Travis AFRC assist transitioning Golden Bears

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Carranza
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program provides information and training to ensure service members are prepared for the next step in life before separating from military service.

Here at Travis Air Force Base, Maria McIntosh, TAP manager and Bonnie Morrow, TAP assistant manager, along with a team of Veteran Affairs, Department of Labor, American and county veterans' representatives facilitate briefings and workshops for service members at the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

Since Nov. 21, 2011, service member participation has been mandatory in the transition program due to the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act.

"The DOD is in the process of making TAP a part of every service member's career to assist them as they progress through the ranks," McIntosh said. "By learning about the benefits and entitlements as a veteran throughout an Airman's career helps alleviate the stress and uncertainty that comes along with transitioning out of the military."

One of the various workshops offered at the AFRC is the Transition Goals, Plans, Success Workshop, which is five days and covers topics such as a DOD military occupational crosswalk, finances, resilience, a DOL workshop and two VA benefits briefings.

"The five day workshop alone would cost as much as $6,000 per person in the civilian sector," McIntosh said. "We encourage Airmen and their spouses to take advantage of all the workshops that are available here. The wealth of information and education is here for their benefit."

The current mandatory components of the program are the pre-separation counseling session in which members initiate and Individual Transition Plan, VA briefings that describe veterans' benefits and how to utilize them, DOL employment workshop and a capstone event to ensure career readiness.

"I honestly thought this was going to be a complete waste of my time until I attended the workshop," said Senior Airman Chad Thomas, 60th Operations Squadron aircrew flight equipment. "The information about finances was a giant wake up call, not to mention all the information on day two about benefits. Most of which I never knew we had."

With more than 1,400 service members who attended the workshop in 2014 the Travis TAP achieved a 100 percent compliance rating by meeting DOD requirements.

"We try our best to take care of everyone and anyone, regardless of their circumstances for separating, we are here to support," Morrow said. "There hasn't been anyone that has left this center without guidance or resource to help shed light at the end of the tunnel."

For more information about TAP, call 424-2486 or visit DoDTAP.mil