CAMP PENDLETON — In today’s challenging economy, it is vital to have an education to stay
competitive in the job
market. Camp Pendleton’s Joint Education Center offers just that — free of charge.
“We’re a one-stop shop for educational needs,” said Mary Hoffman, military test custodian and education technician, JEC, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
“Just a few of the things we can offer are processing tuition assistance, educational counseling for anyone affiliated with the base, military and civilian testing, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery or ASVAB testing, ACT/SAT study, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Services or DANTES, in which students can test out of certain classes and are similar to Marine Corps Institution or MCIs,” she said.
“We also offer test proctoring, apprenticeship programs, college 101
briefing for all units,
spouse tuition assistance programs and the military academic skills program or MASP.”
“We understand not everyone is college-oriented,” Hoffman said. “So we have programs for the not-so-college-oriented also.”
“They’ll work with the military,” Hoffman said. “So if you have to go TAD they’re not going to kick you out of the class, they’re going to work with you to stay current. We have folks in Iraq and Afghanistan who are still managing to go to school.”
Capt. Eric Anderson, company commander at Headquarters Company, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego is now a full-time student at Thomas Jefferson School of Law through the education office.
He was formerly Staff Sgt. Anderson and began making the most of his education opportunities as an active-duty service member early in his career.
“The first thing I had to do was sit down with a counselor and find out what courses I needed for my specific degree,” Anderson said.
“More important than actually taking courses, I would say, was the overall goal of getting a degree and working with counselors on the plan to achieve it,” he added.
For more information, contact the JEC on mainside at (760) 725-6660 in building 1331 or their office located at the School of Infantry at (760) 725-0606 in building 520512.
