Certifications are generally set by professional associations and verify that individuals meet a set of predetermined qualifications to gain employment with a company or organization.
Such credentialing is mandatory by the majority of civilian employers; therefore, having access to this funding can mean the difference between getting a job or not for Airmen who plan to stay in their current field upon leaving the service.
Russell Gray, director of AF COOL, explained what the program is trying to do for Airmen.
“The old concept was to get your credentialing just before you leave the service, and we’re trying to change that mindset so Airmen are getting their certifications earlier in their career – not only to make them better during their service, but also so that when a future employer looks at their resumé they see that they have X years of experience with their certification, not just the six weeks before they got out,” he said.
Since the program’s inception in March 2015, AF COOL has grown more than 300 percent in what Airmen can access, including covering the cost of study and test preparation materials as well as increasing the number of certifications that each Airman can receive, Gray said.
He explained the significance of AF COOL, especially for technical fields.
“Take an aircraft mechanic, for example. In the Air Force they are not required to have their Aircraft Electronics Technician certification. So say you go and try to get a job with a major airline after 20 years of experience to find out that they won’t recognize that experience because you weren’t certified during that whole time. This program fills the gap that Airmen were previously missing by providing them with credentials that employers are looking for.”
Airmen of all enlisted ranks with at least a five skill level are eligible to receive funding under AF COOL, including National Guard and Reservists that are on title 10 or title 32 orders.
To learn more about opportunities and eligibility, visit the Air Force Virtual Education Center online at www.afvec.af.mil.
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