Air Force COOL
You can work toward any credential listed in AF COOL, as long as it aligns with your approved credentialing goal. AF COOL provides up to $4,500 in lifetime funding. You must submit your AF COOL funding request through AFVEC, including all required documentation, and receive supervisor approval before the course or exam start date. Be sure to apply well in advance to allow for full processing and payment.
Who is eligible for Air Force COOL?
The AF COOL program is available to enlisted members of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve. You must hold a 5-skill level in your Primary AFSC, have supervisor approval, and meet other eligibility requirements such as a current passing fitness test and no adverse personnel actions.
AF COOL Program Overview
Take advantage of a powerful opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications that boost your professional value during your military career and beyond! The Air Force Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (AF COOL) program covers the cost of courses, exams, and related fees for approved credentials. You can pursue certifications aligned with your current AFSC, a future civilian career, a leadership role, or an awarded academic degree. All eligible credentials must be listed in the AF COOL catalog and approved through the AFVEC system.
What Are the Requirements for AF COOL?
To utilize the AF COOL program, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Be an enlisted member of the Air Force, Space Force, Air National Guard, or Air Force Reserve
- Hold a 5-skill level in your Primary AFSC
- Have a current passing fitness assessment
- Not be on a Control Roster, have a UIF, or a Referral EPR
- Have an approved credentialing goal in AFVEC
- Receive supervisor approval
- Complete the credential while on active duty or Title 10/Title 32 (502f) status for Reserve/Guard members
How Do I Apply for AF COOL?
All Air Force COOL funding requests are submitted through the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) at afvec.us.af.mil. Eligible Airmen must apply at least 30 days before the start date of their course or exam. The application must include an approved credentialing goal, itemized cost estimate, and supervisor approval.
Need help getting started?
Submit a form to speak with us — we’ll walk you through the entire AF COOL process.
What is the AF COOL Funding Limit?
AF COOL provides up to $4,500 in lifetime funding for eligible enlisted Airmen and Guardians. This can be used for exam fees, prep courses, books (up to $500 per credential), application fees, and recertification. You must submit a separate AF COOL request through AFVEC for each course or exam, at least 30 days before the start date.
*The Department of Defense and the Department of the Army are neither affiliated with nor endorses our organization
Pedro Huesca Alvarado
Eric is proficient on all aspects in cybersecurity. I was a student of his program “Pass on the First Attempt” where he teaches key concepts and help you planning your way up from start to finish. Huge milestone achieved now I am CEH master! 100% recommend him!
Daniel Humbert
I had the privilege of being guided through the intricate world of Certified Ethical Hacking (CEH) by Eric Reed. If I were to sum up my experience in a few words, it would be “knowledgeable,” “approachable,” and “incredibly effective.”
Abdurrahim Gashi
What to say on Eric Reed, instructor highly motivated, experienced high level of scope of IT, and above all very friendly and very professional, every time when we have any clarification or assistance he has never hesitated to support us.
Ye Zeiya Shein
I highly recommend Eric as a cybersecurity teacher. His expertise in the subject matter, engaging teaching style, and dedication to his students’ success make them invaluable assets to any learning environment. His industry knowledge and practical experience are up-to-date, making him an excellent resource for those seeking to enter the cybersecurity field.
Jacob Hill
Eric is an AWESOME instructor! His teaching style is extremely engaging and his students benefit from his wealth of knowledge and experience. He taught my CEH class which I passed, and we also hired him to teach a private Security+ class for personnel who needed to comply with requirements in a recently awarded contract. Eric was awesome to work with and we had an excellent pass rate!
Winson Chansa
Extremely professional and motivating, that is what comes to mind if I describe Eric Reed. He is a skilled cyber security instructor and mentor. Eric and I met when I was preparing to write my Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) exam. I was still procrastinating and struggling to find a balance between work and studying. That was a small problem for him. With his years of experience in the industry and vast skills as a trainer, he helped guide me to certification. When exam time came, I passed with flying colors. Eric is the best at what he does… Helping numerous cybersecurity professionals achieve their certifications. It is a pleasure to be mentored by him. Thank you, Eric!
Tommy Grimes
Eric has proven to me personally he is a very highly skilled instructor and will go the extra mile to ensure your success. Anyone presently working toward, or considering, obtaining an EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker Certification should definitely work with Eric. Eric will provide necessary guidance and support to get through an extensive and highly technical Curriculum, then study with purpose to pass both the CEH and CEH Practical exams, which are quite thorough tests and the certifications are not that easily attained. Working with Eric I was able to attain both the CEH and CEH Practical Certifications, attaining a CEH Master Designation. I am truly grateful for time Eric spent with me personally to ensure my success and expand my skillset in this area.
Andrew Katota
Ever since I was in University, I’ve wanted to be a Certified Ethical Hacker. Who knew that this would only happen this year. Thanks to Mr. Eric Reed’s on-point exam prep material, I am now a CEH Master with an average score of 88% from both exams. I, therefore recommend Mr. Eric Reed as the go-to for all your EC-Council Certification needs; CEH(ANSI), CEH(Practical), CHFI, CND, and many more. Thanks again, Mr. Reed. On to the next Certification.
Aldo Amoroso
I just completed the CEH online training and successfully passed the exam! Eric’s delivery of the online training was very good, each module has a lecture (15~60 minutes) followed by very realistic hands on labs. In terms of level of effort 1 to 4 HRS/Module depending on your past experience etc. What really impressed me – as I was getting close to writing the exam, I reached out to Eric for some assistance. Eric, coached me on what area’s to focus on & was a great asset for my examination preparation – TY Eric!
Duane Parker
Eric Reed is an superb instructor. I have taken five EC council classes with him over the past several years. He is on point and very motivated to make sure the student is picking up the subject at hand. Eric’s ability to instruct cybersecurity is amazing and he takes passion in his instruction and working with every student to make sure they are successful. I recommend Eric Reed 100%. As I continue further education and cyber security he will be my instructor of choice. Thanks for your guidance, motivation and being available for those crazy questions.
Collin Vandersommen
I took the Certified Ethical Hacker course through Applied Technology Academy this past week and Eric was my instructor. He kept us actively engaged and did a fantastic job presenting the material in a way that was easy to understand. He focused heavily on the exam objectives to ensure that we were prepared and had all the tools necessary to succeed. I hope to be able to take his ECSA or CISSP in the near future!
James York
I have taken three courses with Eric: CEH-Certified Ethical Hacker, ECSA-EC-Council Certified Security Analyst, and now preparing for CISSP-Certified Informational Security Professional. In all three courses, he has helped me pass each one and confidence to pass the last exam. Eric provides the keys to succeed not only for preparing for the exams but also provides the correct blend of methodology and practical application. All you need to do is be there and put forth the effort and it can happen. Even after the class is completed he is there to help. If you are looking learn and put in the time Eric will help you succeed.
Jason W. Sharp
I had the great pleasure of attending a virtual EC-Council Incident Handler boot camp instructed by Eric after spending several weeks with a 1000+ page book and sitting the exam (failing twice).
I was fortunate enough to see an unrelated post Eric posted on Linked In and reached out to contact him. He quickly accepted the invite and offered immediately to connect via phone to listen to the problem and offered timely, accurate advice on the material and talked about the instructional system design process used to develop exams (agnostic of any exam).
This added time taken to assist a learner in need paid HUGE dividends as I finally cleared the hurdle that was ECIH.
Michel Pierre
Great instructor, highly recommended!