The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provides information, tools, and training to ensure that service members and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life. The DoD TAP program offers job-searching assistance as well as other related services.
If a service member is getting out of the military, they can find their nearest Transition Assistance Program, which should be on most military installations both in the United States and overseas. Each service branch will have its own program. They are the Soldier For Life Transition Program, Marine Corps Transition Readiness Program, Navy Transition Assistance, Air Force Transition Assistance Program, and the Coast Guard Transition Assistance Program.
What Does TAP look like?
TAP Counseling
The first part of TAP is the initial and pre-separation counseling between a service member and a TAP counselor. Here service members will complete a personal self-assessment and start to develop their individual transition plan. Spouses and caregivers are encouraged to also attend.
TAP Curriculum
The TAP curriculum is an outcome-based modular curriculum that is to prepare the service member for civilian life. The TAP has online programs and they are broken down into the following sections.
Core Classes
- Employment Fundamentals of Career Transition (EFCT) – this class lays the foundation for the transition from the military to a civilian career.
- Financial Planning for Transition – this class provides service members with the information and tools that are needed to identify post-transition financial responsibilities, obligations, and goals.
- Managing Your (MY) Transition – this class emphasizes the importance of preparing for the transition to the civilian sector and provides an overview of TAP.
- VA Benefits and Services – where service members learn how to navigate the transition with the VA benefits and services.
- Wounded Warrior and Caregiver EFCT – which is blended learning delivery of the online EFCT followed by instructor-led virtual sessions to meet the needs of a transitioning service member who is wounded, ill and/or injured.
Classes for Family Members
- Mental Health for Families
- Survivor and Casualty Assistance Resources
- Transitioning to Federal Employment
- VA Education Benefits for Spouses and Dependent Children
- VA Home Loan Guaranty Program
- Vet Centers
Transition Tracks
- Education
- Employment
- Entrepenshership
- Vocational
- Women’s Health Transition Training
Military Life Cycle (MLC)
- Community Integration Resources
- Disability Compensation
- Mental Health For Families
- Reserve Component Dual Payments
- Social and Emotional Health Resources
- Survivor and Casualty Assistance Resources
- Transitioning to Federal Employment
- VA Benefits 101
- VA Education Benefits
- VA Education Benefits for Spouses and Dependent Children
- VA Home Loan Guaranty Program
- VA Life Insurance Benefits
- Vet Centers
You can find the TAP courses on the TAPevents.mil website.
TAP Capstone
This is the culminating event where commanders verify achievements of career readiness standards and a viable ITP. This happens no later than 90 days before separation or being released from active duty.
Additional TAP Resources
- Department of Labor Employment Workshop (DOLEW) is a two-day workshop that covers the best practices in career employment.
- Career and Credential Exploration (C2E) is a personalized career development assessment of occupational interest and ability.
- Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot (ENPP) has launched at 18 pilot sites worldwide and provides one-on-one employment assistance with transitioning service members (TSM) and their spouses, outside of the formal classroom.
What is the VMET?
VMET stands for Verification of Military Experiences and Training form DD 2586. This is to assess the service member’s knowledge, experience, and skills as they relate to civilian jobs. The form provides military experience and training, recommended college-credit information, and civilian-equivalent job titles.
TAP starts one year before separation or two years before retirement.
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