Since 2015, the Army’s Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) program has offered a process to earn credentials (if applicable) in the soldier’s Military Occupation Specialty (MOS). The current credentialing process consists of four steps:
- Finding the Army training and experience that matches up with civilian credentialing requirements.
- Learning about the requirements of that credential.
- Exploring the resources available to pay for the credentialing, including additional education if required.
- Applying for the credential and taking (and paying for) the exam.
Army’s Cool program works for many military jobs – but not all
The COOL process works well for many MOSs where the training and experience directly apply to a credential. Let’s take the MOS of 88M for example.
Motor Transport Operators can use the Military Skills Test Waiver when applying for a civilian Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) within one year of getting out. Every state, including D.C., recognizes the waiver that replaces the normal two-year safe driving experience requirement. And soldiers can use their GI Bill to get reimbursed for the cost of the written exam and endorsements.
But what about the MOSs that do not have any credentialing opportunities? For example, an 11B Infantryman doesn’t have any credentials that come directly across into the civilian world. The only real option now is to use the GI Bill or pay out-of-pocket to take courses that meet the requirement of a chosen credential. Tuition Assistance in many cases is not authorized because the courses needed do not lead to a degree or certificate.
new program could help a wider range of soldiers
Under a new pilot program rolling out at Fort Hood in September, active duty soldiers (as well as National Guardsmen and reservists serving in Texas) will be able to select from a list of 28 credentials and use Tuition Assistance that will pay up to $4,000 per soldier to become credentialed in their selected area. This pilot program differs from the COOL program in that TA can be used to pay for the education needed to meet the credentialing requirements and the soldier does not need any prior training or experience in their selected credential choice. They can choose a credential that is completely different from their MOS.
Eventually all 1,600 credentials in the COOL program will be offered under this new program after it rolls out Army-wide in late 2019. However, under the pilot program, only 28 credentials are offered. Three of the ones in the initial program are Computer Systems Security Analyst, Personal Trainer, and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
The mission of this new program is to expand the current credentialing opportunities and therefore better prepare soldiers transitioning out of the military and into the civilian workplace. Not only will it get them into a career job quicker, but with less out-of-pocket expense – and more entitlement left on their Post 9/11 GI Bill to be used later for additional training or transferred to family members.
