Program helps Reservists transition to civilian jobs

Published Dec. 18, 2014
By Master Sgt. Timm Huffman
HQ RIO Public Affairs

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colorado --
Reservists serving on orders for 180 consecutive days or longer are required to participate in the Transition Assistance Program.

TAP is designed to help Airmen transition back to the civilian sector and understand all of the benefits available to them following their military service. It consists of four components: pre-separation counseling, the Transition Goals, Plans, Success Workshop, Veteran's Affairs briefings, and the Capstone.

Pre-separation counseling is the launching point of the program and should be completed first. To initiate this step, Reservists must contact their local Airman and Family Readiness Center. Members who are retiring can schedule this mandatory counseling up to 24 months before retirement, while Airmen who are simply coming off orders can attend up to 12 months beforehand. During this counseling, an A&FRC representative will help the member create an Individualized Transition Plan and schedule the remainder of the required trainings.

The five-day Transition GPS workshop is the next step in the process. However, members retiring with 20 or more years of active-duty service, those who have documented civilian employment, or are enrolled in an accredited technical school or university, are exempt.

The workshop includes Department of Labor employment training, VA benefits briefings and optional Veteran Employment Initiative tracks. It covers topics such as higher education, career technical training and, for those interested in working for themselves, an entrepreneurship track.

Two VA benefits briefings are also mandated for all personnel, but most Transition GPS workshops include this curriculum. Those members exempt from attending the workshop may attend stand-alone VA briefings.

Finally, the Capstone, the culminating activity to verify career readiness, should be accomplished no later than 90 days before separation. In conjunction with the Airman and Family Readiness Center transition counselor, each commander or approved designee is required to sign the member's DD Form 2958 to document the member's career readiness standards. These standards include having a 12-month, post-separation budget plan and resume.

Master Sgt. Jerrod Kester, Headquarters Individual Reservist Readiness and Integration Organization first sergeant, said TAP is a great resource for IRs, regardless of whether they have civilian jobs.

"For those Airmen who have a job to go back to after completing their orders, attending TAP may open up new career opportunities," he said. "And for those without jobs, the program will equip them with the tools they need to find employment."

Under some circumstances, members may complete portions of TAP via phone and internet through the TAP Virtual Curriculum. This option must be coordinated through the member's local Airman and Family Readiness Center.

Individual Reservists may complete this training during their qualifying orders, or on a separate set of Air Force Reserve Command-reimbursed reserve personnel appropriation orders. All TAP training should be scheduled in conjunction with the local A&FRC, the member's active-duty unit, and their HQ RIO detachment.

For more information on this program, please visit the Air Force Personnel Center's TAP webpage at http://www.afpc.af.mil/lifeandcareer/transition.asp or contact your local Airman and Family Readiness Center.