Credentialing Assistance Program's Phase II offers a wealth of new opportunities - MyCG

The 2nd signifier of the Coast Guard’s Credentialing Assistance Pilot Program began successful September, taking a large measurement by backing grooming courses that pb to a credential. This enlargement provides the enactment needed for members to gain nonrecreational certifications, credentials, and licenses that assistance them attain their abbreviated and semipermanent vocation goals.
  
“You asked. We listened,” said Michael Reynolds, the Voluntary Credentialing programme manager successful Force Readiness Command’s (FORCECOM) Career Investment Division. 
  
Members tin prime from implicit 2,000 credential programs connected the Coast Guard Credentialing Opportunities Online (CG COOL) website. Prior to Phase II coming online, participants were required to instrumentality courses that were rating-related, retired of standing assignment, collateral work oregon academically related, oregon portion of the Military to Mariner (M2M) program. However, present they tin take their CG COOL courses freely arsenic they broaden their nonrecreational horizons.  

“The Coast Guard’s Credentialing Assistance programme has expanded exponentially this year,” Reynolds said. “In April of this twelvemonth officers became eligible for CA. And with the caller Phase II motorboat that present funds approved grooming courses, the CA programme accrued a staggering 248% (based connected CA funds authorized) successful the past year.”
 
Coast Guard progressive work and reserves present person $4,500 of credentialing assistance (CA) each fiscal twelvemonth to usage connected grooming courses and trial costs. This is successful summation to $4,500 for tuition assistance (TA). That is simply a whopping $9,000 disposable to members, per fiscal year. These funds tin importantly offset the load of acquisition expenses and yet assistance folks onshore jobs.  
  
As Reynolds explained, successful 2009, Congress passed the National Defense Act, which mandated a credentialing programme crossed subject branches. Legislators and the president understood the value of credentials arsenic opposed, oregon successful summation to, accepted degrees. 

Reynolds knows first-hand however impactful credentials tin be. He served successful the Army and the Navy for galore years. When helium retired from the service, helium had respective governmental clearances — including a White House clearance — which Reynolds thought would unfastened doors and marque him an appealing candidate. Instead, helium experienced unemployment arsenic galore agencies sought candidates with degrees and credentials.  
  
That is wherefore Reynolds is truthful passionate astir the credentialing program. He knows conscionable however impactful it tin beryllium connected a person’s life. “This programme helps with unemployment numbers. It helps with retention and recruiting due to the fact that CA is portion of a member’s benefits,” helium stated. “CA besides helps with readiness due to the fact that it creates a much professionalized workforce.”
  
Members are required to usage CA grooming providers that person been vetted and approved by Veteran Affairs (VA) oregon the Department of Labor (DOL). As Reynolds noted, FORCECOM reserves the close to instrumentality further vetting requirements successful bid to support members from predatory oregon substandard providers.    

• More money, benefits successful the credentialing assistance aviator program 
• New courses developed by the Military to Mariner Program and approved by the National Maritime Center easiness pathway to earning credentials   
• CG COOL: Credentialing your Coast Guard experience  

Resources:  

• Education and Training Quota Management  
• Education Portal Information