JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
For the more than 240,000 U.S. Service members who leave the military through retirement or separation each year, the transition from the military lifestyle to the civilian sector can be a difficult change. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of separating Service members is expected to grow over the next few years, meaning the need for transitional resources increases each day.
To aid Service members throughout the Hampton Roads area, the Airman and Family Readiness Center at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, uses the Transition Assistance Program - Goals, Plans, Success, or TAP-GPS, to empower Service members with the tools to shift smoothly into life after military service.
"We want Service members to know they are not alone in this process," said Nina Simone Lee, Langley A&FRC community readiness specialist. "[TAP-GPS] provides Service members with information and training to ensure they are prepared to meet civilian life successfully."
The Joint Base Langley-Eustis A&FRC offers the program approximately 16 times a year to Service members from all five branches of the military.
According to Lee, the program offers a fact-based curriculum available to Service members and spouses which uses various workshops to aid in the transition to post-military life.
Transition GPS, or Goals, Plans and Success was launched in 2013, and was redesigned based on feedback Service members and civilian employers gave to address the increasing rate of veteran unemployment, homelessness and suicide.
The revamped program aims to take a more cooperative approach among federal agencies including the U.S. Defense Department, Education Department, Labor Department and Veterans Administration. Furthermore, the program aims to leverage partnerships between the military and various academic institutions and businesses to give the participants advice on becoming a successful member of the civilian sector.
TAP-GPS starts with a mandatory pre-separation briefing, which provides an overview of benefits and entitlements for separating Service members. Less said The briefing also introduces military members to the individual transition plan which provides a road map to a successful transition from military service.
Next, Service members attend a five-day workshop. The first day is dedicated to Veterans Affairs benefits and entitlements, where participants learn about various programs that are available to those who served.
Next, Service members develop a working budget, learn resilient transition techniques and use "Military Occupational Code Crosswalk," which teaches participants how to translate their skills, training, experience and education to find civilian jobs for which they qualify. Also, this provides Service members a look at their current qualifications to decide what steps they should take to fill in gaps to get their dream job.
Finally, on days three through five, Labor Department representatives host an employment workshop where participants learn job-seeking skills including interview techniques, social media and resume-writing skills.
The program offers a "Military Occupational Code Crosswalk" which teaches participants how to translate their skills, training, experience and education to find civilian jobs for which they qualify. Also, this provides Service members a look at their current qualifications to decide what steps they should take to fill in gaps to get their dream job.
"Military members have a lot of skills," said Lee. "Our job is to take a look at those skills and let the Service members know how to achieve their professional goals."
During this portion, the A&FRC leverages a partnership with the Bureau of Labor Statistics to help Service members research national salary averages and geographical breakdowns of job availability on mynextmove.org, a site specifically designed for military members entering the civilian job market.
TAP GPS also offers financial planning to ensure transitioning Service members are ready for the obligations of civilian life and possess the ability to reach their financial goals.
Finally, TAP-GPS offers three optional two-day training tracks to meet the individual needs of the participants:
- Accessing Higher Education: This training is designed for Service members who plan to pursue higher education, and focuses on topics including achieving academic success, how to research and compare schools, align education and career goals and finance higher education. After completing this training, Service members will be prepared to complete an application to an accredited institution, schedule a session with a representative from an academic institution, or meet individually with an Education Center counselor.
- Career Technical Training: This training provides Service members with guidance and help in selecting technical training schools and technical fields. Once completed, Service members will be prepared to complete an application to an accredited career technical training institution, schedule a session with a counselor from a career technical training institution, or meet individually with career technical training experts and VA vocational education counselors.
- Entrepreneurship: This course offers information related to the benefits and challenges of entrepreneurship for Service members pursuing self-employment in the private or non-profit sectors and teaches the steps required for business ownership through the Small Business Administration's "Boots to Business" course. The training connects Service members with experts from various fields to help them develop the initial components of a business feasibility plan and learn about small business considerations. Additionally, they will be given the opportunity to enroll in a free eight-week online entrepreneurship course hosted by Syracuse University, which aims to help students complete a business plan and connect with a successful business mentor.
According to Lee, the diverse training opportunities are a vital resource for transitioning military members.
"We want to put [Service members] directly in touch with the options available to them," she said. "We want to provide them with as much information as possible so they can make the most informed decisions for their future."
"Our Service members put their lives on the line to defend our nation," she added. "We want to give our Service members everything they need to set them up for success."
Though transitioning can be a stressful process, Lee said TAP-GPS shows that while veterans no longer serve in uniform, they still have the support both in and out of the military.
"The care for our veterans extends well beyond the confines of the gates of military installations," she said. "These services help our Service members find those resources in whatever zip code they find themselves in."
For more information, contact the Langley A&FRC at (757) 764-3990.