Offutt's Transition Assistance Program evolution Published Dec. 18, 2012 55th Wing Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Transitioning from military to civilian life has changed a great deal over the past twenty years and in October 2013 the Transition Assistance Program with the Airman & Family Readiness Center at Offutt is scheduled to complete its evolution into an entirely new program to meet the new demands of this ever-changing process. The transition is necessary to upgrade a program that had not been changed in 20 years. The changes are also mandated by a bill that passed in 2011 called the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act. The program will offer standardized curriculums with defined learning objectives to give all service members equal footing as they enter civilian life. This is a major overhaul of the 20-year-old TAP, the previous three-and-one-half-day program was voluntary and only half of all separating service members attended. The revamped program is now five days and mandatory for all service members. The program could end up being longer if the service member chooses to attend one or all of three tracks. The new program starts with an expanded pre-separation brief where an individual transition plan is introduced to the service member and their enrollment in e-benefits is verified. "The new workshop will be five full days with three two-day tracks available at a later time and ending in a capstone event held no later than 90 days prior to separation or retirement and will be required by all service branches," said Julia Noe, 55th Force Support Squadron's community readiness consultant and transition assistance programs manager. "They will develop and tailor their ITP throughout the duration of the process." The ITP will determine which two-day track an individual should attend. However, individuals aren't limited to a single track and they may attend more than one if they have not made any solid plans for post-service life and wish to explore their options. With the U.S. unemployment rate at 7.7 percent in November and the veteran rate projected to be higher, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act is using tools like the improved TAP to create a seamless transition into civilian life. Other tools being used include expanding education and training, helping separating service members translate military skills and training into civilian sector equivalents, and offering tax credits to companies who hire veterans and disabled veterans who are out of work. "As the phases and continued changes are implemented, the program evolves and feedback provided up the chain across all service branches, challenges will be addressed, and refinements are sure to be made as we have barely started," Noe said. "This program is a collective effort of seven major government agencies and our priority for the duration is the best service to our customers." "It's imperative that military members and their spouses attend this program as early as they can," she added. "Those who have attended say that they wish they would have attended earlier." Service members are eligible to attend as early as two years prior for those retiring and one year prior for those who are separating. Spouses can attend on a space-available basis. For those who are certain of their plans upon completing their service obligations, Noe said, attendance is still mandatory. By attending TAP, it will allow them to be more effectively prepared if life suddenly shows them a plan they had not anticipated. Attending is the best approach to assure an increased possibility of success for the next chapter of life.