Take TAP ASAP

Transitioning from military to civilian life can come with a variety of new challenges.

The Transition Assistance Program prepares service members to be successful in new endeavors, particularly in the job market.

The program provides information, tools and training to ensure service members and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life whether pursuing additional education, finding a job in the public or private sector or starting their own business.

TAP is the result of an interagency collaboration to offer separating service members and their spouses easily accessible resources and information to make transitions more successful.

“TAP is very important,” said Jeri Romesha, Military and Family Readiness Center community readiness consultant. “It’s designed to help people learn what they need to know in order to set themselves up for success once they get out of the military.”

According to afpc.af.mil, pre-separation counseling is the launching point of the program. Retiring members can schedule this counseling up to two years prior to retirement, while separating members can attend up to a year prior. Those impacted by Force Management programs should attend counseling as soon as possible.

“I highly recommend members take TAP twice,” said Sheila deVera, a retired technical sergeant.

“The first time I went through, I was given a lot of information and felt I was not able to grasp all of what’s available to service members when they separate.

“The second time I went through, I was able to focus on what pertains to me such as the Veterans Affairs disability and the job market.”

Anyone within two years of their separation or retirement window can sign up. It’s beneficial to sign up, even if one is unsure separation is imminent, because it highlights the resources available and assists in determining whether separation is the right path for an individual.

“It set me up with connections and resources in the community,” deVera said. “There were some websites the Department of Labor mentioned that I was not aware of when searching for a new job. They also provide mock interviews. For some, they’ve been in the military so long they forget how to prepare a resume or conduct a successful interview.”

TAP is a five-day course made up of a joint task force led by Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs with additional members from the White House economic and domestic policy teams, Department of Labor, Department of Education, Office of Personnel Management, Small Business Administration and other federal agencies, to develop proposals that maximize the career readiness of all service members. 

“The first day contains information about how to conduct labor market research and financial information for transition,” Romesha said. “During the next few days, we analyze your skills, and you’ll research industries, occupations and trend. We’ll also develop your job search and networking methods, analyze types of resumes and prepare resumes and cover letters.”

Interview preparation is another core aspect of the program, as the team advises how to be successful in interviews and evaluate and negotiate job offers.

The final day of focuses on Veterans Affairs services, such as what is available and how to access and qualify for these services.

“We also have optional workshops that we welcome our spouses, dependents and veterans to attend, regardless of the active duty member’s status,” said Romesha.

These workshops include Entrepreneurship Boots to Business course, Higher Education course, Career and Technical Training course, G.I. Bill benefits briefing and 10 Steps to a Federal Job workshops.