When a service member leaves the military, it affects the entire family. How a family prepares for that transition can make a huge difference.
By law, service members must participate in the Transition Assistance Program before separating from the military. But spouses also are welcome to attend and participate.
In the same vein, part of the Transition Assistance Program involves registering for the Veterans Affairs Department’s eBenefits, and getting information on VA home loans, health benefits, prescription benefits and GI Bill transferability. The Defense Department, VA, the Labor Department, Small Business Administration and other agencies provide this transition program.
While it’s an education process, it’s also an assessment process to clarify personal and professional goals, and how to reach them. Troops delve into their family’s needs as they make decisions about the future, such as where to live. The curriculum addresses personal finances, availability of spouse employment, quality of education, availability of medical care and many other topics, diving down into questions like cars for teenagers and funding kids’ college education.
This is part of completing the Individual Transition Plan before separating from active duty. It’s the core of the transition work; in fact, the very first piece of the ITP involves personal and family requirements, said Susan Kelly, director of DoD’s Transition to Veterans Program Office, in a briefing to the DoD Military Family Readiness Council.
Officials have found that troops and spouses may not be aware of all the resources available to them, Kelly said. DoD is conducting an awareness campaign during September to reach military spouses as well as service members and commanders.The campaign materials will include information that identifies spouses as key participants and beneficiaries in the process. Transition Assistance Program managers will be encouraged to market to spouses when they are conducting their awareness activities on local installations. And campaign posters will be placed in areas like child development centers, food courts and shopping areas, where the non-military spouse is more likely to visit when on base.
One resource she highlighted is the new Veterans Employment Center at www.eBenefits.va.gov. Spouses and veterans can post their profiles, and vetted employers can review those profiles and contact potential employees. Spouses and veterans also can view jobs available from vetted employers.
The VEC offers another option for spouses who are no longer eligible to use the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, which helps military spouses connect with vetted employers. But officials advise spouses to connect with MSEP early on in military life. When a military spouse already has a viable career, it can help ease the whole family’s transition to civilian life.
Kelly also highlighted www.mynextmove.gov, a website open to the general public that can help anyone research the labor market outlook in geographic areas to see what skills will be in demand.
These transition programs are jam-packed with information and resources — and even if you don’t need a resource now, you may in a few months.
It can only help to have a spouse’s extra set of eyes and ears soaking up the useful information that could affect your family’s well-being for years to come.
