FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Every year, thousands of Soldiers transition from service at Fort Bragg and begin the challenging journey into civilian life. The Transition Assistance Program, a required step for service members preparing to separate or retire, is designed to ensure those transitions are informed, intentional and successful.
TAP offers extensive resources, from federal resume-building workshops to employment counseling, but one of its biggest impacts is helping Soldiers discover what matters most to them post-uniform. For some, that discovery happens through an immersive program called the University of Health and Performance, which is available to all Fort Bragg Soldiers.
Rooted in wellness, leadership and personal development, UHP has emerged as an option for those interested in health, fitness or simply figuring out what comes next.
“We assist Soldiers at the Fort Bragg Soldier Support Center by providing SkillBridge opportunities, as well as walking them through the admissions process,” Cody Montemayor, UHP’s Fort Bragg Team Lead, said. “Upon graduation, they can request continued support from our Fort Bragg team as they begin their next steps.”
UHP offers a three-week immersive learning experience on a 500-acre campus in the Ozark Mountains. Its training environment blends classroom theory with hands-on application, a combination that resonates well with Soldiers and what they are familiar with.
“We structure our training in a two-block learning system,” Jon DuBois, UHP Executive Director of Admissions and Recruitment, said. “It starts with a theoretical block of information, followed by a practical block of implementation. This mirrors how training is done in the military and helps students retain what they learn.”
Upon completion, students receive multiple industry-recognized credentials. This includes an International Sports Sciences Association and UHP Certificate of Personal Training, a Mental Health First Responder Certificate, and a CPR/AED Certification through the American Heart Association.
For UHP, it’s not just about passing the tests or earning the certificates. It’s about the student’s ability to apply the knowledge in real world scenarios.
“We don’t just teach content; we teach context and create the environment and opportunity,” Hunter Schurrer, UHP Vice President of Training, said. “Students live, train and apply what they’re learning in real-time through coaching practices, team leadership opportunities and feedback from experienced professionals. Every lesson is tied to who they’re becoming and what they’ll be expected to do in the field.”
For Soldiers still trying to figure out their path, UHP offers tools that go deeper than career counseling. Through UHP’s Purpose Blueprint model, students build a custom roadmap based on their personal and professional goals. This all corresponds with UHP’s pillars: Thinking, Training, Feeling and Leading, and it aims to guide students in the right direction no matter the path they choose.
UHP has seen Fort Bragg alumni go on to become personal trainers, performance coaches, sports trainers, movement physiologists, physical therapy assistants, group fitness instructors and business owners.
“Our students enjoy an environment that combines natural beauty, tranquility and recreation to achieve profound mental and physical growth,” Montemayor said. “It’s a setting designed to uplift and inspire.”
UHP prides itself on creating strong relationships between students, faculty and alumni, so everyone has a community to turn to when building a fulfilling, long-term career. It also helps students slow down and reflect during what is often an emotionally complex life stage.
“We work alongside organizations such as the Veterans Future Foundation to assist graduates in further developing themselves,” Montemayor said. “We want to help shape their future.”
UHP operates as a complement to Fort Bragg’s Transition Assistance Program, which remains the central hub of the installation’s transition support. TAP helps Soldiers meet required Career Readiness Standards while connecting them with recruiters, educational institutions and more.
“The Transition Assistance Program is special because it serves as a bridge between military service and civilian life, ensuring service members leave the military with a solid plan for employment, education or entrepreneurship,” Stacy McLean, Transition Services Specialist at Fort Bragg, said. “It provides tailored guidance, helping them navigate federal hiring processes, build strong resumes and connect with key resources for housing, finances and benefits.”
According to McLean, TAP’s impact is significant. By facilitating career fairs, financial planning workshops and partnerships with external organizations, TAP empowers Soldiers to make informed decisions and reduce the uncertainty of life after service. It also prevents common challenges one may see when joining the global workforce.
“TAP at Fort Bragg benefits from collaborations with government agencies and recruitment professionals, enhancing job placement success,” McLean said.
For Fort Bragg Soldiers interested in wellness, coaching or building something of their own, UHP offers many options available through TAP. Its blend of mental, physical and emotional growth combined with career-focused training has helped many take the first step toward building a future that aligns with passion.
It reinforces what TAP already provides: support, structure and a way forward.
To learn more about TAP resources and transition opportunities at Fort Bragg, visit https://home.army.mil/bragg/services/all-services/transition-assistance-program.
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