So What Is Army COOL?
Army COOL is, well, pretty cool. First off, the COOL stands for Credentialing Opportunities On-Line. The program is designed to lend a helping hand to Army service members so they can get certifications and licenses that match up with their jobs and civilian careers.
Per the official Army COOL website, the goal is to serve as a resource so these service members can find:
- Credentials related to an Army Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
- Credentials related to Civilian Occupational Pathways
- Credential requirements and potential gaps between Army training and civilian credentialing requirements
- Resources available to fill gaps between military training and civilian credentialing requirements
The primary audience for Army COOL is service members since it’s designed to help them find employment or promotion. However, it’s important to note it serves an additional and critical purpose: Military Occupational Specialties can be matched up with their civilian counterparts, allowing service members to get hired more quickly, especially if they start credential stacking.
Who Else Can Use Army COOL?
While the service members have the most to gain, other audiences can benefit from the resource too, such as:
Recruiters and Counselors: These professionals can utilize Army COOL to help soldiers figure out what military experience maps over to civilian credentials, understand their credentialing options, and the necessary steps for getting a credential.
Credentialing Organizations: MedCerts falls in this category, and companies like us need to know the ins and outs of military-specific credentialing. Since 99% of military occupations have a similar civilian credential, and in some cases, the military will offer financial assistance, we can help them receive proper certifications.
Employers: Some employers specifically look for service members who are transitioning to civilian life, so Army COOL can serve as a valuable resource in this regard, too.
What Kinds of Certifications Are They Getting?
As far as our Army Credentialing Assitance students go, initially, they’re trending toward IT certifications and our Project Management Certification, so we’ll focus on these programs:
IT-1100/Fundamentals of IT: Having this certification means you understand the basic principles of computer systems, as well as their hardware components.
IT-2000/IT Helpdesk Administrator: This particular certification prepares you to manage a wide range of networking technologies within an organization.
IT-2100/PC Technician: This certification indicates you understand installation, PC building, system upgrades, repair, system configuration, troubleshooting, problem diagnosis, and preventative maintenance on personal computers.
IT-2200/Network Technician: This certification includes classes like Microsoft Office Series III, IT-2013 Network+ Courses, and others, which also allows you to maintain a wide range of networking technologies.
IT-5100/IT Security Specialist: Through courses like Microsoft Office Series III and Security +, you’ll develop the skills you need to gain the critical CompTIA Security+ certification.
PM-6100/Project Management Essentials: This program will provide a foundational knowledge base reflecting the most up-to-date project management information so students can effectively put their training and principles to work in their organizations.
As you can see, there are a variety of IT/Project Management-related certifications, which leads to a variety of civilian employment opportunities (in a growing field, no less). As the Army Credentialing Assistance Program continues to grow, and we take on more students, we expect them to continue taking these certifications, as well as others. For example, any service members that have medical backgrounds would be better suited for some of our healthcare certifications.
Army COOL and MedCerts
MedCerts is proud to be able to help service members seeking the opportunity to make sure their military experience translates into the certifications they need to pursue a promising career. These service members are fortunate to have a resource like Army COOL invested in their future. We’re happy to be able to play a small role in that future, too.
Are you a service member looking to find the right match for your military skill set or fill a specific credentialing gap? Or are you a recruiter, counselor, or employer wanting more information on the types of certifications that we offer here at MedCerts? Take a second to get in touch.
*MedCerts is an approved provider of The Credentialing Assistance Program. Army COOL is a repository for all credentials. The Army, Department of Defense, and Department of the Army are not affiliated with MedCerts and do not endorse our services.
