INFO MEMO

November 27, 2011

SUBJECT: Credentialing Opportunities for Sailors Separating from Navy

Reference: OPNAVINST 1540.56a

Enlisted Retention Board (ERB) Affected Sailors:

Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) will approve time-in-service waivers for Sailors selected within FY-12 Quota-Based Enlisted Retention Board (ERB).

Approximately 3,000 Sailors within 31 enlisted ratings, who will now have less than one year remaining on active duty, will be granted waiver to policy, OPNAVINST 1540.56a Navy Credentialing Program. Specifically:

a. Enlisted shall meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

- be in the appropriate rating or occupation to which the credential is mapped

- be currently working in, or have been assigned to a position to which the credential is mapped

- have prior documented experience in a position to which the credential is mapped for credentials outside of their specific rating, and the credential has relevance or applicability to the current or future needs of the command or the Navy Reserve

b. Eligibility for Sailor credentials must be validated and approved by their commanding officer or command-designated approving official. Additionally, before authorizing the request, commands must also certify that Sailors:

- have passed their most recent advancement exam

- have passed, or been medically waived from, their most recent physical fitness assessment

- have not received a non-judicial or courts martial punishment within the past 6 months

- selected for separation under FY-12 Quota-Based Enlisted Retention Board

- must be able to complete all certification requirements no less than 60 calendar days prior to separation from Navy

c. Personnel must also satisfy credentialing agency eligibility requirements for the certification/licensure

being sought prior to requesting exam funding.

Certification and licensure exam voucher request form may be downloaded from Navy COOL website, https://www.cool.navy.mil and submitted electronically via e-mail to navycool(at)navy.mil, or faxed (850) 452-6897.

Should service member decide to withdraw the request for exam funding or is unable to complete the navy-funded credentialing exam prior to 60 calendar days from separation from Navy, the member is required to return any voucher not used. Provide correspondence (fax or email) from the member's Commanding Officer confirming withdrawal for military or emergency reasons.

The service member shall provide pass and fail results to Navy's Credentials Program Office within 30 calendar days of notification of exam results from the credentialing agency.

Those service members affiliating with the Navy Reserve will remain eligible for continued navy-funded credentialing exams, consistent with authority found in OPNAVINST 1540.56a.

Though it is not the purpose of the Navy's Credentialing Program to be utilized solely a component of transition, earning an industry-recognized certification or license may provide a key component towards a successful transition from enlisted Sailor to civilian employee.

Sailors should visit Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) at https://www.cool.navy.mil as industry-recognized certification or license may make the difference in transition from enlisted Sailor to civilian employee. Navy COOL home page now displays an "ERB Affected Sailor" button that Sailors can review for credentialing opportunities.

Any Transitioning Sailor:

COOL is a resource for:

o Navy Service Members (enlisted and officers) who want to know what civilian credentials relate to their ratings, designators, and collateral duties/out of rate assignments and how to obtain the credentials.

o Education, Career and Transition Counselors providing guidance on education, professional growth, and career requirements and opportunities.

o Navy Recruiters who want to show potential recruits the opportunities for professional growth and civilian career preparation available through Navy service.

o Employers and Credentialing Boards interested in how military training and experience prepares Navy service members for civilian credentials and jobs.

COOL provides each enlisted rating, Officer Designator, and (where applicable) collateral duty with direct ties to Department of Labor (DOL)-recognized civilian occupational equivalents. This allows the Sailor to:

o easily identify the civilian occupations that tie closest to their Navy training, experience, and education.

o Links the Sailor to DOL O*Net for that civilian occupation. This can prove to be a valuable resource when writing a resume…converting military speak back in to civilian speak, as this puts the tasks, knowledge, skills, and abilities into a civilian context.

o Wages and employment trends are also available. COOL provides each enlisted rating, Officer Designator, and

(where applicable) collateral duty with direct ties to Federal Government/GS occupational equivalents. This allows the Sailor to:

o easily identify the Federal occupations (by job series) that tie closest to their Navy training, experience, and education.

o Links the Sailor to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) description of the job series being reviewed.

o Links the Sailor to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Military to Federal Jobs Crosswalk (Mil2Fed) website. Mil2Fed provides tools to:

Identify federal jobs related to your military occupation

Find out about the federal job characteristics, such as duties, paygrade, and qualifications

Search USAJobs for vacancies

How does licensure and certification affect transitioning service members?

o In today’s ever-competitive job market, service members may need a license or certification to “beat their competition” in the job-hunting process or the credential may be a requirement to practice the equivalent of their military occupation in the civilian workforce. For those who need this edge, the impact of licensure and certification requirements vary depending upon if credentials were earned while in the military, and if military education, training, and experience meet the civilian credentialing requirements.

o Five basic scenarios describe how licensure and certification affect transitioning service members:

1) The civilian equivalent or Federal equivalent of the Navy rating, job, designator, or collateral duty/out of rate assignment may require a license or certification.

Service members seeking employment in one of these categories may need to pursue credentialing.

2) Military training and experience provides all of the necessary credentials to practice the occupation as a civilian.

For example, the Navy requires Information Systems Technicians (IT) to obtain their A+ Certification as part of the IT "A" School.

3) Military training and experience provide certification in the field, but not a license.

The transition to the civilian workforce may be relatively seamless because certification and licensure requirements are often similar. However, you may still need to obtain a license from the appropriate government agency.

4) A military career provides education, training, or experience necessary to become licensed or certified, but not the formal license or certification from the credentialing board.

Service members in this situation may have to follow an administrative process that typically requires completing an application, documenting military training and experience, and possibly taking an exam.

5) Military education, training, or experience may need supplementation to meet licensure and certification requirements.

Service members in this situation may experience a period of unemployment or underemployment until they are able to meet the requirements. See the COOL Costs and Resources section to learn about available resources.