Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Update. Are the VA Benefits Advisors helping?

CSM Michael Lynch — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 16:36:33 -0400

The below is a message form Curtis Coy Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity

Have you seen them, used them, know of them and are they working for you? Are the changes to TAP better and really helping your transition.?

Colleagues and Fellow Veterans,

Several weeks ago, I joined our partners from DoD and Labor to update Congress on the status of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) – the program that provides training, information, and services to help Servicemembers and their families achieve their post-military goals. We have come a long way since the inception of the new/revised TAP so I thought now is a good time to send out an update – from the VA perspective.

As of March 31, 2014, VA achieved worldwide full operating capability for its portion of TAP. VA has deployed over 300 contract Benefits Advisors to provide full-time transition support to 107 military installations, and itinerant support to another 189 installations worldwide.

VA Benefits Advisors deliver:

• VA Benefits I and II briefings that provide Servicemembers with information on education, employment, health care, life insurance, home loans, VA disability compensation, vocational rehabilitation, burial and survivor benefits, and establishing a profile on the Veterans Employment Center.
• The Career Technical Training Track, a workshop that helps transitioning Servicemembers and their spouses identify civilian occupations, establish career goals, and begin applications for credentials and vocational training.
• Individual assistance to transitioning Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families at any point to answer their questions regarding the VA benefits they’ve earned.
VA has also fully integrated the Military Life Cycle model which incorporates transition planning and preparation to meet Career Readiness Standards (CRS) throughout a Servicemember’s military career. In addition to providing briefings to transitioning Servicemembers, VA Benefits Advisors offer MLC briefings to Active-Duty and Reserve Component members at the request of units to ensure these men and women have the resources to plan for their eventual retirements.

VA has provided TAP services to an impressive number of participants. From October 1, 2014 through March 21, 2015:

• 92,164 people attended 3,450 VA Benefits I briefings.
• 91,247 people attended 3,476 VA Benefits II briefings.
• 3,688 people attended 416 CTTT briefings.
• 46,820 Servicemembers have participated in 15,930 Military Life Cycle events.

We are excited to see participation continue to grow for VA TAP, but we need your help to spread the word about this beneficial program. If you know transitioning Servicemembers, Veterans, or military spouses, make sure they know VA Benefits Advisors are available to help them plan for the future and access the benefits they have earned.

http://www.benefits.va.gov/tap/
You can also find their locations on the page

v/r

Curtis L. Coy
Deputy Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity
Veterans Benefits Administration
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Transition Assistance Program - VA Benefits Briefings Home

The VA Benefits Briefers provide separating, demobilizing, or retiring Servicemembers information on VA through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP).

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Sep 7 at 2019 5:45 AM

Lt Col Charlie Brown — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 05:45:19 -0400

I am still hearing complaints from recent transition folks. Many are still not getting an opportunity to attend the full sessions.

Response by 1SG Thomas Jasak made Sep 7 at 2019 11:20 AM

1SG Thomas Jasak — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 11:20:14 -0400

When I retired in July 2017, I took full advantage of TAP and attended all of the briefings and a couple of them twice such as the VA benefits ones listed above and I can honestly say that they were very helpful for myself and family. Of course I paid very close attention, took lots of notes and asked a lot of questions during and afterwards and followed up on stuff to make sure my transition went smoothly which it did. But of course the majority of people in the briefings were not paying attention or did not seem to care which is a real shame for them to miss out on a lot of information that is helpful. Also at that time is was mandatory in the Army that all Soldiers who are transitioning out no matter what reason had to attend certain mandatory briefs especially the VA briefs.