Transitioning from the military into civilian life can be a very intimidating process, but with the right resources and guidance, it can all go much smoother. The Fleet and Family Support Centers within the Commander, Navy Installations Command lead in this area by offering highly comprehensive Transition Assistance Program classes that provide service members with a host of tools to facilitate their transition out of uniformed service.
According to Department of Defense Instruction 1332.35, preferred service delivery modes for TAP workshops are in-class and virtual. VTAP, or the Virtual TAP, is especially helpful for those Sailors in remote areas as well as for short-notice separations. Per Dr. S. L. Walker, CNIC TAP Program Analyst, TAP is more important now than ever, given the fluid job market. “TAP is supposed to give transitioning service members the flexibility to be able to transition into civilian life,” she says, speaking to its emphases on employment resources, financial stability, veteran benefits, and emotional support networks.
Walker, who’s worked with CNIC headquarters for six years now, feels the importance of TAP is growing—especially amidst today’s ever-encroaching schedules for members of the military services. Virtual classes, such as those in development today but first created in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, reach those who can’t make in-person sessions. “Service members attending VTAP webinar classes can expect a very informative and interactive discussion,” says Walker, adding that such webinars are so interactive that participants stay engaged and get real-time feedback.
Recording the TAP webinars allows for the further possibility that service members, or their family members, who might be unable to attend a webinar at the set time, have access to recordings available through the CNIC’s Learning Management System program. This means every service member and his or her family will come to be equipped with the information they need.
The goal is to start the transition process early, ideally by two years before the retirement date, but certainly at least 365 days before actual separation. CC The following is a list of transition steps:
- Initial Counseling (IC): Contact a CCC for a briefing on career path self-assessment.
- FFSC Visit: An FFSC is available to receive an overview of the installation, community involvement, workshop, and support services offered in the local area.
- TAP Classes: Attend congressionally mandated pre-separation briefings to become a job seeker expert, financially alert, and informed about veterans’ benefits.
- Capstone Event: Attend a Capstone brief no later than 90 days before official separation.
“Service members should start their transition process sooner than later,” Walker advises, noting that while virtual classes are available, in-person TAP classes offer greater benefits.
For more information about TAP and VTAP courses, SMs can engage with their local Fleet and Family Support Center, or find contact information in the FFSC Directory 2023.
This process shall parallel the veterans’ process: they must ensure that they have all the required documentation to file their claim for disability benefits. This will include, among others, separation documents such as the DD 214, their service treatment records, and any medical evidence used to substantiate that one has indeed incurred the illness or injury on/after/in the line of duty. Assistance is available to reconstruct these records if the record is reported to have been destroyed, like in the 1973 NPRC fire in St. Louis.
Those making a claim under the program, Benefits Delivery at Discharge, must submit a Separation Health Assessment, Part A Self-Assessment form. Such a form can also be submitted online when an individual has not yet submitted one.
The journey to complete a transition from military life to civilian can probably be added to the list of hardest journeys walked by any individual. But if properly prepared and armed with the right tools, and services such as adequate time as required, individuals making the transition have a higher chance of success.