What is on COOL?
In understanding COOL, it is important to know what the COOL program is, and also what it is not COOL.
COOL IS
- built and maintained on the needs of the Department of Defense.
- intended as a workforce professionalization tool for active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel.
- an information resource for:
- Service members to learn what civilian credentials pertain to their military training and experience and resources available to help them attain the credentials.
- Civilian personnel to learn about professional development opportunities available in their career areas.
- a provider of links to credentials, credentialing agencies, and training and other resources that Service members or civilian personnel use when they have decided to obtain a credential.
- in keeping with the requirements of P.L. 113-66, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, Sec 542.
COOL is NOT
- a credentialing agency or a testing center. Service members do not get credentials from COOL, or take tests or purchase training materials through COOL.
- an accrediting organization and does not create credentialing standards.
- a repository of military training materials.
- intended solely as a Veteran resource. It primarily serves Service members.
- a duplication of resources and tools offered through the Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ Careers and Employment Center.
DOD COOL contains resources and information on credentialing and the military for decision makers, leaders, agencies and other interested parties. This information can be accessed via the top navigation menu on this site.
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.
The DOD Civilian COOL site contains information for civilian employees on credentials related to their federal job duties. This includes both general information on credentialing as well as occupation-specific information.
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 table highlights the similarities and differences.
| Information Available on Credentialing and Payment Policy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COOL Website | Enlisted | Warrant Officer | Officer | DOD Civilian |
| Army |
|
|
|
N/A |
| Navy |
|
|
|
|
| Air Force/Space Force |
|
N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Marine Corps |
|
|
|
|
| Coast Guard |
|
|
|
|
| DOD Civilian | N/A | N/A | N/A |
|
Information Available on Credentialing and Payment Policy
Army COOL
Enlisted
- Credential Information, including Promotion Points, Skill Level, and Star credentials
- Credential Payment for all credentials listed on Army COOL
Warrant Officers
- Credential Information
- Credential Payment for all credentials listed on Army COOL
Officers
- Credential Information for select AOCs
- Credential Payment for all credentials listed on Army COOL
DOD Civilian
- N/A
Navy COOL
Enlisted
- Credential Information
- Credential payment for all credentials that are directly related to the rating or to an embedded skill set
Officers
- Credential Information, including Cybersecurity Workforce (CSWF)
- Credential Payment for certain mandatory credentials
DOD Civilian
- Limited Credential Information for Cybersecurity Workforce (CSWF)
- Credential Payment for certain mandatory credentials
- Credential Information for select federal occupational series with more to be added on an ongoing basis
Air Force
Enlisted
- Credential Information
- Credential payment for all credentials that are directly related to the rating or to an embedded skill set
Officer
- N/A
Marine Corps COOL
Enlisted
- Credential Information
- Credential payment for select credentials related to a military occupational specialty or to an embedded skill set
Officers
- N/A
DOD Civilian
- 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
- Credential Information
- Credential payment for all credentials that are directly related to the rating or to an embedded skill set
Officer
- N/A
DOD Civilian
- N/A