Army Career Alumni Program
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Programs Offered:
Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Employment Workshops
Advanced Resume Writing and Apply for a Federal Job-General
Your Future is at Your Fingertips
Soldiers considering ETSing or retiring may access ACAP Express at anytime. On the ACAP Express Web site (click on ACAP Express link above), Soldiers may schedule to take the mandated pre-separation counseling in the ACAP center or to take workshops in the ACAP center such as: Transistion Assistance Program (TAP) Workshop, VA briefings or other Employment Assistance training, which includes resume or Federal job training. Also available at the ACAP Express Web site are ACAP training tools used to write a resume or cover letter, training to help you find a job and contact information for an ACAP professional for advice and support.
Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Employment Workshop
If you are like many Soldiers separating from active duty, finding a new job is one of your top priorities. If you live in the Vicenza community, the Vicenza ACAP Center is the best place to start. The center hosts Department of Labor TAP Employment workshops designed to give you and your adult family members the basic knowledge and skills necessary to plan and execute a successful job search.Training includes, but is not limited to, learning how to set personal goals, do job and company research, write cover letters and resumes, develop interview skills and find jobs. Research has demonstrated that the more job assistance services a person receives, the higher their starting salary and the faster they can expect to obtain employment.
Advanced Resume Writing and Apply for a Federal Job-General
Prerequisite: TAP or Computer Workshop
Building a resume is a challenging process that the ACAP counselors are well equipped to guide and assist you. Almost without exception, civilian positions require either a resume or job applications with resume formatting. Make building a resume, before you separate from the US Army, one of your highest Pre-separation tasks.
A representative from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) normally visits the Vicenza community monthly providing benefits briefings on all veterans' benefits, a DTAP briefing (where you learn the details about VA compensation and how to apply) and individual counseling sessions. The benefits and DTAP briefings last about three hours and individual counseling, which addresses a particular concern requiring one-on-one attention normally lasts 30 minutes. Appointments are recommended but not required to attend a VA event. Appointments are required for individual counseling.
Your military service has earned you valuable services and benefits. To ensure you fully understand what you're eligible for and how to obtain them, Congress enacted Public Law 107-103. This law directed the U.S. Army to provide transitioning Soldiers with a Pre-separation Counseling session no later than 90 days before their projected separation date. However, to ensure you have adequate time to complete Pre-separation Counseling, attend a Job Assistance Training Workshop, or reconsider your decision and remain on active duty, it is strongly recommended that you attend Pre-separation Counseling a minimum of 180 days before your projected separation date. If you are pending an involuntary separation or a medical board, you should attend as soon as possible. You, and your adult family members, are eligible to attend Pre-separation Counseling up to one year prior to your projected separation date; retirees, and their spouses, may attend up to two years before their projected retirement date.
Pre-separation Counseling is offered at the Vicenza ACAP Center Monday-Friday, 1000-1500. Call the Vicenza ACAP Center for reservation.
Your Future is at Your Fingertips
Considering Leaving the Army? Ready to Retire? Planning to ETS? ACAP's interactive, multimedia, computer-based training system, ACAP XXI, gives you all the transition information, job assistance training, and hot job leads to start you on your way to a satisfying and successful future. Work at you own pace and design your own individual career path. ACAP XXI uses full-screen, full-motion video, graphics, audio, animation, and customized applications. It's easy and fun to use. Contact the Vicenza ACAP Center to schedule an introduction to ACAP XXI's features and benefits.
ACAP XXI > Pre-separation Information and Planning
Supports the many benefits that the Army offers to transitioning personnel including relocation assistance, employment assistance, financial management assistance, health and life insurance, and reserve affiliation.Assists transitioners in completing the mandatory DD Form 2648, Pre-separation Counseling Checklist.
Provides customized transition referral sheet.
ACAP XXI > Interactive Job Assistance Training
Helps you design and manage your transition plan.Lets you set objectives and assess your skills.Includes many electronic job search tools, including access to the Internet.Helps you write effective resumes and cover letters.Explains how to network for job opportunities.Provides interview strategies and interactive on-camera practice interviews.Prepares you to negotiate salary and benefits.
Teaches you to manage a career and prepare for advancement.
ACAP XXI > Results
Provides a great foundation for a winning career in the civilian world.Saves you time and guides your success.Reduces stress associated with transitioning and the job search process.Promotes and increases self-confidence.
Helps you retain transition information and job assistance training better and longer.
Eligibility
Those eligible for services include:
- Soldiers separating from active duty (voluntarily or involuntarily), regardless of their component, who served more than 180 consecutive days of active service.
- Soldiers or other service members within 12 months of their projected separation date (not retiring). They may use ACAP services on a space-available basis for 180 days past their separation date.
- Soldiers within 24 months of their projected retirement date. They may continue to use ACAP services on a space-available basis for the rest of their lives.
- Other service members within 24 months of their projected retirement date. They may continue to use ACAP services on a space-available basis for 180 days past their retirement date.
- Department of the Army and Department of Defense Civilians transitioning due to force alignments, reductions-in-force, or retirement. They may use ACAP services for 180 days from the date they register and for an additional 180 days on a space-available basis.
- Family members of eligible personnel may use ACAP services for the same period and with the same priority as their sponsor with one exception. Family members of U.S. Army retirees may use ACAP services on a space-available basis only as long as they are authorized a valid DD Form 1173 or 1173-1 (family member ID card).
- Widows and widowers of Army retirees. They are eligible to use ACAP services on a space-available basis for the rest of their lives.
- Widows and widowers of active duty personnel and Department of the Army Civilians who died in the line of duty. They are eligible to use ACAP services on a space-available basis for 12 months past the date of their sponsor's death.
What is ACAP?
ACAP stands for Army Career and Alumni Program. ACAP assists in making the career transition from the military to the civilian environment as smooth as possible by informing separating Soldiers (and their adult family members) of their benefits and entitlements. ACAP also provides employment assistance and resume reviews for the transitioning solider and their adult family members.
Who needs to attend the ACAP Pre-separation Counseling?
All separating Soldiers should attend Pre-separation Counseling a minimum of 180 days before their projected separation date. Soldiers pending an involuntary separation or a medical board should attend as soon as possible. Soldiers, and their spouses, are eligible to attend Pre-separation Counseling one year prior to their projected separation date; retirees, and their spouses, may attend up to two years before their projected retirement date.
What is mandatory and what is recommended?
Mandatory: Your military service has earned you valuable services and benefits. To ensure you fully understand what you're eligible for and how to obtain them, Congress enacted Public Law 107-103. This law directed the U.S. Army to provide transitioning Soldiers with a pre-separation counseling session no later than 90 days before their projected separation date. (In addition, MILPER Message 03-070, requires deploying Soldiers, who are within one year of separation at the time of their deployment, to receive pre-separation counseling prior to deploying.) As a result, your installation will not let you clear until you have received this counseling. A completed DD Form 2648, which you will receive from your supporting ACAP Center, is your proof that you have received the required counseling.
Recommended: For many Soldiers separating from Active duty, finding a new job is their first priority. Congress recognized the importance of employment assistance and required the military departments to create permanent employment assistance centers at major military installations. Consequently, your ACAP Center is the best place to start your career search. While Congress did not mandate that you attend job assistance training, it is strongly recommended. This training is designed to give you the basic knowledge and skills necessary to plan and execute a successful job search. Research has demonstrated that the more job assistance services you receive, the higher your starting salary will be and the faster you can expect to obtain employment. Your adult family members are also eligible to take advantage of this training.
Who do I need to contact to make an appointment?
Contact the Vicenza ACAP Center.