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Idea Transcript
LIBRARIES&EDUCATION
Marine Corps COOL
Advance your career with the right credentials By Ceasar Hernandez, Education Center Guidance Counselor n
FEATUREDCLASSES USMAP The United Services Military Apprenticeship Program is a formal military training program that provides active duty Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard service members the opportunity to improve their job skills and to complete their civilian apprenticeship requirements while they are on active duty. Members benefit by getting the same credit for military work experience and training as their civilian counterparts in the civilian industry. For more information, contact your nearest education center or visit usmap.cnet.navy.mil.
Thomas Alan Smilie
D
o you want to start or advance your career with credentials in your military occupational specialty (MOS)? Marine Corps COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line) is a new resource to assist Marines on active duty or reserve to locate and select workforce credentials. Workforce credentials measure on-thejob competency, such as educational degrees, licenses, certifications and experience. There are several different ways you can achieve credentials. For example, licenses are knowledge and skill credentials that are legally required for some occupations. You can also earn certifications, which are awards earned by passing a test in a certain occupation or profession. Certifications are valued by employers as a demonstration of workers’ knowledge, skills and experience. Apprenticeship programs are another means that offer supervised, on-the-job training combined with related technical instruction. The Marine Corps and the Department of Labor have developed the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) for Marines to gain a nationally recognized journeyman certification in their primary MOS while on active duty.
For more information on USMAP, please contact your nearest education center or visit the USMAP website at usmap.cnet.navy.mil. Educational degrees or training courses serve as qualifications for many occupations. Marines can pursue their education goals and utilize the tuition assistance (TA) program to potentially cover the cost of attending classes while on active duty. For information regarding TA eligibility, contact your nearest education center to schedule a one-on-one counseling session or attend a College 101/TA Brief. Work experience including on-the-job training, internships and volunteer or temporary employment can also help develop skills and qualifications. To research volunteer opportunities, visit your nearest Marine & Family Programs–Resource Center. COOL is a resource for Marines who want to know which civilian credentials relate to their MOS and how to obtain them. Education, career and transition advisors use COOL to provide guidance on education, personal and professional development. Marine Corps recruiters use COOL to show potential recruits the opportunities for professional growth and civilian career
preparation available through service in the Marine Corps. COOL can also be used by employers and credentialing boards interested in how military training and experience prepares Marines for civilian credentials and jobs. COOL helps Marines find information on certifications and licenses related to their MOS. It provides information on submitting applications, obtaining documentation of experience and training, taking exams and information on financial assistance for paying for those applications and exams. Marines can also search statistics on civilian and federal jobs related to their MOS to determine whether or not to pursue credentialing. To start using Marine Corps COOL, please visit cool.navy.mil/usmc. For Navy COOL, please visit cool.navy.mil/usn. The credentialing information on COOL is currently provided for enlisted personnel only. Officers seeking credentialing information for civilian occupations can contact or schedule an appointment with an education counselor at the nearest education center or visit careeronestop.org/explorecareers/ find-licenses for more information.