AF COOL program prepares Airmen for professionalization

Published July 23, 2015
By Senior Airman Sam Fogleman
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The Air Force has introduced a program that enables credentialing for a variety of Air Force Specialty Code-related skills. Those credentials can then be applied for use in the civilian sector following separation from the military.

The AF Credentialing Opportunities Online, a Total Force enlisted program, can be particularly useful for those already with a bachelor's degree wishing to pursue a master's degree but find the limitations of tuition assistance to be too significant during time on active duty. AF COOL enables documentable self-improvement and a use of tuition assistance when a master's degree pursuit would be too expensive.

AF COOL includes all enlisted AFSCs for active duty, AF Reserve, and Air National Guard. Funding will be provided for active duty, AFRes, and ANG members on Title 10 or Title 32 active duty orders. AFRes and ANG members not on Title 10 orders may receive payment from their respective components.

Funding will not exceed a maximum of $4,500 per lifetime per Airman.

"Ideally, most career fields will cover about 80 percent of training through tech school and upgrade training," said Mark Bergeron, 92nd Force Support Squadron education specialist. "When ready, an Airman will go through the process listed on the website and apply for the test."

"Since it came online October 1 last year, we've only had three individuals use AF COOL here," Bergeron said. "It's been a value of less than $900 so far."

Airmen should discuss what credentials under their particular AFSC their supervisor will sign off on before pursuing the program.

For more information on AF COOL, visit the program's website at https://afvec.langley.af.mil/afvec/Public/COOL/Default.aspx. Fairchild-specific questions can be directed to the Education Center at (509) 247-2348.