Did any of the Transition classes you took exiting the military really help your transition out that much?

Lt Col John Eliopolo Cpc, Eli Mp — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 14:21:59 -0400

I had one Air Force transition class that helped me out a bit, the entrepreneurial class Boots to Business. There I got to meet the members of the University of Georgia's Small Business Development Council. That proved beneficial, other than that, not much else helped; including the TAP class. How about you, any classes prove beneficial to your transition?

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Aug 21 at 2015 2:41 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 14:41:56 -0400

Now that I think about it, no...
I mean, it was great information and a good reminder/refresher, but I think my expectations were too high as to what, exactly, it was I was suppose to expect or get out of it... Even now, I cant recall other than the basics, I received from it... But that was a little over 8 yeas ago.

Response by PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels made Aug 21 at 2015 2:51 PM

PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 14:51:33 -0400

TAP didn't really help at all. All it did was talk about disability benefits, and resumes. The disablity part didn't apply to me because I made it ten years without any major injuries that I still suffer from. I am lucky. I also found the resume and job information was not helpful at all. I think it needs to do things like you had with meeting the Small Business Development Council. That was probably a great experience and you had the chance to network with people. If everyone was taught about networking and getting your name out there prior to getting out, it would help a lot more people once they got out. These days it's mostly about who you know and how well you are liked. It is also important to know how to make such an impression that people actually remember you and would want to work with you.

Response by TSgt David L. made Aug 21 at 2015 3:22 PM

TSgt David L. — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 15:22:22 -0400

TAP was something that should have been offer 1-2 years before ETS, IMO. The information was too little too late for a lot of items.

Response by TSgt Amy Davis made Aug 21 at 2015 3:38 PM

TSgt Amy Davis — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 15:38:42 -0400

I didn't even go to TAPS, they're not going go tell me anything I don't already know!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 21 at 2015 3:57 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 15:57:16 -0400

I served at a time when there were no resources like this. Best of luck to the guys and gals serving now that are about to transition out of the military

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 21 at 2015 3:57 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 15:57:47 -0400

They are pigs!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 21 at 2015 4:11 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 16:11:25 -0400

Thrill Seekers... Be smart and don't break the law

Response by MSgt John Grollimund made Aug 21 at 2015 5:20 PM

MSgt John Grollimund — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 17:20:44 -0400

Nope. The job service that was supposed to show never did, the VA rep said he needed to reschedule, and the resume writing was straight out of the handbook with power point slides. We could all read.

Response by SrA Charles Taylor made Aug 21 at 2015 6:27 PM

SrA Charles Taylor — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 18:27:18 -0400

Short answer; Nope.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2015 9:58 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 21:58:59 -0400

I took the class twice. The first time was when I was in England trying to retire (long story). Then I took it again about 6 months before my actual retirement. I thought it was great both times. The second time was a refresher but a ton of very useful information about the VA benefits and claims.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2015 1:12 AM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 01:12:40 -0400

They've been mildly beneficial, but the information I gleaned from the class I could have found in a matter of minutes by just asking a superior.

Response by SMSgt Tony Barnes made Aug 22 at 2015 12:41 PM

SMSgt Tony Barnes — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 12:41:27 -0400

The AF Academy TAPS is highly regarded and often has attendees from the other area bases to include Ft Carson.

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Aug 22 at 2015 6:15 PM

MSgt Jim Wolverton — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 18:15:34 -0400

I took the TAP class twice, in 2012 and then in 2014. I thought the first class, which was while I was at Spang, was FAR better in explaining benefits and so forth. The second class had a man that was a retired headhunter/HR specialist and had invaluable resume tips. The VA benefits briefers were just robots that read off of a sheet of paper. The retired SFC that did the benefits portion of my TAP class in Germany was very helpful and used his personal experiences with the VA and was able to answer questions that the robots weren't.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2015 4:36 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 16:36:51 -0400

I actually just had this conversation with some other VA HR specialist at a training event recently.

Many of people don't understand, that while these transitioning programs like TAPS, while placed with good intention- they are leaving our Veterans with outdated hiring and recruiting not so "best practice" information, (how to write a decent CIVILIAN resume isn't horrible) but many of the learning points are unhelpful at best and damaging at worst.

Response by SPC Joseph Jones made Aug 23 at 2015 5:02 PM

SPC Joseph Jones — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 17:02:47 -0400

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha... (continued for an hour) ...no. however what did work for me is that fact I didn't want to be a "bum" and work. To me seems that those transition classes check the block. What they could have done was keep my PAYS program promise Wich wasn't.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2015 6:20 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 18:20:42 -0400

Not really.
Just helped me refine and update my resume.

Response by SGT Frank Leonardo made Aug 25 at 2015 2:43 AM

SGT Frank Leonardo — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 02:43:46 -0400

Yes TAP was a good tool for me helped me do Resumes better and what to expect from employers

Response by Sgt Matt Hoffman made Aug 25 at 2015 1:37 PM

Sgt Matt Hoffman — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 13:37:04 -0400

TAP, I found to be next to worthless...and I've got an Ivy League education. My last year in the Marines, I interviewed with 450 other Marines for a welding program where 18 were picked and only 16 graduated. I finished in the top 3rd of my class, was offered a job, moved from CA to GA for it...then after 6 months of employment got the old "sorry, son. No more work...".
I've found a lot of these companies aren't really all that interested in helping transitioning veterans. In the long run, it's all about the $$.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 1:46 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 13:46:08 -0400

There was no such thing in 1972.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 27 at 2015 5:08 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 05:08:03 -0400

TAP helped me take a one week break away from my command. Is that the kind of answer you were looking for?