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I’m less than 6 months out from my ets, and I just now got informed that I have to complete SFL, and that it may take me 15 months to complete...how long is SFL, and is it mandatory?
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Fort Drum
ACAP/Soldier for Life (SFL-TAP)
Fort Drum ACAP/Soldier for Life (SFL-TAP)
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 5
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Yes! Absolutely mandatory for law, meaning mandatory for the Chains of Command to force the Soldier to go, starting at the 18 month out from ETS timeframe. It's a great program, request an extension if you're not a troublemaker. Good luck
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The question is: Are you really "PREPARED" to transition out? I know many soldiers want to just get out, but take the opportunity to transition right.
Do you know where you want to go, do you know what you want to do? What are you doing to accomplish this? Do you have a LinkedIn account and are you networking with people in your future career field?
If you going to school, what school do you want to go to? Have you applied? Besides a degree or certificate, what other things can you work on NOW, BEFORE you transition to help set you up for success later?
In short: Don't rush your transition. Like CSM Eric Olsen said, it starts 18 months out for a reason. Be prepared.
Do you know where you want to go, do you know what you want to do? What are you doing to accomplish this? Do you have a LinkedIn account and are you networking with people in your future career field?
If you going to school, what school do you want to go to? Have you applied? Besides a degree or certificate, what other things can you work on NOW, BEFORE you transition to help set you up for success later?
In short: Don't rush your transition. Like CSM Eric Olsen said, it starts 18 months out for a reason. Be prepared.
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It's not only a military policy requirement, it's a congressional law tasking the military to enforce. This came about as means to help resolve the Veteran homelessness challenges. They didn't have mandatory TAPs in the '80s when I got out the first time. I wish they did though. I didn't know that I was medically covered for 6 months post-separation. (Retirements are different.) I had no clue about the VA disability system. Do you think writing a resume is easy? After more than 30 years of service and two college degrees, I can tell you that writing a resume is like a "muscle" that needs to be worked to be of any use. I recently retired and I attended TAPs three times with three different military branches prior to separation, just to get a different perspective and to ensure I was getting all the necessary information. I learned a little more each time.
Pick your battle SPC. You won't win if you resist. Congress is holding the military accountable on this one.
Pick your battle SPC. You won't win if you resist. Congress is holding the military accountable on this one.
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CW2 (Join to see)
Is Congress holding the VA accountable as well? Hypothetically, what if the medboard process was pushing out a Soldier prior to completion of SFLTAP, citing that they can complete the coursework online? Is that a viable workaround or would that be in violation of the Soldier’s rights to complete the coursework?
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MCPO (Join to see)
All are great questions SGT Wagner so I’ll clarify a bit. It became a congressional law some time ago to ensure each departing member receive TAPs training. I don’t know how the VA worked itself into this question but “yes”, all federal agencies are subject to a “congressional inquiry”. As to your hypotheticals, there’s no coursework for TAPs. The government just doesn’t want to be held responsible for not giving the veteran all the beneficial information. There’s no doubt that regardless of any law or military policy, members separate without this training and lead very successful lives thereafter. That’s not what this is about. It just shifts the responsibilities upon separation from the military squarely on the veterans shoulders.
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