THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 17, 1996 TAG: 9601160305
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: My Turn
SOURCE: BY JULIE PIPPINS
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
This column is in response to the article ``Job Hunting - Civilian Style'' (Virginian-Pilot Jan. 3) in which Connie Sloane Brown, author of a book designed to help service members leaving the military find jobs, is quoted as saying that Congress is phasing out the Transition Assistance Program as of March 1.
That has been construed by many to mean that transition services are ending. The reality is that on March 1, plans will be presented to Congress regarding the future of the program. Funding for this program has been approved through fiscal year 1996.
While it is true that the drawdown of military forces is coming to an end, there is no official parallel between rightsizing and the future of the Transition Assistance Program. As stated by Rep. G.V. ``Sonny'' Montgomery, D-Miss., a member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, ``TAP was implemented on a pilot basis before the drawdown (began). It was simply fortunate that TAP was in place and ready to expand. . . . TAP was not then and should not be now perceived as a temporary program.''
Approximately 80,000 people will be leaving the military in 1996, making the future of this program even more critical.
The program is far more than just a resume-writing course. It is a five-day training program that covers a multitude of topics, including financially preparing for transition, change management, career planning, interview skills, job-hunting strategies and military information regarding outprocessing requirements. Additionally, a host of speakers is available to provide valuable information regarding many types of veterans' benefits. The program is offered as a collaborative effort between Navy Family Services Centers, the Department of Labor, The Department of Veterans Affairs and many supporting agencies.
In addition, service members also receive a 362-page manual designed to specifically meet their unique needs in the job search process. The book addresses all aspects of the job search, from making career decisions to negotiating salary and comparing job offers. Worksheets are provided to enable military members to make the choices that are best for them.
The program's class is only one segment. In addition, military members may use their local Navy Family Services Center to receive other types of support and assistance. For example: Employment counselors are available to provide one-on-one assistance, including resume reviews and practice job interviews; computers are available for developing resumes and for accessing career programming and automated job banks; a library full of reference books is available, as are classified ads from 64 cities.
Brown's efforts to assist people in transition are applauded, especially her plans for a possible women's transition center geared to meet the specific needs of women coming off welfare. However, whether it is women in transition from welfare, or a transition out of the military, the formula for success would come from using a mixture of all available resources.
There is no single book that provides military members the solution they need for a successful transition. While books can provide an opportunity for the reader to gain new insight or consider alternate points of view, it is the human voice and professional counselors who can really make the difference.
The popularity of this program is indicated by the thousands of military personnel who attend classes annually. Service members who have participated, or plan to, are encouraged to call their congressmen to voice their support. For more information, call the Little Creek Navy Family Services Center at 444-8101. MEMO: Julie Pippins is the Transition Assistance Program supervisor for the
Navy Family Services Center at Little Creek. by CNB