JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. – There comes a time in every service member’s military career when you hang up the boots and return to civilian life. Part of military readiness is knowing that after four years of service or forty, the Army stands ready to help you transition from Soldier to civilian.
To see what that process looks like, the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Transition Assistance Program invited senior leaders from around the installation to attend an Open House Apr. 24 and receive a deep-dive into all the programs available to service members leaving the military.
The Open House, according to Carlos Rodriquez, JBM-HH Transition Service Manager, was designed to enhance awareness and understanding of the resources and services available to transitioning service members. TAP coordinators took the leaders through each step of the transition process, from arrival on day one, through the multitude of classes available to each service member, and to their final day with the program.
During the event, leaders had the opportunity to engage in discussions with TAP coordinators and hear success stories of individuals who used the program, especially focusing on junior service members who had little to no idea what they wanted to do when they left the military.
Rodriquez added that another goal of the event was to show leaders why it’s advantageous for Soldiers to start the transition process as early as possible.
“Service members should start the process with about 18 months left in service,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are seeing them come into the office with six or eight months left. We have empirical evidence that shows the earlier a service member starts the process, the more successful they are with their transition into civilian life.”
The leaders also received briefings from TAP specialists on how they support service members who are transitioning to college, filing VA disability claims, and navigating their VA benefits. Lt. Col. Brian Hollandsworth, Headquarters Battalion, U.S. Army commander and attendee, said that it is vital that leaders understand the process to be in a better position to help their service members as they transition.
“Transitioning out of the military is part of the evolution of being a Soldier,” he said. “It’s about educating the platoon sergeants to know what is out there and encouraging them to have those conversations with their Soldiers and trying to standardize those discussions across the entire Army.”
Rodriguez added that with the increased number of service members transitioning each year, attending the seminars provided by TAP is more critical than ever. These include basic resume training, “marketing yourself”, understanding the SkillBridge Program, and applying to Federal positions, all which occur at the TAP office co-located with America’s Kitchen.
“Success can be measured as well on how much you utilized or participated in the provided resources and instructions through the TAP process,” Rodriguez said. “If you started on time or early, you will be able to take advantage of hiring events, entrepreneurship and education workshops, and the Career Skills program, which will enhance your chances to have a job, be school ready, or start your own business right after the military.
“Starting late will only give you a chance to do the bare minimum to meet standard but will not allow you to take advantage of the full package of resources that will greatly increase probability of success after the military.”
According to Dr. Regina T. Willis, Contractor Installation Manager with TAP, the 18-month transition process starts with a self-assessment and pre-separation counseling. At the 12-month mark, Soldiers should be starting their Army skills crosswalk and financial planning, while thinking about what post-Army life is going to look like. At nine months, Soldiers should look at their VA benefits and services, and at six months, make a final determination on a career track and compete the entire process with a capstone event. During this whole process, Soldiers are also encouraged to bring their spouse.
The TAP website states that nearly 200,000 men and women leave U.S. military service and return to life as a civilian. The TAP curriculum assists service members with the resources, tools, services, and skill-building training needed to successfully make the transition. Rodriguez added that the JBM-HH TAP has about 100-120 service members going through the process each month but has the capacity to take up to 150 a month.
“I am proud of the program we have here,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Kenyon Simmons, JBM-HH Command Sergeant Major. “Mr. Rodriguez and his team have done a great job helping our service members with the next step of their life.”
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