10 U.S.C. § 2015: Program to assist members in obtaining professional credentials

The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, shall carry out a program to enable members of the armed forces to obtain, while serving in the armed forces, professional credentials that translate into civilian occupations. Under the program required by this section, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, shall provide for the payment of expenses of members for professional accreditation, Federal occupational licenses, State-imposed and professional licenses, professional certification, and related expenses. The authority under paragraph (1) may not be used to pay the expenses of a member to obtain professional credentials that are a prerequisite for appointment in the armed forces. Commencing not later than three years after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, each Secretary concerned shall ensure that any credentialing program used in connection with the program under subsection (a) meets one of the requirements specified in paragraph (2). is accredited by a nationally-recognized, third-party personnel certification program accreditor; is sought or accepted by employers within the industry or sector involved as a recognized, preferred, or required credential for recruitment, screening, hiring, retention, or advancement purposes; and where appropriate, is endorsed by a nationally-recognized trade association or organization representing a significant part of the industry or sector; grants licenses that are recognized by the Federal Government or a State government; or meets credential standards of a Federal agency. The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. The regulations shall apply uniformly to the armed forces to the extent practicable. Requirements for eligibility for participation in the program under this section. A description of the professional credentials and occupations covered by the program. Mechanisms for oversight of the payment of expenses and the provision of other benefits under the program. Such other matters in connection with the payment of expenses and the provision of other benefits under the program as the Secretaries consider appropriate. In this section, the term “expenses” means expenses for class room instruction, hands-on training (and associated materials), manuals, study guides and materials, text books, processing fees, and test fees and related fees. The percentage of members of the Armed Force concerned described in section 1142(a) of title 10 , United States Code, who participate in a professional credential program through the COOL program of the Armed Force concerned. The percentage of members of the Armed Force concerned described in paragraph (1) who have completed a professional credential program described in that paragraph. The amount of funds obligated and expended to execute the COOL program of each Armed Force during the five fiscal years immediately preceding the date of the study. Any other element determined by the Secretary of Defense. The Secretary of Defense shall establish a process to standardize the tracking of information regarding the COOL programs across the Armed Forces. To carry out this section, the Secretary of Defense may coordinate with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Labor. the study conducted under subsection (a); and the process established under subsection (b), including a timeline to implement such process.” Each Secretary of a military department may carry out a program under which qualified participants may obtain a private pilot’s certificate through an institution of higher education with an accredited aviation program that is approved by such Secretary pursuant to subsection (c). the standards to be met for participation in the program; and the types of assistance, if any, to be provided to individuals who participate in the program. To the extent practicable, the standards and types of assistance prescribed under paragraph (1) shall be uniform across the military departments. In carrying out a program under subsection (a), the Secretary of a military department shall maintain a list of institutions of higher education (as that term is defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )) through which an individual participating in the program may obtain a private pilot’s certificate. Any institution of higher education included on a list under paragraph (1), and any course of instruction toward obtaining a private pilot’s certificate offered by such institution, shall meet such qualifications and standards as the Secretary shall prescribe for purposes of the program. Such qualifications and standards shall include a requirement that any institution included on the list award, to individual participating in the program, academic credit at such institution for any portion of course work completed on the ground school course of instruction of such institution in connection with obtaining a private pilot’s certificate, regardless of whether the participant fully completed the ground school course of instruction. Not later than February 28, 2021 , and each year thereafter, each Secretary of a military department shall submit to Congress a report on the program, if any, carried out by such Secretary under subsection (a) during the preceding calendar year. The total number of participants in the program. The number of private pilot’s certificates awarded to participants in the program. The number of participants in the program who fully completed a ground school course of instruction in connection with obtaining a private pilot’s certificate.” The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs may conduct a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of partnerships between special operations forces and institutions of higher education, and health care systems if determined appropriate by the Assistant Secretary for purposes of the pilot program, through which special operations forces medics earn credit toward the master’s degree of physician assistant for military operational work and training performed by the medics. The Assistant Secretary shall conduct the pilot program for a period not to exceed five years. Partnerships under subsection (a) shall permit medics participating in the pilot program to conduct clinical training at medical facilities of the Department of Defense and the civilian sector. The evaluation of work and