Program offers Soldiers a head start on transitioning from the military to civilian service

By Mark HeeterFebruary 4, 2020

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WIESBADEN, Germany - Eligible Soldiers nearing separation will soon be able

to prepare for transition through the Warrior Training Advancement Course,

or WARTAC, a program that provides possible employment with the Department

of Veterans Affairs, or VA.

Soldiers who complete the 12-week program have the chance to interview for

jobs with the Veterans Benefits Administration, allowing them to build on

the valuable training and skills they developed while serving in uniform.

"It's a great way for Soldiers to have something in place as a Plan A

leaving the military," said Ric James, chief of transition services for

Installation Management Command-Europe.

The next class is scheduled from April 13 to June 25, 2020, at Sembach

Kaserne and is open to Soldiers who will be available to begin with the VA

in late August. Past sessions at IMCOM-Europe have yielded dozens of job

offers for separating Soldiers.

"The last time we offered WARTAC, we had 15 people go through the program

and 15 got hired. VA WARTAC have greater than 95 percent placement rate

across the Department of Defense," James said.

Soldiers within 180 days of separation and who anticipate an honorable

discharge, have the approval of their commander, and meet other hiring

requirements of the VA and Office of Personnel Management are encouraged to

apply.

Mandatory briefings will be held Feb. 10-13, and Soldiers must reach out to

their garrison's Transition Service Manager (TSM) to receive information

to enroll in the class.

For more information, interested Soldiers should contact their garrison's

transition service manager (TSM) or contact Mr. James at

Richard.d.james4.civ@mail.mil

The other TSMs in Europe are:

USAG Rheinland-Pfalz: Dana Cozzens at DSN 541-9000

USAG Wiesbaden: Barbara Barnett at DSN 548-1304

USAG Stuttgart: Phillip Masterson at DSN 431-3673

USAG Bavaria: Anne Fugate at DSN 476-2057

USAG Italy: David Poulin at DSN 637-8151