Project Description

Since the project’s inception, SOLID

  • Utilizes extensive knowledge of military and civilian occupational classification structures to crosswalk Navy ratings, jobs, and designators to civilian occupations.
  • Reviews Navy course enabling and terminal objectives and assesses applicability of Navy training to civilian occupational standards and civilian credentials.
  • Determines applicability of military training and experience to civilian credentialing requirements.
  • Conducts comprehensive gap analyses comparing Navy training to civilian credentialing requirements.
  • Designs, develops, maintains, and constantly improves the COOL database and web site functionality and design.
  • Coordinates areas of overlap between Army and Navy COOL to share relevant information and realize program efficiencies.

Planning

In 2005, after observing the success of the Army COOL initiative, which had been supported by SOLID staff members for over five years, the Navy approached the Army and requested access to the Army COOL database and web programming in order to develop a Navy COOL web site. The Army agreed, and the Army and Navy entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that governs the use of the database and specifies coordination that must take place between the two services. This agreement led to the creation of the Navy COOL initiative. The broad objectives of the Navy COOL initiative are to:

  • Improve recruiting, retention, and workforce preparedness by incorporating civilian credentialing (i.e., professional certification and licensure) into Sailors’ professional development models.
  • Match civilian credentials to Sailors’ ratings and jobs, assess gaps between Navy training and civilian credentialing requirements, and identify financial and programmatic resources available to fill gaps.
  • Develop a comprehensive web-based credentialing portal to educate Sailors on credentialing opportunities and provide a roadmap to assist them in attaining credentials.

Research and Analysis

SOLID provides research, analysis, database design and development, and web design and development support for the Navy COOL initiative. SOLID works closely with the Navy Credentials Program Office (CPO) staff to carry out all processes and procedures. Key responsibilities include:

  • Use Army COOL database and web-interface programming to develop the Navy COOL web site. Key aspects of work included:
    • Information architecture planning and design
    • Web site design and development using among other things, HTML/DHTML, XML, CSS, and JavaScript
    • Relational database design and development using Oracle, Paradox, and Delphi
    • Section 508 compliance to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities
    • Web-based form development and reporting system using PHP and MySQL
    • Unit testing of web client and database modules
  • Conduct relatedness determinations and comparability analyses on all Navy ratings, jobs, and designators. This entails:
    • Research and analysis to support identification of civilian equivalents of Navy ratings, jobs and designators using O*NET occupational classification scheme
    • Review Navy course enabling and terminal objectives and assess applicability to civilian credentials
    • Conduct detailed gap analyses comparing Navy training and civilian credentialing requirements.
  • Identify resources available to fill gaps between Navy training and civilian credentialing requirements. This includes review of applicable resources identified for Army COOL as well as identification of resources unique to Navy.
  • Work closely with Navy CPO staff to coordinate analyses, update web site, obtain Navy training materials and Learning Center feedback, track progress, and institute process improvements.
  • Conduct continuous updating of all research and analysis and ongoing maintenance of web site and database.

Team Roles

Since March 2010, SOLID has served as the prime contractor for this contract. From February 2006 to February 2010, SOLID was the subcontractor to Northrop Grumman. As the subcontractor, SOLID served as the main point of contact with the customer. SOLID had also led the design and development of the project implementation plans and schedules and was responsible for quality control of all deliverables.

Development

Achieved Results

In close coordination with Navy CPO staff, SOLID has achieved the following results:

  • Phased in the project implementation plan and streamlined workflow processes that allowed Navy to show significant incremental progress towards project objectives.
  • Implemented a process for managing and tracking the collection of extensive information from varied military and civilian sources. SOLID developed standardized information collection procedures, data collection instruments, and automated tracking tools to ensure systematic collection of information.
  • Developed a highly polished web prototype quickly and used by the customer in obtaining Navy leadership buy-in and as a foundation for the phased development of a fully-functional “Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL)” web portal.
  • Constructed a customized project-based administrative web site for use by CPO and SOLID project staff in disseminating project guidance, obtaining project feedback, and tracking progress towards project goals and deliverables.
  • Conducted detailed gap analyses on Navy ratings and jobs based on a thorough assessment of Navy course objectives against civilian credentialing requirements.
  • Built and maintain a web credentialing portal providing Sailors with comprehensive information on civilian credentialing, including extensive background information, detailed occupation-specific information, and access to a broad array of resources available to facilitate credentialing.
  • Conducted several rounds of usability testing with Sailors to capture feedback and suggestions for future website improvements. This feedback was incorporated in a series for site enhancements.
  • Delivered all products and services on schedule and within budget.
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