Transition Assistance Program (TAP). What are your opinions? Both positive and negative feedback is appreciated.

it depends on the base you are located. i was at Keesler AFB and I thought TAP was very informative - I also thought it was too long as well. More time was spent on VA benefits which is fine but again too long. More emphasis needs to be on resume writing, how to change military terms to civilian terms.

If the TAP program actually had businesses that would hire individuals immediately after separation that would be helpful. I went to all the job fairs the resume writing courses and classes. I finally decided that I was not going to get a job because I was not civilian smart.

I think there should be a class for people that want to be there and learn and a seperate class for people that just need a signature in a box in their checkout sheet

Everyone provides valid statements and arguments. Resume translation/writing needs to be something that is taught while your in TAPS. SMART Transcripts or now Joint Services Transcript ( https://jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.do) is a good starting point to find out all of your military jobs you have held and to see what skills you need to translate into civilian terms. The career fairs are nice, but most of them are designed for the servicemember who will remain in the duty station area. Please pay attention to your VA benefit counseling. A lot of times we are too proud to ask for or accept the compensation we rate because we don't want anyone to look down on us. When we are older collection social security we will have wished we weren'n too proud.

TAP is geared to all service members; therefore, it has components that apply to one more so than another. When you come to the table, they have to feed you the whole meal...even if you're only there to snack. I recommend attending TAP twice...yes...TWICE. Attend about 2 years before you plan to separate...pay attention and prepare (especially your medical records)...then attend one last time about 6 months out from your date of separation. The VA benefits are important...especially if you earn a >30% disability or a >50% disability. The resume writing is important, but I recommend you go to a County or State-funded site to get focused training on that. No single resume will work for every job...always tailor your resume to the job for which you are applying. Then practice your interviewing techniques. Almost every job starts with a phone interview...be AT YOUR COMPUTER when you do one...GOOGLE and your computer can save the day. This is so important, there isn't enough bandwidth on RallyPoint to do it justice.

I completed the TAP or Army Career Alumni Program (ACAP) in Bamberg Germnay. I enjoyed the program and I explored every possible option when it came to transitioning from Soldier to Civilian. I was extremely enthusiastic because I had spent most of my adult life in the Army. I think that it depends on how much you put into it. If you dont put anything in then you can't take anything out.

I went through TAP in 2012 as I was getting ready to retire in 2013, it provided a great deal of information to me on my VA benefits and everything I was able to take advantage of from a veterans aspect. The classes on "job hunting" and resume building/writing were a bit helpful, but probably could have used a bit of "punching up" to be more effective; they also could probably have a done a better service to those seeking employment by having a job fair or bringing some/more prospective employers to meet with those undergoing the program. All in all it was not a bad program, like has been said in prior posts, you get out of it what you put into it.

TAP is just one wedge of the pie. From what I've gleaned from officers who attended and then wound up getting mentored by me after hours was it can be good about basic mechanics of job seeking, resume writing, and where to apply. After that, it got thin on the how's, why's, gotchas, and land mine avoidance. Then again, to cover more of the pie would probably be cost and resource prohibitive.

Bottom line, use all your resources.

I went through TAP at Ft. Hood. A lot of the information was informative. Depending on what your civilian career path is going to be, it can be very helpful. The road prior to my military career paved my path after ETS so some of the information did not pertain to me. You get what you put into it. This is not a "check the block" class. It is preparing you for transition.

I took advantage of the Tuition Assistance Program to attend college after sea duty as a USNR(TAR). I attended 5 years of college with it, and earned a BA while on active duty. I had 10 years service, a PN1, and was even interviewd for an Officers Program. I decided to move on to attend a Masters Program with a full scholarship, and used my Vietnam-era GI Bill benefits as well. Navy Tuition Assistance made the difference in my life, and I am always grateful for it. I wanted to teach college, so later in life I attened an MFA program with another full scholarship, and now I am teaching full time. I suport it 100%.