In 2000, ACES established a GI to Jobs Working group to facilitate the development of the COOL web site. Much of the success of COOL web site can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of the members of that Group. The Working Group was made up of individuals knowledgeable about programs or initiatives that contribute in some way to the ability of Soldiers to obtain credentials. The individual contributions and combined expertise of the members was invaluable in the development of COOL.
What follows is a list of the individuals organized by the program or initiative they represented at the time. (Note that the titles listed reflect the individual’s position at that time.)
Army
Continuing Education System (ACES) – The
Army Continuing Education System, through its many programs,
promotes lifelong learning opportunities and sharpens the competitive
edge of Army 2010 and beyond. The ACES was
tasked to coordinate and implement the GI to Jobs initiative.
The ACES Working
Group members and support contractors include:
ACES
Dian Stoskopf, Director
Louie Chartier, Postsecondary Program Manager and GI to Jobs Project
Manager
John Rizkallah, Education Incentives and Counseling Branch Chief
Janice Yoo, Education Services Specialist, DANTES Liaison/Tuition
Assistance
Northrup Grumman
Christian Brock, Web Manager, Computer Specialist
Dwight Mojay, Military Occupational Analyst/Specialist
Christine Queen, Senior Marketing Specialist
DynCorp
Thomas Caldwell, Information Design
Ed Davin, Director, Management and Technical Services
Veera Dwivedi, Web Developer
Micheline Eyraud, Principal Analyst
Matthew Hayduk, IT Manager
Lisa Lutz, Project Manager
Valerie Schutz, Database Developer
Karin Willner, Senior Analyst
Partnership
for Youth Success (PaYS) – The PaYS program
provides the unique opportunity for employers to partner with
the Army to provide quality jobs to qualified youth after serving
their country. This partnership creates a winning situation
for all involved. The Army gets a commitment for service, the
individual gets training, experience, and ultimately a civilian
job opportunity, and the employer gets a highly skilled and
qualified employee. The GI to Jobs initiative complements the PaYS program
in that it helps Soldiers get the credentials that might be
required by civilian employers. The PaYS Working
Group members include:
Colonel Robert Qualls, Program Manager, PaYS Office,
U.S. Army Recruiting Command
Major Jonathan Wilson, PaYS Office,
U.S. Army Recruiting Command
Defense
Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) – DANTES’ mission
is to support the off-duty, voluntary education programs of
the Department of Defense and to conduct special projects and
development activities in support of education-related functions
of the Department. DANTES has
agreements with over 30 nationally recognized certification
agencies that allow certification exams to be offered at designated
test centers on or near military installations. The DANTES Working
Group members include:
Sandra Winborne, Certification Program Manager, DANTES
Department
of Veterans Affairs, Education Service – The VA’s
Education Service administers a number of education benefit
programs for veterans and servicemembers. Its mission includes
oversight of the payment of benefits for certification and
licensing exams through the Montgomery GI Bill. The VA Education
Service Working Group members include:
Giles Larrabee, Program Administration, Education Service
Servicemembers
Opportunity Colleges Army Degree (SOCAD) Program – The SOCAD program
is a system of college curriculum networks designed by the
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges for Army servicemembers
and their adult family members. Networks consist of groups
of colleges that have agreed to accept each other's courses
in a particular program of study. Students can move freely
among the colleges in a network without being reevaluated or
worrying about whether or not courses will transfer. Military
students can take courses in their off-duty hours on or near
military installations worldwide. This program is another critical
component of the GI to Jobs initiative because it offers Soldiers
the opportunity to obtain the degrees that are required for
some civilian credentials. The SOCAD Working
Group members include:
Kathy Snead, Director, SOCAD System
Army
Career and Alumni Program (ACAP) – The ACAP was
created by the Army to help its servicemembers succeed in their
transition from military service. The program provides a variety
of transition assistance services, including employment assistance,
relocation assistance, and career counseling. Holding a civilian
credential can be an important ingredient in a successful transition.
The ACAP Working
Group members include:
Cortez Puryear, Transition Policy Analyst, ACAP
Jim Hoffman, Director, ACAP
American
Council on Education (ACE) – Since 1942,
the American Council on Education has worked cooperatively
with the U.S. Department of Defense and military services in
helping hundreds of individuals earn academic credit for learning
achieved while serving their country. The ACE's approximately
1,800 members include accredited, degree-granting colleges
and universities from all sectors of higher education and other
education and education-related organizations. The Council's
credit recommendations for Army training and job experience
are considered by these colleges, thus making it easier for
Soldiers to earn degrees. The ACE Working
Group members include:
JoAnn Robinson, Director, College Credit Recommendation Service, ACE
Army
E-Learning-SmartForce – The computer based
training offered through Army E-Learning-SmartForce enhances
the ability of Soldiers to fill gaps between their military
training and experience and the civilian credentialing requirements.
Army E-Learning-SmartForce representatives include:
Robert Schwenk, Deputy Director, Army G-6 (formerly Directorate
of Information Systems Command, Control, Communication, and Computers,
DISC4)
Command Sergeants Major (CSM)/Sergeants
Major (SGM) Advisory Group – Senior enlisted advisors
representing Soldiers’ educational self-development opportunities
in credentialing:
CSM John Beck, U. S. Army Training and Doctrine CSM (Retired)
SGM Danny Hubbard, U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Deputy
Chief of Staff for Training SGM (Retired)
CSM William Hoffer, U. S. Army Human Resources Command
CSM (Retired)
SGM William Hursh, The Adjutant General of the Army SGM (Retired)
SGM Gilbert Morales, Army G-1, (Personnel) SGM
SGM Larry Strickland, Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel
SGM-In Memorium
SGM John Wyche, Army G-3, (Operations and Plans) (Retired)
SGM Chip Herrell, U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Ordnance
Proponency SGM
SGM Gary Dahl, U. S. Army Development System, Army G-1 (Personnel)
(Retired)
SGM Edmund Crivello, U. S. Army Development System, Army G-1 (Personnel)
In addition to its regular members, the GI to Jobs
Working Group received valuable support from a number of other organizations,
including:
