Legion, stakeholder roundtable breaks down barriers to civilian credentialing
Legion representatives and other stakeholders discussed obstacles of military to civilian credentialing during a roundtable event April 11. (Photo by Andrea C. Dickerson)

Legion, stakeholder roundtable breaks down barriers to civilian credentialing

The American Legion recently hosted a licensing and credentialing roundtable in Washington, D.C., bringing together industry experts and other stakeholders to examine the barriers of military-to-civilian credentialing.

First in a serious of many slated to occur this year, the event aimed to help participants share helpful information, allowing agencies, organizations and stakeholders to better understand the relationship between military training/experience and civilian occupational credentials.

During their time in the service, military men and women undergo rigorous training in their respective occupations. While most, if not all, of their skills relate to the same jobs their civilian counterparts perform, they oftentimes find themselves lacking the formal licenses and certificates civilians in their job field have attained through their education and/or training.

In 1996, The American Legion launched its first ground-breaking credentialing study to report on the vocational skills that the military provides training for that require a license or certificate to work in an equivalent field in the civilian economy. The results of the study found that the education, training and experience obtained during military service not only provide tangible benefits for the nation’s defense, but also contributes significantly to a highly skilled civilian workforce.

Michael Michaud, assistant secretary of the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, stressed the importance of credentialing for veterans and troops that are transitioning out of the military. “Licensing and credentialing is extremely crucial," he said. "When you look at those who currently serve and those that have served, as they move across the county and try to find jobs – regardless of what state they go to – they oftentimes need a license or certification.”

During the roundtable, various agencies and stakeholders discussed the challenges and opportunities available, including:

• Service updates and perspective on the credentialing of current troops

• State-by-state credentialing of military servicemembers

• Personnel certification accreditation

• Credentialing agency perspectives on credentialing of servicemembers

• Use of credentialing by employers and industry as a mechanism for hiring

Now that all of the issues are on the table stakeholders can move forward in a concerted effort, said Michaud, adding that, “The American Legion has taken the mantle in tackling this issue. I was glad to be in attendance to hear from other industry professionals and get a gauge of the gaps that need to be filled in.”

Throughout the day, representatives from different branches of the military discussed their pilot programs and other programs already in place, sharing best practices they developed along the way.

Capt. Tom Walsh, deputy chief learning officer for the Coast Guard, said he was eager to hear how other services constructed their credentialing programs so the Coast Guard could leverage useful information regarding the other programs and learn from what the other branches are currently doing.

Traditionally, the Coast Guard has had a very decentralized approach to credentialing, hosting individual programs at headquarters.

“The commandant recently acknowledged credentialing as one of his initiatives during his State of the Coast Guard address,” Walsh said. “We have made it a priority to take a more holistic approach and formalize the credentialing program. It is a great recruitment and retention tool that makes our men and women perfect candidates for employment once they transition into the civilian workforce.”

With this establishment of this new program, Walsh said, comes a unique set of challenges – including funding. “The National Defense Authorization Act directed each service to establish this program but didn’t allocate funding," he said. "Without a source for funds, how do we fund this? We now have to make internal decisions to figure out how we are going to pay for credentials and staff the offices that carry out these programs. Ultimately, we will make this happen, because it is the right thing to do for our troops and our country.”

Each of the braches engaged with each other, challenging their peers to encourage their commanders to consider training options that benefit their warriors.

“It is really a win-win, especially for the Army,” Michaud said. “Last year they saved nearly $250 million in unemployment costs. They were able to put that money right back into their budget.”

First rolled out in 2014, the Air Force’s Credentialing Opportunities On-Line program (COOL) is funded through the Tuition Assistance Program, affording enlisted active-duty airmen opportunities to earn industry-recognized licenses and certifications before they exit the military.

“Not only does this help them attain the civilian licenses and certifications they need, this also makes them better warfighters in their military occupational specialties,” said Russell Gray, director of the COOL program.

During fiscal 2015, the Air force pumped $150,000 into to the program to pay for credentials. That number more than tripled in 2016. “We are already above 470,000 in FY 2016," Gray said. "People are getting hungry for this – they really like what they have heard about the program. We want to send out a positive message that reinforces how much this should become a part of their lifestyle."

Roundtable moderator Lisa Lutz, said she was impressed by the amount of critical information that was shared during the roundtable. “It is my hope that these smaller roundtable sessions throughout the year will foster more conversations amongst the stakeholders," she said. "Having their participation has been wonderful because a lot of these groups have not had an opportunity to get involved during previous efforts.”

The highlight of the event – in her eyes – was being able to have industry experts vocalizing what they are looking for in candidates.

“We heard from experts in the construction industry expressing the need for very technically qualified individuals," Lutz said. "They understand that military members have good leadership skills, but they are having difficulty finding people with the technical skills to match."

Along with other stakeholders, The American Legion will continue to lobby members of Congress and work with other agencies to break down the credentialing barriers and further reduce that veteran unemployment rate.

“DOD spent $900 million alone last year on unemployment benefits,” Gray said. “Imagine what we could have used that money on. Instead of working to bring vital programs back to our troops and their families, we had to spend that money providing unemployment to the men and women that risked their lives in defense of their country. Though they served their country valiantly, they often end up unemployed after their service. There is something wrong with that.”