Utilizing Your COOL Benefits

Created by the Department of Defense, Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) is the result of extensive inter-service collaboration to facilitate credentialing of service members.

All services recognize the important role that occupational credentials can play in professionalizing the force and in enhancing the service member’s ability to transition to the civilian workforce upon completion of military service. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard each have their own service-specific COOL programs designed to match military occupations to civilian credentials (occupational certifications, licenses and apprenticeships) and provide resources to help Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen attain these credentials. The services disseminate this information on their own COOL websites.

What does COOL help me do?

DOD COOL contains resources and information on credentialing and the military for decision makers, leaders, agencies and other interested parties. It is intended as a workforce professionalization tool for active duty, reserve and civilian personnel to understand what their military training could translate to in the workforce and the professional development opportunities available in their career field. COOL is also a main hub for credentialing agencies and resources to help new veterans have a smooth transition into the civilian workforce.

The branch-specific COOL sites contain a variety of service-specific information about certifications and licenses related to military occupations. Use the branch-specific COOL sites to:

• Get background information about civilian licensure and certification in general and specific information on individual credentials, including eligibility and testing requirements and resources to prepare for an exam.
• Identify licenses and certifications relevant to individual military occupations.
• Learn how to fill gaps between military training and experience and civilian credentialing requirements.
• Learn about resources available to service members that can help them gain civilian job credentials.

Depending on qualifications and specifics, COOL can also fully cover the costs associated with certain credentials needed for your civilian career.

That being said, COOL is not a credentialing agency or testing center in and of itself. Service members do not get credentials from COOL or take tests or purchase training materials through COOL. It also doesn’t create credentialing standards, nor is it reserved exclusively for veterans, being used primarily by service members.

What does my branch COOL website provide?

For ease of use, the COOL sites are all organized in the same way. The key differences among the sites are the personnel categories covered and the scope of credentials paid for by the respective service. The following highlights the similarities and differences:

Army

Enlisted members:

• Credential information, including Promotion Points, Skill Level and Star credentials
• Credential payment for all credentials listed on Army COOL

Warrant Officer:
• Credential information
• Credential payment for all credentials listed

Officer:
• Credential information for select Advanced Operations Courses
• Credential payment for all credentials listed on Army COOL

Navy

Enlisted members:

• Credential information
• Credential payment for all credentials directly related to the rating or to an embedded skill set

Officer:
• Credential information, including Cybersecurity Workforce (CSWF)
• Credential payment for certain mandatory credentials

DOD civilians:
• Credential information, including Cybersecurity Workforce (CSWF)
• Credential payment for certain mandatory credentials

Air Force

Enlisted members:

• Credential information
• Credential payment for all credentials directly related to the rating or to an embedded skill set

Marine Corps

Enlisted members:

• Credential information
• Credential payment for all credentials directly related to the rating or to an embedded skill set

DOD civilians:
• Limited credential information, for Cybersecurity Workforce (CSWF)
• Credential information for select federal occupational series with more to be added on an ongoing basis

Coast Guard

Enlisted members:

• Credential information
• Credential payment for all credentials directly related to the rating or to an embedded skill set

DOD Civilian

Enlisted members:

• Credential information

To learn more about COOL and your branch specific website, visit cool.osd.mil.

Source: DOD COOL