Transition Assistance Program: Difference between revisions

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The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is a [[U.S. Department of Defense]]-led program that provides Serviceservice members with information, tools, and training to prepare them for life after the military. Other U.S. agencies that participate in the development, delivery, and evaluation of the curriculum and information include the [[U.S. Department of Labor]], the [[Department of Veterans Affairs]], the [[Small Business Administration]], the [[Department of Homeland Security]], the [[Department of Education]], and the [[Office of Personnel Management]].:<ref name="DoDTAP.mil">{{cite web|url=https://www.dodtap.mil/|title=DoDTAP.mil|work=dodtap.mil}}</ref>

The program offers mandatory and optional curriculum for Service members through classroom training and also provides the curriculum online through the [https://jkodirect.jten.mil| Joint Knowledge Online] portal.

The program provides curriculum to Serviceservice members throughout their time in the military to assist them in developing -- and charting a path toward achieving -- long-term military and post-military goals for employment and education.

==History==

In 1990, as the U.S. military's post-Cold War drawdown was beginning, Congress authorized through PL 101-510<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/L?d101:./list/bd/d101pl.lst:510(Public_Laws)|title=Public Law 101-510|work=thomas.loc.gov}}</ref> a set of benefits and services to assist military personnel in the transition to civilian life. Many of these authorities continued until 2011, when [[President Obama]] announced plans for the program[[U.S. wasDepartment modifiedof throughDefense]] PLand 112the [[Department of Veterans Affairs]] to design a [[https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-56press-office/2011/08/05/remarks-president-administrations-work-prepare-our-nations-veterans-work| "reverse boot camp"]] to improve the transition from military to civilian life.<ref name="PLObama 112-56Announcement">{{cite web|url=httphttps://www.gpowhitehouse.gov/fdsysthe-press-office/pkg2011/PLAW-112publ5608/html05/PLAWremarks-112publ56.htmpresident-administrations-work-prepare-our-nations-veterans-work|title=PublicObama Law 112-56Announcement|work=gpowhitehouse.gov}}</ref>

In late 2011, Congress modified the program through PL 112-56.<ref name="PL 112-56">{{cite web|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-112publ56/html/PLAW-112publ56.htm|title=Public Law 112-56|work=gpo.gov}}</ref> Major modifications to the program authorized in PL 112-56 include mandatory participation for all service members, standardized curriculum and learning outcomes, expanded timeline and smaller class sizes, the requirement to have components of the program spread throughout a service member's military career, completion of Career Readiness Standards, and the verification by a commander of a service member’s career readiness. On average, 200,000 service members leave the military each year.<ref name="Military separations">{{cite web|url=http://www.gao.gov/assets/120/111859.pdf|title=Military Separations|work=gao.gov}}</ref>

In 2015, the director of the Transition to Veterans Program Office, the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] office that governs the Transition Assistance Program, was nominated for the Partnership for Public Service's Samuel J. Heyman [[Service to America Medal]] award in the category of Management Excellence for her efforts to redesign the Transition Assistance Program to comply with PL 112-56.<ref name="SAMMIE Award">{{cite web|url=http://servicetoamericamedals.org/honorees/view_profile.php?profile=412|title=SAMMIE Award|work=servicetoamericamedals.org}}</ref>

==Career Readiness Standards==