EDBL Policy and guidance can be found in the Reserve Component (RC) Use of Electronic-Based Distributed Learning, COMDTINST 1500.7. Approved EDBL Course Lists and the corresponding school websites are maintained by CG-R55 and updated as necessary.
Reservists are strongly encouraged to review COMDTINST 1500.7 prior to initiating or completing a course to ensure duty status does not prohibit pay or retirement-point credit. Any questions should be directed to the CG-R5 POC PRIOR to course completion.
Limitations:
1) The list of approved EBDL courses is subject to change without notice.
2) Reservists who complete an approved EDBL course while in any active, or inactive duty status, are not eligible to earn associated EDBL awarded points and will only earn compensation associated with that day of duty.
Example - A reservist who completes the 10-point Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) course on the same day they are performing IDT will only be credited for the single or multiple drill pay and retirement point(s) associated with that day of duty. They will not earn the 10 EBDL points associated with the class.
Receiving additional compensation for work performed while receiving compensation is a violation of 37 U.S.C. §206, DODI 1215.06 and 1215.07.
3) Retirement points for a specific EBDL course can only be received once in a career, and cannot be credited for courses completed prior to the course approval date.
4) For the purpose of computing retired pay, the total number of points earned for inactive service, other than Funeral Honors, are limited to 130 points in an anniversary year. Reservists cannot exceed 130 retirement points for any combination of IDT, RMP, ATP, AFTP, EBDL, and membership points in an anniversary year. (Reserve Policy Manual, COMDTINST M1001.28D and Service Credit for Non-Regular Retirement DODI 1215.07).
EBDL Categories:
1) Command Directed
Command directed EBDL is training, found on the Approved EBDL Course List, that is required to meet unit readiness and/or mobilization training requirements (e.g., Position or competency based training, Class “C” School pre-work, etc.).
Command Directed EBDL must be directed, in memorandum, by Coast Guard unit commanders, commanding officers, officers-in-charge, deputy/assistant commandants, and chiefs of headquarters staff elements.
Reservists completing Command Directed EBDL are eligible for Inactive Duty Training (IDT) pay and retirement points.
2) Non-Command Directed
Non-Command directed EBDL is elective training that provides an avenue for personnel to broaden skills and earn retirement points.
Selected Reserve (SELRES), Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and Active Status List (ASL) personnel may earn retirement points for elective, non-command directed EBDL. Inactive Status List (ISL) members are not eligible to earn EDBL credit (pay or points).
Credit for Course Completion:
Course completions certificates must be routed to the reservist’s Admin office for Direct Access (DA) entry and associated pay and/or retirement point(s) compensation.
Additions to the Approved EDBL Course List:
CG-R5 is the final approving authority for additions to the Approved EDBL Course List. Course credit is calculated based on the course curriculum, not by the hours for an individual member to complete the course. Every four-hour increment of instruction, as defined by approved course curriculum, is credited one retirement point.
Members may submit requests for course review and consideration for inclusion in the Approved EBDL Course List. Courses must have relevant value to Coast Guard duties or responsibilities. To request course consideration, submit an Electronic Based Distributed Learning (EBDL) Course Approval Request Form CG-1001A EBDL Course Approval Request, by email, through the chain of command to the Commandant (CG-R5) POC.
Note: Defense Acquisition University (DAU) courses require a Common Access Card (CAC) and active uscg.mil email address, they may not be available to those in an IRR or ASL status.