Pilot Program to Turn Military Skills into Civilian Credentials

Aircraft Systems Inspector Steve Zerbato fires up the twin engines of an F/A-18F Super Hornet, as Aircraft Mechanic Kirk Hale sits behind during a pre-induction maintenance inspection Dec. 9. On the ground Aircraft Electrician Rob Peterson, Sr. (left) and Aircraft Systems Inspector Phillip Yates provide ground and safety support outside the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast maintenance hangar at Cecil Commerce Center. (U.S. Navy photo by Vic Pitts/Released)

There will soon be help for some service members transitioning from military to civilian jobs. The Department of Defense has pilot program for five occupations that cover 17 military specialties:

• aircraft mechanic
• automotive mechanic
• health care
• supply and logistics
• truck driver.

The program began in October, Frank C. DiGiovanni told the American Forces Press Service, and will determine if additional, external training is necessary to meet civilian credentialing.

 “Some of these licenses and credentials require a certain level of experience to qualify,” he said. So, the program will eventually assess service members at various stages in their military careers, he said.

The pilot program is one of several credentialing and licensing initiatives at the federal level.

In Florida, streamlining credentialing and professional licensing is the goal of the director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, Mike Prendergast. He plans to ask Florida lawmakers to start the process in the coming 2013 legislative session.

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