The Department of Navy (DON) is committed to the professional development of its military and civilian personnel. DON Civilian COOL is the next step in the evolution of DON COOL, which focuses on civilian credentialing opportunities for military Service members in the Navy and Marine Corps. The new site is being developed so that civilian personnel can also identify certifications and licenses that provide professional growth opportunities in their career areas.

DON civilians can find both general information on credentialing as well as specific information on credentials related to their individual federal occupational series. Just like the functionality found on Navy COOL and Marine Corps COOL, after searching on a federal occupational series by either code or title, users will get a list of credentials related to most or some of their job duties. Clicking on a credential title in the list provides detailed information about that credential, including its description, eligibility requirements, exam topics, and recertification requirements.

The US Navy Credentials Program Office, Center for Information Warfare Training is developing DON Civilian COOL in phases. The first phase of development was done in partnership with the US Fleet Forces Command (USFFC). For the initial launch, the site includes the 35 federal occupational series in the USFFC. Additional federal occupational series and credential opportunities will be added on a monthly basis, so check back often.

You can access DON Civilian COOL from the DON COOL website or directly at DON Civilian COOL.

New Cyber IT/CSWF Management and Qualification Program Has Been Launched

All current Cybersecurity Workforce personnel take note! The new DON Cyberspace IT/Cybersecurity Workforce Management and Qualification Program is effective immediately.

SECNAV Manual 5239.2, DON Cyberspace Information Technology and Cybersecurity Workforce Management and Qualification Manual has been published. The recently revised SECNAV M-5239.2 is effective immediately and all affected personnel should read it in its entirety. Refer to ALCOM_098-16_CYBERSECURITY_IMPLEMENTATION_POAM.pdf for implementation guidance.

The Cyber IT/CSWF structure differs significantly from the previous Information Assurance workforce structure in that it now is based upon the actual specialties and proficiencies required by the work, not upon the general area and system/network size. The structure also provides the means to move to a more focused qualification regimen.

This revision identifies MAJOR changes to the DON Cyberspace IT/Cybersecurity Workforce (Cyber IT/CSWF) Management and Qualification Program. The revision:

• Updates and clarifies the position and personnel coding process
• Sets qualifications criteria required of personnel identified as "Core" Cyber IT/CSWF
• Establishes program management procedures
• Details the general cybersecurity training required by all DON authorized users
• Adds Appendix 4, Cyber IT/Cybersecurity Workforce Qualification Matrix, to clarify qualification requirements and options

For more information review the Cyberspace Information Technology and Cybersecurity Workforce Management and Qualification Manual in its entirety.

Blueprint to Mariner

If you are Active Duty or Reserve U.S. Navy personnel (Officers or Enlisted), make sure to explore the wide range of exciting post-service career opportunities within the maritime industry. For an overview of maritime opportunities, paths to U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) licensing, and Navy COOL funding opportunities, see the new Blueprint to Mariner document.

Although employment in the maritime industry requires licensing from the USCG, enlisted Active Duty & Reserve U.S. Navy personnel in eligible ratings may be able use Navy COOL to fund the licensing fees and exams.

The U.S. Merchant Marine consists of privately-owned, U.S. registered merchant ships and a variety of towing, offshore supply, and passenger vessels which provide waterborne transportation for passengers and cargoes moving in domestic and international commerce.

Primary shipboard employment categories include deep sea, Great Lakes, towing and barges, inland and coastal waters, passenger vessels, and offshore and mineral operations. Other areas of employment in the maritime industry include shipbuilding and repair, longshoring (cargo handling), port terminal administration, and inter-modal logistics.

You can find general information about the maritime industry in the Maritime Careers Brochure and the Maritime Careers Resources Guide. For additional information about career opportunities within the U.S. Merchant Marine industry and the Department of Defense Civilian Mariners (CIVMARS) of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) see the Military to Mariner page maintained by the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the MSC “Who We Are” page.

This Maritime Industry website includes numerous links to maritime companies, schools, and seaports, and MARAD’s video link, "Serving America in Peace and at War", gives a sense of the scope and mission of the merchant marine industry.

Navy Advancement Bibliographies and Exam Topics/Subtopics

Navy Advancement Bibliographies are now available on COOL!

