continuing their education. 

Warrior to Campus
Warriors to Campus provides an extraordinary opportunity for the Camp Pendleton Community to tour local college campuses. Each tour focuses on a general overview of the campus, the admission process, student services, and military-specific resources for active duty, veterans, and dependent family member students. Warriors to Campus is a face-to-face event that is open to active-duty service members, veterans, and dependent family members. For more information, please visit the Base Education Center.

Contact Information

Base Education Center

Email: cpec@usmc.mil

Base Education Center – Mainside
BLDG 1331
Camp Pendleton, CA

Phone: (760) 725-6660
Phone: (760) 725-6414
Mon-Fri 7:30am-4pm
Base Education Center – School of Infantry
BLDG 520512
Camp Pendleton, CA

Phone: (760) 725-0606
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 7:30am-4pm
Wed 10:30am-4pm
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