ALCOAST 203/23 - MAY 2023 COAST GUARD CREDENTIALING ASSISTANCE (CA) PILOT PROGRAM PHASE 3 - CIVILIAN CA

R 241830Z MAY 23 MID120000127551U
FM COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 203/23
SSIC 1540
SUBJ: COAST GUARD CREDENTIALING ASSISTANCE (CA) PILOT PROGRAM
PHASE 3 - CIVILIAN CA
A. DOD Credentialing Programs, DODI 1322.33
B. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 Section
1112, 5 U.S.C. Section 5757 - Payment of expenses to obtain
professional credentials
C. Program to Assist Members in Obtaining Professional Credentials,
10 U.S.C. Section 2015
D. Reserve Duty Status and Participation Manual, COMDTINST M1001.2
E. Coast Guard Voluntary Credentialing Program (VCP),
COMDTINST 1540.10
F. Military to Mariner Voluntary Credentialing Program,
COMDTINST 1540.2
G. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 111514Z MAY 22/ALCOAST 177/22
H. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 142000Z OCT 22/ALCOAST 391/22
1. This ALCOAST announces the start of Phase 3 of the Credentialing
Assistance (CA) Pilot Program. For the purposes of the VCP and CA
Pilot Program, the term "credential" encompasses certifications,
certificates, licenses, and apprenticeships. Phase 1 expanded CA to
reimburse for approved training courses which lead to a merchant
mariner credential (MMC) supported by the Military to Mariner
program. Phase 2 further expanded CA by reimbursing for approved
training courses which lead to a credential listed on the Coast
Guard Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (CG COOL) website. The
pilot program is supported by DOD instruction and U.S. Code (REFs
(A), (B) and (C)).
2. Effective immediately, FORCECOM is launching Phase 3 by expanding
eligibility of CA to include civilian employees. The annual cap for
CA is $4,500 per fiscal year and can be used to fund approved
training courses, books, study guides, exam preparation materials,
exams, maintenance fees, renewal fees, and membership dues (when
applicable) which lead to a credential. The credential must be
related to the member's federal series occupation. This $4,500 is
in addition to the $4,500 annual cap for Tuition Assistance (TA).
Eligible members may participate in the TA and CA programs
simultaneously.
3. Because of the positive impact of TA and CA on Coast Guard
recruiting, retention, and readiness, we highly encourage all hands
to help raise awareness of this new CA benefit, with the goal of CA
becoming synonymous with TA relative to professional development and
lifelong learning. Future modifications to VCP policy will be
implemented based on usage, lessons learned, and feedback from
participants during the pilot.
4. Eligible permanent full-time and part-time Government Service
(GS) and Wage Grade (WG) civilians can use CA to fund credentials
that are related to their federal series occupation. The credential
must be listed on the CG COOL or DOD Civilian COOL website. CG COOL
is the online tool to find information on credentials related to
military occupations and duties. The CG COOL website also outlines
the process for requesting CA and will link civilians to the DOD
Civilian COOL website. DOD Civilian COOL is the online tool to find
information on credentials related to federal series occupations.
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.cool.osd.mil/uscg/index.html

5. In this pilot phase, CA for participating civilian employees is
only authorized for credentials that are related to the employee's
current position and the anticipated needs of the Coast Guard.
Additionally, civilians must meet the following criteria:
    a. Have at least 90 days of prior, continuous Coast Guard
service.
    b. Per REF (B), civilian employees currently occupying or seeking
to occupy a position that is excepted from the competitive service
because of the confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or
policy-advocating character of the position are not eligible for CA.
    c. Received (or expected to receive) "Achieved Expectations" or
higher rating on their most recent annual appraisal or interim
rating.
    d. Received supervisor approval to participate in the CA Pilot
Program.
    e. Civilian members of the Selected Reserve (SELRES), in any
Service, must meet participation standards within REF (C). The
combined total of civilian CA and reservist CA shall not exceed
Coast Guard's $4,500 annual cap.
6. Vetting of training providers is crucial to a successful CA pilot
program. Participants are required to use training providers that
have been vetted and approved by Veterans Affairs (VA) at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchInstitution
Criteria.do

or Department of Labor (DOL) at:
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https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/EmploymentAndTraining
/find-WIOA-training-programs.aspx

To further protect members against predatory and substandard
training providers, FORCECOM reserves the right to implement vetting
requirements above and beyond what is currently in place with the VA
and DOL.
7. Civilian participants must meet eligibility requirements listed
in part 5. Because CA is a voluntary program, participation in
training courses and exams shall occur outside of work hours.
Training courses and exams for credentials that are required for the
member's job are not authorized to be reimbursed under this program.
CA will not cover travel or lodging costs related to training
courses or exams.
8. Participants seeking to use CA are responsible for the following:
    a. An important first step is talking with a Full-Time Education
Services Officer (ESO). ESOs will verify eligibility; review CG
COOL, DOD Civilian COOL and MilGears as needed; provide
recommendations; and assist with the CA application process.
The list of Full-Time ESOs is located here:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/forcecom_spo/ETQC/SitePages
/Credentialing.aspx

    b. For requests for training courses, submit the name of the
training provider, cost, and date of the course through MyCG Ed.
ESOs and ETQC will confirm that the training provider is approved by
VA or DOL. This confirmation is needed prior to submitting a CA
application.
    c. Submit CA application through MyCG Ed no earlier than 90 days
prior and no later than 14 days prior to the start date of the
training course or date of credentialing exam. Separate CA
applications are required for training courses and exam-related
expenses (exam, renewal, or application fees). CA application should
include all applicable information and endorsements. The application
must also identify whether CA will be used for a training course or
exam-related expenses.
    d. CA application must be approved prior to the participant
paying for CA-related items (to include exam registration). Items
paid prior to approval are not eligible for CA reimbursement.
Participants should plan ahead to ensure compliance with CA
application deadlines.
    e. After CA application is approved, the participant is cleared
to pay for the training course or exam-related expenses. To receive
reimbursement, electronically endorse and submit Official Form for
Miscellaneous Reimbursement (OF-1164) with valid receipts to ETQC
within 30 days of paying for CA-related expenses.
    f. Once the training course is completed, the participant has 30
days to submit a legible copy of training completion, and 60 days to
take the corresponding exam. This requirement does not apply to
MMCs.
    g. Once exam is completed, the participant has 30 days to submit
a legible copy of credential attainment to ETQC. Failure to provide
documents may result in recoupment.
    h. Participants can provide feedback on their CA Pilot Program
experience through the CA Feedback Form. Participants are encouraged
to submit recommendations for program improvements and to comment on
the quality of training providers, training courses, CA application
process, and support received.
9. For additional information to include a list of Frequently Asked
Questions and user guide, please visit ETQC's public page:
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https://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/

10. Questions regarding this ALCOAST may be directed to the CG COOL
mailbox at: CGCOOL@uscg.mil.
11. The field should direct CA questions to local ESOs. Unit ESOs
shall direct questions to: ETQC at ETQC-SMB-CGCOOL@uscg.mil.
12. RDML M. W. Raymond, Commander, Force Readiness Command
(FC-C), sends.
13. Internet release is authorized.