MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- "A smart Marine is a good Marine, and the Marine Corps is dedicated to helping Marines continue to cultivate their minds," - so says the official Marine Corps recruiting Web site.
With 100 percent tuition assistance and college programs at most installations, the Corps means what it says. But how do service members aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni get started?
The Station is home to two college field offices offering a wide variety of classes and degree programs.
University of Maryland University College assists service members in getting started with the basic required education courses, as well as those already working on a degree.
"For young Marines who are just starting out, we recommend taking the general math, science and English courses first," said Becky Scott, UMUC's Iwakuni field representative. "All of our general courses will transfer to colleges back in the states."
Enrolling in UMUC is quick, beginning with a visit to the UMUC field office.
"It's a very simple process," said Scott. "Come by the office and complete a request to get tuition assistance, which is signed off by your officer in charge. It is brought back to the office, and then you are ready to sign-up. There's a onetime application fee of $30."
Scott said that the office is especially helpful for service members who are new to college.
"The first thing we like to do is to get started with math and English classes," said Scott. "For anyone who has not taken these classes already, a placement exam is required."
According to Scott, UMUC offers students both online and face-to-face classes.
"For the face-to-face classes, we start a new term every eight weeks," said Scott. "On the average, we offer between 12 and 13 courses each term. We try to include about two upper-level courses.
"Students also have access to our online Asia distance education classes. Those courses run on a semester basis, 16 weeks."
For service members interested in online education, an additional opportunity is available through a Central Texas College field office.
According to Jennifer Walker, CTC Iwakuni field representative, CTC online courses are eight weeks long as opposed to the 16-week long UMUC online courses. CTC specializes in associate degrees.
Like UMUC, service members will have a tuition assistance form signed by their OIC and complete a registration form.
CTC offers several different associate degree plans to include General Studies, Criminal Justice, Child Development, Applied Management and Applied Management with Computer Applications.
The field offices of both colleges are located on the first floor of Building 411.