Under certain circumstances, the SERC can use resources that are not part of any of the formal collaborators. For example, the SERC can draw on researchers and students from the US Military Academy (West Point), The Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, and other educational organizations for piloting new methods, processes and tools. This is particularly true in the human capital improvement area. There are also times when very special expertise is needed, so the SERC can also draw on experts and contractors. These organizations and experts are not associated with SERC collaborators, but are considered researchers.