Transition Assistance Program expanded Published Oct. 18, 2012 Airman and Family Readiness Center KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- The Transition Assistance Program for separating/retiring military members is being redesigned. The expanded program will help ease every Airman's transition to civilian life and better apply their military experience. The effort began in response to a call from President Barack Obama in August 2011 to ensure all service members are "career-ready" when they leave the military. A pilot program took place July 9-13 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, which allowed the Department of Defense, Department of Labor and Department of Veterans Affairs to evaluate the initiative. Scheduled to begin DOD-wide in November, the current optional three-day workshop will be expanded to five days, and has been redesigned into a comprehensive, mandatory program that includes individual transition plan preparation, military-to-civilian skills review, financial planning, VA benefits briefing, and DOL employment training. The mandatory preseparation counseling will be a prerequisite for the redesigned TAP workshop. During fiscal year 2013, a capstone event will be added to ensure the new Veterans Opportunity to Work Act and Veterans Employment Initiative requirements have been completed. Three more two-day sessions will also be available to Airmen who are pursuing a higher educational degree or a technical certification, or starting a business. For more information, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 846-0741 or Kirtland.AFRC@kirtland.af.mil.