Transition Assistance Program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:39, 10 June 2017

Revision as of 18:03, 28 November 2017

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==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 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, <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</ref> completion of [[Transition Assistance Program#Career Readiness Standards|Career Readiness Standards]], and the verification by a commander of a service 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 service 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==

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==Curriculum==

Most service members complete their career readiness standards (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 service 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, service 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 service 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 service members who are interested in starting their own business build a business plan.

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==Career Readiness Standards==

Career Readiness Standards are a set of career preparation deliverables that service 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 service 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 individual transition plan (ITP), creating a 12 -month post-separation budget, and registering with the VA [[eBenefits]] site. All CRS are verified by a service member's commander<ref>https://dodtap.mil/career_readiness_standards.html</ref> prior to transition. If a service member doesn't meet their CRS, there is a warm handover to an interagency partner for additional assistance.

==eForm and Enterprise Database==

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* [https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/], a joint VA/DoD web portal that provides resources and self-service capabilities to veterans, service 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 YoutubeYouTube channel

*[http://custom.federalnewsradio.com/interviews-shows/fedtalk-showcasing-federal-veterans-programs-veterans-day], FEDTALK radio interview on veterans' programs