Is there a process to transition from military to DA Civilian?

DA Civilian isn't exactly something that you just 'transition' to. When one gets out, it is just like any other job hiring process. Submit a resume, hope for the interview, see where it goes.

I think your post touches on something a bit bigger. The Army culture from what I experienced was very anti-ETS. Leaders had a tendency to try and get Soldiers to reenlist out of fear or they treated separating Soldiers like garbage. I had one of my leaders ask me if my plan was to flip burgers. This is unproductive and goes against the idea of leaders taking care of Soldiers. This ties into your post because those folks who are trying to hide those sorts of conditions are more than likely not having good transition discussions with their leadership. Sure there are programs (they used to call it ACAP), but they are a joke. They do not teach Soldiers about how to function on the outside. The resume class was pathetic and I was never able to find work until I abandoned the resume they helped me write. So if the only message they hear is that the outside is a horrible place and their only prospect is to be a homeless junkie or a fast food worker, of course they are not going to want to get out.

Leaders should learn about some of the options available for post military employment. Sure private sector jobs are unpredictable and trends change like the weather. The civil service of which DA civilians are a subset of, has relatively static ways of hiring people. Learn about them. Learn about the preference categories and hiring authorities that your separated troops might be able to use. Our benefits packages are all online and most job announcements have a link on USAJOBS. Show them that the outside is nothing to fear and that it is not the end but a new beginning. Units and leaders need to take transition as seriously as they do war fighting tasks and MOS training.

Sorry for the rant, but I am pretty vocal on how important this topic is. Many of us make mistakes based upon unrealistic expectations when we get out. Many of us learn, adapt, and overcome but some don't. I think a good transition program starting at the unit level and at the garrison level can get a separating service member manage their expectations and succeed. I will get off my soapbox now lol.