DoD’s Transition Assistance Program: Share Your Experience!

The Department of Defense provides the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for personnel about to separate from active-duty service. TAP contains information, tools, and training to ensure that service members and their spouses are prepared for the transition to civilian life. That transition can involve pursuing additional education, finding a job in the public or private sector, or starting a business.

I have questions for readers who have gone through TAP:

- What aspects of TAP did you find useful?
- If you could make one recommendation to DoD for improving TAP, what would it be?
- Ultimately, did TAP help you successfully reintegrate into your civilian self?

TAP Name Varies by Military Service Branch

While DoD mandates a core curriculum known as GPS (Goals, Plans and Success), each military branch adapted this program to the unique needs of its members. Veterans might know TAP by a different name depending on the branch in which they served. For example, Army veterans know the program as SLF-TAP, or the Soldier for Life – Transition Assistance Program.

Government TAP Site Also Available

Even if you have left your military service and installation far behind, DoD’s TAP website offers helpful resources, plus links to individual branch portals. The site provides comprehensive information and forms, and a robust Resources/FAQs section that could still benefit you as a veteran.

One particularly important resource is the Veterans Employment Center (VEC), the federal government’s single online tool for connecting transitioning service members, veterans, and their families to meaningful career opportunities in the public and private sectors. Veterans are encouraged to take advantage of this service. For a tutorial about VEC, watch the VEC YouTube video.

If you’re a job seeker, VEC provides access to the following resources:

- Skills Translator: Translate your military occupational codes into civilian skill equivalents for a powerful public profile and resume, and learn about related civilian career paths.
- Profile and Resume Builder: Seamlessly import results from the Skills Translator into an online profile that you can save for future use. Publish for employers to view or download, which can help you develop a resume in any format.
- Veterans Job Bank (VJB): VJB allows you to search over 1.5 million jobs, including federal, state, local government, and private sector jobs. In fact, some employers are specifically recruiting transitioning service members, Reserve Component service members, and veterans.
- Employer commitments: View a list of hundreds of employers and organizations that have made a commitment to hire or train individuals like you. You can go directly to their sites to get more information, start a conversation with HR, and apply for jobs.
- Other resources: The VEC has links to a broad set of other informational resources. These resources are designed to help you find meaningful career opportunities and take advantage of special government and partner programs.

I was lucky. I left the military nearly 30 years ago. However, all I received prior to my separation was an administrative checklist, which told me where to turn in my gear and to provide my home address. I also received a cursory departure physical that never mentioned VA benefits.

At the time of my separation, I was single, so I enrolled at a state university. Armed with little savings and some educational benefits through the VEAP program (today’s Post-9/11 GI Bill is far better), I knew I could wait tables to make ends meet. I persevered and eventually became a teacher. Later, I went on to higher education at American Military University (http://rly.pt/2nkn9Bq).

I believe today’s service members receive better guidance and benefits. Because I’ve never experienced TAP personally; however, I would love to hear your opinions. Sound off in the comments area below!