To access BIBs on COOL:

• On any page, select a rating from the Advancement Exam Bibliographies list in the Find & Select Related Credentials search box, or
• Look in the Advancement Exam Bibliographies section toward the bottom of any Rating Summary page

Advancement Bibliographies (BIBs) are lists of occupational and professional military knowledge references developed to help guide Sailors in their studies for advancement exams. You can access BIBs on COOL in the following ways:

To learn more about the BIBs, see new Navy Advancement Bibliographies page here on COOL, or read the Bibliography FAQs PDF.

Hear from Sailors about COOL Success!

The March update includes the addition a new page on Navy COOL called "Success Stories," found in the News & Information section. The page features quotes from Sailors describing their experiences using COOL to obtain credentials. The page will be updated with new stories from time to time, so make sure to check back.

Following are the first set of Navy COOL success stories—Sailors like yourself who have taken the initiative and earned credentials using Navy COOL. Use their examples as inspiration, and to see how easy it is to experience credentialing success.

Sailors can now access several tools and resources found on Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online (COOL) via their mobile devices with a new Navy COOL application that launched 28 January 2016.

The Navy COOL app is designed to help Sailors, both enlisted and officer, to find information on credentialing, career development, and civilian crosswalks related to their military occupation. It's a bring-your-own device tool designed to work on personal devices outside of the NMCI domain.

Use the following direct links to download the Navy COOL app from the Apple store and Google Play Store at no cost:

• iOS App Store
• Android Play Store

Besides credentialing information, the app provides enlisted members with Learning and Development Roadmaps (LaDRs), which are rating-specific online guides that explain in detail what Sailors need to succeed at specific points in their career. Additional app features include snapshots of related civilian occupations and United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) trades, along with generic joint service transcripts associated with each enlisted Navy rating.

Rating Information Cards also provide summary information such as school locations, training time, qualifications and working environment. These and the other features within the app are particularly useful for recruiters and career counselors, especially when they are on the go, as they advise potential recruits and Sailors of professional options available to them.

The US Navy is a modern, cutting-edge force. To best support today's Sailor, COOL must be cutting-edge too. COOL has been completely retooled and revamped to improve your access to the credentialing information that is important to your career. We've built in new features and functionality, such as:

• Responsiveness – the site responds on the fly to your hardware, with purpose-built support for desktops, tablets and phones.
• Interactive credential tables – you now have many more tools at your disposal when looking at credentials related to your Rate, Designator or Collateral Duty. You can apply filters, sort, and search by key words. Once you have your customized list, you can print it and take it with you.
• Reorganized content – All of the supporting information on COOL, from the Credentialing Steps along the top of each page, to the pages you access from the top navigation bar has been redesigned and rewritten to make it easier to understand credentialing and what it means to you. And most importantly, to make it easier for you to understand what you need to do to get a credential.
• Revamped look and feel – It's still COOL, only better. We've made things easier to read, easier to find, and easier to use, whether you're at your desk or on your phone.

Make sure to spend the time to explore your new COOL. Kick the tires, poke around. There is a lot to see and discover. And it's all here to help you become a better, more professional Sailor. Let us know what you think – feel free to leave a comment!

TA DECIDE Can Help You Choose a College

TA DECIDE is a dynamic information and comparison tool designed specifically to aid participants of DoD's Tuition Assistance (TA) program in making informed choices on schools and education programs. The TA DECIDE engine is fueled by more than 10 recognized and trusted data sources from across the departments of Defense, Education and Veterans Affairs.

It provides a first of its kind experience, uniquely tailored to the needs of the TA participant. We hope TA DECIDE provides you with high value, actionable information on educational costs and outcomes to compare educational institutions that you may be considering.

Visit the TA DECIDE website for more information.

New Site-Wide Search

The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed the new site-wide search box in the upper right-hand corner of COOL pages. We have been testing the search functionality, and it is now ready for prime time.

You can now search all of Navy COOL for key words and phrases, using the search box at the upper right of COOL pages:

It works as you'd expect– type in a search word or phrase, and you'll see a page of results, including all occurrences on the COOL site. What you might not expect is that the results are organized into three tabs:

• All – Shows all results
• Military Occupations – Only shows results on COOL Rating Summary pages
• Credentials – Only shows results on COOL Credential Snapshot pages

Now it will be easier than ever to find exactly the credentialing information you're looking for. Happy searching!

