DANTES releases new credentialing DVD
3/15/2010
by Gary Nichols
PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) recently released its much-anticipated Department of Defense (DoD) DVD about credentialing for service members.

DANTES, which is based at Saufley Field in Pensacola, Fla., produced the new DVD to provide service members with an in-depth account of what certification and licensure is and how it can benefit them while they are in the military and later when they eventually leave the service.

Victoria Street, DANTES training manager, said it had been nearly a decade since DANTES had shot their last program about credentialing.

"A lot has changed in the 10 years since DANTES produced its last video about credentialing," said Street. "We needed to produce a new video that would reflect those changes."

One of the major innovations in the credentialing world is the development of the Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) program.

Since being launched at the Center for Information Dominance Corry Station in 2006, Navy COOL has processed more than 30,000 credentials for Sailors. On average, the Navy COOL Web site receives 1.7 million hits each month.

Sam Kelley, Navy COOL director, explained that credentialing is a DoD-wide program that can benefit all service members, no matter which uniform they wear. Credentialing (certification or licensure) documents a person's level of competency and achievement in a particular career or skill area.

"Credentials provide the civilian/industry-recognized equivalent of a 'professional badge,'" said Kelley. "Military personnel may already have the experience and knowledge required to gain certification in their occupational specialty and may have no problem passing the exam to earn certification or a license in a profession."

DANTES produced the DVD to provide service members with an in-depth account of what certification and licensure is and how it can benefit them while they are in the military.

"DANTES is very excited about our new credentialing DVD," said Dr. Sandra L. Winborne, DANTES credentialing manager. "We thank those who participated in the making of the credentialing DVD. Our sincere hope is that military personnel worldwide will view the credentialing DVD and find reason to consider obtaining certification or licensure credentials. Credentialing may assist military members with their service promotions or prepare them for the civilian workforce."

Along with action scenes of military members working in aviation, medical, dental, radiology, engineering and electronics, the video also contains personal testimonials from service members on the importance of credentialing and from service members who have transitioned into the civilian workforce.

Additionally, the DVD highlights Army COOL and Navy COOL Web sites and how both services assist Soldiers and Sailors to achieve their credentials related to their military occupations and career fields.

Master Chief Navy Counselor Mark Lashuay, a Navy COOL analyst, was one of the Sailors who was interviewed for the DANTES DVD.

"It was an honor to be asked to participate in such an important program as the new DANTES Credentialing DVD," said Lashuay. "I wanted to make sure that all Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines knew how important credentialing is and how much it can mean to all of us. It is such a great opportunity to earn nationally recognized certifications while we are still in uniform. And at the same time increase the professional work force of our military."

Originally modeled on a program by the Army, the Navy COOL program has taken on a life of its own and grown exponentially in the scope of certifications it offers to Sailors in the four years the program has been in existence.

Sam Kelley, Navy COOL program supervisor, said his Navy COOL team has successfully cross-linked every Navy specialty or rating with Department of Labor to ensure the Navy offered at least one civilian certification that matched every job in the Navy.

Operational Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Frannie S. Mayo, Naval Air Station Pensacola urinalysis program coordinator, was another Sailor who was interviewed for the DANTES DVD.

"I am honored to have been allowed to be a part of this experience," Mayo said. "I look forward to applying this and future certifications to my civilian career after the military."

Keith Boring, a Navy COOL program manager and a retired master chief petty officer, was one of the DoD civilians who was interviewed for the DANTES DVD.

"As a retired Navy master chief petty officer, I am fully aware of how credentialing can affect one's military career as well as setting one up for success for eventual transition to a civilian career," said Boring. "Participation in the video allowed me to reinforce the Navy's credentialing goal – that credentialing not only provides direct benefit to the Sailor, but also toward the Sailor's command, the Navy and the nation."

"Credentialing is a win-win, and I urge all active duty and reserve personnel to get involved," added Lashuay.

The 11-minute, 55-second DANTES Credentialing Program DVD is available online by visiting http://www.dantes.doded.mil/DANTES_WEB/distribution/audio.htm.
For additional information about credentialing, visit https://www.cool.navy.mil/.
For more news from Center for Information Dominance, visit www.navy.mil/local/corry/.