Program helps Airmen transition from military to civilian lifestyle

Published Sept. 8, 2011
By Joel Van Nice
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- When it's time to move on from a military career to civilian life, the transition assistance program offered by the airman and family readiness center is there to help.

TAP is a total force program governed by the Department of Defense, Department of Labor and the Department of Veteran Affairs.

The DOD's primary responsibility is preseparation counseling. The DOL's primary role is to provide the employment-focused TAP workshop. The VA delivers veterans benefits briefings and the TAP for disabled members.

Preseparation counseling, the most critical facet of transition assistance, should be the first step in the transition process. Counseling should be completed prior to attending a TAP workshop.

Preseparation counseling is congressionally mandated and must be accomplished 90 days prior to the actual separation or retirement date. The purpose of the counseling is to ensure all active duty separating service members have the opportunity to be made aware of the transition services and benefits available to assist them and their spouses in adjusting to civilian life.

Currently, preseparation counseling is offered every Tuesday at 1 p.m. for people who are separating and 2:30 p.m. for retirees in Room 110, Sablich Center. Starting Oct. 1, preseparation counseling times change based on new DOD guidelines. The mandatory briefings will still be held on Tuesdays, but at 9 a.m. for members who are separating and 1 p.m. for retirees. To schedule appointments and counseling sessions, call 377-8728.

Air Force regular and reserve members and DOD civilians are eligible for TAP, along with members of other services and their civilian employees. Spouses of all service members are highly encouraged to participate in transition planning and take advantage of services offered, since these employment changes affect the entire family.

The TAP workshop isn't mandatory, but it's highly encouraged. It's designed to help members to be more competitive in the civilian job market. Topics include basic career skills such as self assessment, resume preparation, market research and networking, interviewing skills and negotiating job offers.

TAP workshops for the remainder of the year are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 12-14, Oct. 17-19, Nov. 14-16 and Dec. 12-14. Dress is business casual; no jeans, T-shirts or uniforms. Veterans benefits briefings are 8-11 a.m. Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15. Retirement briefings for members with less than a year to retirement are 1-3:30 p.m. Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15. These briefings are all in Room 108A, Sablich Center.