Your Credential May Need Maintenance

Did you know that many certifications & licenses require annual maintenance (fees and/or additional training) to keep them current and valid?

To keep your civilian certification current, you may need to pay an annual or routine maintenance fee and/or complete a minimum number of related continuing education activities (such as attend conferences, participate in courses or training, earn additional certifications, read books or guides, etc.). These activities may be referred to as Continuing Education Units (CEU's), Continuing Maintenance Units (CMU's), or something similar. If you do not maintain your credential per the certification agency's guidance, your credential may expire. At that point you might have to re-take the credentialing exam and pay any fees due to be able to recertify.

The good news is that the Credentialing Program Office/Navy COOL office will pay continuing education and/or maintenance fees for all eligible Navy Enlisted members and select Navy Officers and DON Civilians currently holding commercial certifications. All personnel must meet the eligibility requirements for funding, and the credential in question must be listed on your rating or occupation page on Navy COOL. Cyberspace IT/Cybersecurity Workforce (Cyber IT/CSWF) personnel can also request maintenance fee funding for required certifications that align to their Cyber IT/CSWF position.

Credential maintenance may be required for a Navy-specific position or initial/continued employment as a civilian—keeping your credentials up to date is as important as earning them in the first place. Is your certification continuing education up to date? If you are not sure, contact us and we'll help you identify the requirements. Contact Navy COOL at: navycool@navy.mil or call (850) 452-6345/6272/6289.

Some examples of certifications that require annual maintenance (not a complete list):

• ABCHS Certified in Homeland Security – requires 30 CEUs over a three-year period
• CompTIA A+ ce – requires 20 CEUs over a 3-year period + $25.00 due annually
• CompTIA Security+ – requires 50 CEUs over a 3-year period + $49.00 due annually
• (ISC)2 CISSP – requires 120 CPE credits over a 3-year period (40/year) + $85.00 due annually
• GIAC certifications – require 36 CPE credits over a 4-year period + $399.00 due once every four years

Following are some common questions related to continuing education units (CEUs):

1. What are Continuing Education Units?

A CEU is a unit of credit equal up to 10 hours of participation in an accredited program designed for professionals with certifications or licenses. In most cases CEU's are used to maintain certification requirements relevant to the field in which the certification applies.

2. Why Complete CEUs?

Many certifying agencies and certain professions require that practitioners earn a specific number of CEUs per year to ensure that they are up-to-date with current practices in their field. Proof of credits earned is necessary to renew a certification or license. The number of credits required varies by certifying agencies, industry and state. Please check with the certifying agency for CEU requirements for your certification.

3. How to earn CEUs?

CEUs can be earned by attending conferences, completing online courses, completing a college course, passing a related certification exam, attending various certifying agency events and writing a paper or journal article relevant to certification. In most cases training must meet the requirements of the certifying agency; most certifying agencies will have a listing of recommended CEU training located on their website under the general heading of something similar to 'Maintaining Your Certification.'

4. How to document classified or sensitive experience, activities or training for CEU consideration?

Certifying agencies often require Continuing Education Units (CEUs) as part of certification renewal requirements. DON members may have experiences, activities or training which may be considered classified or sensitive in nature, and therefore CANNOT be submitted.

In those situations, an UNCLASSIFIED Command Letter may be used to document and submit the information, in lieu of direct documentation. The UNCLASSIFIED Command Letter must summarize the basic information needed, WITHOUT any classified or sensitive information.

The Command Letter must be signed by the Commanding Officer, or a senior official within the Command who has By Direction authority, in addition to being reviewed by the Command Special/Security Officer PRIOR to submission.

NOTE: A SEPARATE letter is required for EACH item/event to be submitted. You may NOT submit one letter to cover multiple items.

Click for Command Letter Examples

5. How to request funding for CE/Maintenance fees?

You can request continuing education and/or maintenance fees by using the Navy COOL voucher request form, which you can download from the Navy COOL website. Click on "Apply for Exam Voucher" at the top of any Navy COOL page. [Note: In "PART 3" of the voucher request form please include your certification/license identification number so we can make payment based on the cert ID Number]. Submit/route the voucher request form just like you would if submitting for funding of a credentialing exam.