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The '''Transition Assistance Program''' (TAP) is a [[U.S. Department of Defense]]-led program that provides Serviceservice members with information and resources to prepare them for their civilian life. TAP is an interagency program between the Department of Defense (DoD), [[U.S. Department of Labor]], [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|Department of Veterans Affairs]], [[Small Business Administration]], [[U.S. Department of Education]], and [[Office of Personnel Management]].<ref>https://dodtap.mil/partners.html</ref> Service member participation in TAP is mandatory.
The program offers curriculum through classroom training as well as online through the Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) portal for geographically separated Serviceservice members, short-notice separatees, spouses, or as a refresher for Serviceservice members, their spouses, and veterans.<ref name="JKO">{{cite web|url=http://jko.jten.mil|title=JKO|work=jko.jten.mil}}</ref> The curriculum is standardized by the DoD and administered individually by each military Serviceservice. It is reviewed annually based on participant and other SME feedback. TAP courses are executed at roughly 200 military installations.
==History==
In 1990, as the U.S. military's post-[[Cold War]] drawdown was beginning, the [[United States Congress]] authorized through HR4739 (101st Congress),<ref>https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/house-bill/4739</ref> which became PL 101-510,<ref>https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-104/pdf/STATUTE-104-Pg1485.pdf</ref> a set of benefits and services to assist military personnel in the transition to civilian life. Over 20 years later as Post-9/11 veterans are separating from the military, President [[Barack Obama]] announced plans for the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] and the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|Department of Veterans Affairs]] to design a "reverse boot camp" to improve the transition from military to civilian life.<ref name="Obama Announcement">{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/08/05/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-commitment-employing-america-s-veterans|title=Obama Announcement|work=whitehouse.gov}}</ref> On November 21, 2011, President Barack Obama signed the "Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act" which among other things brought about major changes to the Transition Assistance Program. <ref>http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2016/11/5-years-on-obama-admin-highlights-improvements-to-tap/</ref>
The redesign to the program was authorized in the VOW Act, which became PL 112-56, <ref>https://www.congress.gov/112/plaws/publ56/PLAW-112publ56.pdf</ref> and included mandatory participation for all Serviceservice members, standardized curriculum and learning outcomes, expanded timeline and smaller class sizes, the requirement to have components of the program spread throughout a Serviceservice member's military career, <ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/susan-kelly-helping-military-members-transition-to-a-new-life/2015/09/29/380fb650-66cd-11e5-9223-70cb36460919_story.html?utm_term=.d87fdf1fa0d5</ref> completion of [[Transition Assistance Program#Career Readiness Standards|Career Readiness Standards]], and the verification by a commander of a Serviceservice member’s career readiness.<ref>http://www.scpr.org/news/2016/10/18/65647/pentagon-strengthens-transition-program-for-those/</ref> On average, 200,000 Serviceservice members separate from 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>
==DoDI 1332.35==
==Curriculum==
Most Serviceservice members complete their Careercareer Readinessreadiness Standardsstandards (CRS) through attending TAP's core curriculum in a five-day classroom training. This core curriculum, called Transition GPS (Goals, Plans, Success),<ref name="Transition GPS Curriculum">{{cite web|url=https://www.dodtap.mil/core_curriculum.html/|title=Transition GPS Curriculum|work=dodtap.mil}}</ref> includes courses such as the Military Occupational Code Crosswalk, Financial Planning for Transition, Resilient Transitions, VA Benefits Briefing, and the Department of Labor Workshop, among others. <ref>https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/06/28/2016-15269/transition-assistance-program-tap-for-military-personnel</ref>
Transitioning Serviceservice members may also opt to enroll in additional two-day courses, called Training Tracks. There are three of these Training Tracks: Accessing Higher Education, Career Technical Training and Entrepreneurship.<ref>https://dodtap.mil/tracks.html</ref> In the Accessing Higher Education Training Track, Serviceservice members will learn how to choose a college or university, how to submit an application, and the various ways to find financial aid. The Career Technical Training Track helps Serviceservice members select a technical training school and connects them with the school or a counselor. The Entrepreneurship Training Track is the Small Business Administration's "Boots to Business" course and helps Serviceservice members who are interested in starting their own business build a business plan.
The Military Life Cycle (MLC) Transition Preparation Model encourages a Serviceservice members to begin their transition preparation early in their military careers through taking advantage of training and educational opportunities while still in the military.<ref>https://dodtap.mil/mlc.html</ref>
==Career Readiness Standards==
Career Readiness Standards are a set of career preparation deliverables that Serviceservice members must complete to depart from active duty and be considered "career ready." <ref>http://www.workforce.com/2016/11/09/fighting-a-different-war/</ref> The standards provide Serviceservice members with a set of tools and resources to ensure they have the training needed to transition successfully into civilian life. Examples of these deliverables include: completing an Individualindividual Transitiontransition Planplan (ITP), creating a 12 month post-separation budget, and registering with the VA [[eBenefits]] site. All CRS are verified by a Serviceservice member's Commandercommander<ref>https://dodtap.mil/career_readiness_standards.html</ref> prior to transition. If a Serviceservice member doesn't meet their CRS, there is a warm handover to an interagency partner for additional assistance.
==eForm and Enterprise Database==
In November 2016, TAP released an eForm and Enterprise Database. The new eForm combines the three previous forms that Serviceservice members used in their transition process into one electronic version. It is more streamlined and efficient, and there is no need for Serviceservice members to collect wet signatures from their counselors and Commanderscommanders.
The Enterprise Database provides real-time access and visibility for Commanderscommanders across all branches of service. This allows for a smooth transition for Serviceservice members who might be separating from the military while stationed at an installation that is not their military branch.<ref>https://dodtap.mil/forms.html</ref>
==References==
* [http://www.dodtap.mil], the Department of Defense portal for information on the Transition Assistance Program
* [https://jkodirect.jten.mil], the DoD-sponsored, Joint Staff training portal providing distributed learning access to Web-based joint courses
* [https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/], a joint VA/DoD web portal that provides resources and self-service capabilities to Veteransveterans, Serviceservice members, and their families
*[http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/133235p.pdf], DoDI 1332.35
*[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukoKbOAjLjzzw6AxutI4LQ], the DoD TAP Youtube channel
*[http://custom.federalnewsradio.com/interviews-shows/fedtalk-showcasing-federal-veterans-programs-veterans-day], FEDTALK Radioradio Interviewinterview on Veteransveterans' Programsprograms
[[Category:Military of the United States]]
[[Category:Veterans' organizations]]
[[Category:United States Department of Defense agencies]]
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