OCTOBER 4, 2016, PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) – Department of the Navy (DON) Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) launched a new website aimed at providing certification opportunities for DON civilian employees, Oct. 3.
Just like Navy COOL for Sailors, DON Civilian COOL is a resource tool, mapping certifications and licensure based on formal training and on-the-job experience. The DON COOL website portal at http://www.cool.navy.mil/ now has a site specifically for civilians that is searchable by federal occupation code or title.
“Our intention, since Navy COOL’s inception, has always been to eventually include DON civilians,” said Michael Talley, assistant program director for Navy COOL. Navy COOL has helped more than 52,000 Sailors obtain civilian credentialing, which can contribute to career development while on active duty and when a Sailor joins the civilian workforce, possibly even as a federal employee.
DON Civilian COOL was developed in partnership with U.S. Fleet Forces Command and is the first of its kind for DOD civilians.
The initial group of 37 federal civilian occupations includes fields such as information technology, human resources, administrative, financial, engineering, education, legal, supply and security careers. It also has information for the cyber security workforce.
Keith Boring, program director for Navy COOL, said his team plans to continue connecting credentialing prospects for more DON civilian occupations by updating the program at regular intervals.
“Civilian COOL provides an expanded opportunity for DON personnel to pursue personal and professional development,” said Boring. “This program sets the foundation for all the other branches of service to offer credential opportunities for their civilian employees.”
Navy employees will find explanations for the different types of credentials and the four-step credentialing process, including costs and possible avenues for funding. DON Civilian COOL does not provide funding for costs associated with initial credential attainment and maintaining and renewing the credential.
Navy COOL may only fund application fees, exam fees and annual maintenance fees for DON civilians in the Navy’s Cyberspace Information Technology/Cyber Security Workforce. For most employees, some costs may be funded by the Navy if an employee’s command approves and budgets for it. In other cases, veterans eligible for the GI Bill may tap into that resource.
The DON COOL program is part of a joint-service initiative to promote civilian credentialing opportunities for military service members and civilian employees. DON COOL reflects the Navy’s ongoing commitment to Sailors, Marines and civilians in providing world-class training, experience and opportunities that will serve them well, whether during active-duty, federal service or post-service civilian careers.
For more information about DON Civilian COOL, visit http://www.cool.navy.mil/dciv/ and for DON COOL, visit http://www.cool.navy.mil/.
Navy COOL is located with the Center for Information Warfare Training, which delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.