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U.S.
Department of Labor Program Highlights
Veterans' Employment and Training Service |
TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM:
The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) was established to meet
the needs of separating service members during their period of transition into
civilian life by offering job-search assistance and related services.
The law creating TAP established a partnership among the
Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Transportation and the Department of
Labors Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS), to give
employment and training information to armed forces members within 180 days of
separation or retirement.
TAP helps service members and their spouses make the initial
transition from military service to the civilian workplace with less difficulty
and at less overall cost to the government. An independent national evaluation
of the program estimated that service members who had participated in TAP, on
average, found their first post-military job three weeks sooner than those who
did not participate in TAP.
TAP consists of comprehensive three-day workshops at selected
military installations nationwide. Professionally-trained workshop facilitators
from the State Employment Services, military family support services,
Department of Labor contractors, or VETS staff present the workshops.
Workshop attendees learn about job searches, career
decision-making, current occupational and labor market conditions, and resume
and cover letter preparation and interviewing techniques. Participants also are
provided with an evaluation of their employability relative to the job market
and receive information on the most current veterans benefits.
Service members leaving the military with a service-connected
disability are offered the Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP). DTAP
includes the normal three-day TAP workshop plus additional hours of individual
instruction to help determine job readiness and address the special needs of
disabled veterans.
Although experience shows that veterans generally enjoy a
favorable employment rate in the nations job market, many veterans
initially find it difficult to compete successfully in the labor market. The
TAP program addresses many barriers to success and alleviates many employment
related difficulties.
For more information about U.S. Department of Labor employment and
training programs for veterans, contact the Employment and Training Service
office nearest you, listed in the phone book in the United States Government
under the Labor Department or visit our site:
http://www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/contacts/main.htm.
This is one of a series of fact sheets highlighting U.S.
Department of Labor programs.
It is intended as a general description only and does not carry
the force of legal opinion.
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