Transition Assistance Resources

TURBOTAP.ORG

The Office of the Secretary of Defense, sponsor of the Operation Transition web site, has made the transition to providing employment information to separating and retiring military personnel at www.TurboTap.org and to military spouses at www.military.com/spouses.

HIREVETSFIRST.GOV

The mission statement for Veteran's Employment & Training Service (VETS) is to provide veterans and transitioning service members with the resources to succeed in the 21st century workforce by maximizing their employment opportunities, protecting their employment rights and meeting labor-market demands with qualified veterans today.

AMERICA'S JOB BANK

A DoL product that lists thousands of not-readily-filled jobs and points of contact across the country. This information, as well as additional local-state employment information is available at 1,700 job service offices located nationwide.

ONE STOP CAREER CENTER (OSCC)

The Term One-Stop Career Center is used to describe each individual State's online employment center and what it has to offer in the way of Career Assistance. Employers and jobseekers alike can find the services they need at their State's One-Stop Career Center. To learn more, Click Here.

JOB FAIRS

The DoD sponsors annual job fairs in Europe and the Far East to assist Service members, DoD civilian employees, and spouses stationed overseas whose location disadvantages their job searches. Employers with 50 job vacancies and who are interested in participating may contact: (703) 697-0542. Many bases in the United States also sponsor job fairs. Contact your local transition office for more information.

RETIREMENT PROGRAMS

Most installations offer seminars and/or workshops in addition to those provided by the transition offices to assist Servicemembers through the retirement process.

TEMPORARY EARLY RETIREMENT:

To better shape the force, military services may offer early retirement to qualifying members. The pay formula is 2.5 percent of base pay for each year of completed service, reduced by 1 percent for each year short of 20 years. Early retirees who take public and community service jobs from validated public and community service program employers may earn additional retirement credits at age 62. Eligibility: Military members with 15 to 19 years of active service. Contact the military personnel office or military service headquarters personnel office. Benefit: Additional opportunity to enroll in the Montgomery G.I. Bill. Must meet requirements and contribute $1,200 prior to separation.

HOUSEHOLD GOODS STORAGE:

Six months for voluntary separatees, 1 year for eligible involuntary, Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI), and Special Separation Benefit (SSB) separatees. Travel to Home-of-Record (moving costs) provided if the member has under 8 years of service. Travel-to-Home of Selection (moving costs) provided if the member has 8 or more years of service.

TRANSITION HEALTH BENEFITS:

CHAMPUS or care at a military medical facility for 60 days for SMs and their dependents for SMs with under 6 years of service; and 120 days for SMs with at least 6 years of service. Eligibility: SMs (and their families) who are involuntarily separated or are VSI or SSB recipients. Option available to purchase a conversion health policy (CHCBP) for up to 18 months. Pre-existing conditions coverage is provided for those eligible members if CHCBP is purchased.

CONVERSION HEALTH BENEFITS:

A conversion health policy is available through Mutual of Omaha for all separatees not eligible for the Transition Health Benefits.

COMMISSARY AND EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES:

Available for 2 years after separation. Eligibility: VSI, SSB, and involuntary separatees. Contact your local military personnel office.

MORAL, WELFARE, AND RECREATIONAL (MWR) PRIVILEGES:

Two years after separation at revenue-generating facilities only, excluding child care. Eligibility: VSI, SSB, and involuntary separatees. Contact your local military personnel office.

QUARTERS EXTENSION:

Family housing, space available, for up to 180 days. Rental rate equates to VHA and BAQ for that locality. Eligibility: VSI, SSB, and involuntary separatees. Contact your local military personnel or housing office.

TRANSITION PERMISSIVE TDY (TPTDY):

Ten days (all separatees). Ten days or 30 days excess leave for involuntary, VSI, or SSB separatees. Last permanent change of station entitlement to look for job or home. Stationed within the continental United States (CONUS), 20 days; 30 days if domicile is outside the CONUS.

CONTINUED ENROLLMENT IN DOD SCHOOLS:

For 12th graders, if the 11th grade was completed prior to the member's separation. Eligibility: VSI, SSB, and involuntary separatees. Contact your local DoD high school.

NON-APPROPRIATED FUND HIRING PREFERENCE:

One-time hiring preference (including dependents) in Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) activities, such as commissaries, exchanges, and clubs. Eligibility: VSI, SSB, and involuntary separatees. Contact your local MWR or NAF personnel office for more information.

GUARD/RESERVE, UNIT AFFILIATION REFERENCE:

Priority placement on applications made within 1 year after separation. Eligibility: Certain involuntary separatees, Voluntary Separation Incentive, and Special Separation Benefit recipients. Contact your local military personnel, Reserve, or Guard office for more information.

TROOPS TO TEACHERS:

This program provides stipends to assist separating employees obtain certification as elementary and secondary school teachers or teachers' aides. In addition, this program also awards grants to local educational agencies that receive Chapter 1 funds and have schools with a concentration of low income families and shortages of teachers and teachers' aides (emphasis in areas of math and science). Eligibility: For individuals, a bachelor's degree is required for teacher placement and an associate's degree for teacher aide placement. Also, military personnel separating after 6 years of service, DoD and Department of Energy civilians, and displaced scientists and engineers of defense contractors who lose their jobs because of defense spending reductions are eligible. Contact the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) at 1-800-452-6616/6617 for more information. Also see Troops to Teachers.

Featured Employers all