training performed by medics for which credits are earned under the pilot program shall comply with civilian clinical evaluation standards applicable to the awarding of the master’s degree of physician assistant. A comprehensive framework for the military education to be provided to special operations forces medics under the pilot program, including courses of instruction at institutions of higher education and any health care systems participating in the pilot program. Metrics to be used to assess the effectiveness of the pilot program. A description of the mechanisms to be used by the Department, medics, or both to cover the costs of education received by medics under the pilot program through institutions of higher education or health care systems, including payment by the Department in return for a military service commitment, tuition or other educational assistance by the Department, use by medics of post-9/11 educational assistance available through the Department of Veterans Affairs, and any other mechanisms the Secretary considers appropriate for purposes of the pilot program. An evaluation of the pilot program using the metrics of assessment set forth pursuant to paragraph (1)(B). An assessment of the utility of the funding mechanisms set forth pursuant to paragraph (1)(C). An assessment of the effects of the pilot program on recruitment and retention of medics for special operations forces. An assessment of the feasibility and advisability of extending one or more authorities for joint professional military education under chapter 107 of title 10, United States Code, to warrant officers or enlisted personnel, and if the Secretary considers the extension of any such authorities feasible and advisable, recommendations for legislative or administrative action to so extend such authorities. authorize an officer or employee of the Federal Government to create, endorse, or otherwise incentivize a particular curriculum or degree track; or require, direct, review, or control a State or educational institution, or the instructional content, curriculum, and related activities of a State or educational institution.” to evaluate the extent to which such training correlates with the skills and training required in connection with various civilian certifications and licenses; and to assess the suitability of such training for obtaining or pursuing such civilian certifications and licenses. Information shall be made available under paragraph (1) in a manner consistent with the Transition Goals Plans Success (GPS) program. Information on the civilian occupational equivalents of military occupational specialties (MOS). Information on civilian license or certification requirements, including examination requirements. Information on the availability and opportunities for use of educational benefits available to members of the Armed Forces, as appropriate, corresponding training, or continuing education that leads to a certification exam in order to provide a pathway to credentialing opportunities. In making information available under paragraph (1), the Secretaries of the military departments may use and adapt appropriate portions of the Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) programs of the Army and the Navy and the Credentialing and Educational Research Tool (CERT) of the Air Force. The Secretaries of the military departments, in coordination with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, shall, to the maximum extent practicable consistent with national security and privacy requirements, make available to entities specified in paragraph (2), upon request of such entities, information such as military course training curricula, syllabi, and materials, levels of military advancement attained, and professional skills developed. Civilian credentialing agencies. Entities approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or by State approving agencies, for purposes of the use of educational assistance benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The actions taken pursuant to paragraph (1) may include the establishment of a central repository of information on training and training materials provided members in connection with military occupational specialities that is readily accessible by entities specified in paragraph (2) in order to meet requests described in paragraph (1).” Commencing not later than nine months after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 31, 2011 ], the Secretary of Defense shall carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of permitting enlisted members of the Armed Forces to obtain civilian credentialing or licensing for skills required for military occupational specialties (MOS) or qualification for duty specialty codes. designate not less than three military occupational specialities or duty speciality codes for coverage under the pilot program; consider utilizing industry-recognized certifications or licensing standards for civilian occupational skills comparable to the specialties or codes so designated; and permit enlisted members of the Armed Forces to obtain the credentials or licenses required for the specialities or codes so designated through civilian credentialing or licensing entities, institutions, or bodies selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program, whether concurrently with military training, at the completion of military training, or both. The Secretary shall complete the pilot program by not later than five years after the date of the commencement of the pilot program. The number of enlisted members who participated in the pilot program. A description of the costs incurred by the Department of Defense in connection with the receipt by members of credentialing or licensing under the pilot program. A comparison of the cost associated with receipt by members of credentialing or licensing under the pilot program with the cost of receipt of similar credentialing or licensing by recently-discharged veterans of the Armed Forces under programs currently operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor. The recommendation of the Secretary as to the feasibility and advisability of expanding the pilot program to additional military occupational specialties or duty specialty codes, and, if such expansion is considered feasible and advisable, a list of the military occupational specialties and duty specialty codes recommended for inclusion in the expansion.”