DVIDS – News – Customers, quality services at forefront of JBM-HH transition assistance program

MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Friday, March 18, Joint Base Commander Col. David Bowling and Director of Human Resources Ken Washington joined the US Army Staff Battalion 5 senior officer transition. The Outreach Open House is a new, temporary location in the parking lot next to Memorial Church.

Staff Battalion Commander Sgt. Maj. Tavonda Sanders, Operations Officer Maj. Marie Howe, Operations Officer Sgt. 1st Class Edward Gonzalez, 1st Sgt. Michael King, S-1 NCOIC Master Sgt. Corey Perryman learned about each phase of the transitional assistance program by visiting five stations and listening to briefings from several TAP consultants.

Carlos Rodriguez, Transition Services Manager, spoke to battalion chiefs, stressing the importance of understanding the process so that when it comes time to transition, they can support their Soldiers, as well as themselves, as they begin the transition process.

“First Sergeant, Commander, this is where your help is most needed,” Washington said. “You need to be looking at the younger soldiers that are coming out in the next 18 months.”

When a Soldier decides to begin the transition process and walks into the TAP office, he or she will be greeted by Administrative Specialist Renita Ricks-Thomas, set up to open an account, and schedule an initial one-on-one counseling phone call. program step.

After the TAP office moves out of its temporary quarters, it will return to Bldg. After renovations are completed within the next 18 months, the 404th IIC for Soldiers will have a 30-minute to one-hour in-person meeting with Senior Advisor Jessica Carroll.

Carroll said that starting in October 2019, the IIC became more specific to the service member participating in the program.

“We meet with service members one-on-one to determine if their military career fits their career goals, whether they want to live on their own, live with their parents, what their financial readiness is, or both. married or with children,” says Carroll. “We do a self-assessment that tells her everything she needs to know to meet her needs.”

In terms of timelines, Carroll said the latest to start the process is 18 months for separation and 24 months for retirees, but service members who want to start the process sooner shouldn’t hesitate.

“They don’t have to think that (the program) will distract them from their duties, because our training program is distributed, because there is no mandatory five-day course, and they can schedule individual courses over several periods,” Carroll said. . “There’s a lot of flexibility in scheduling.”

Carroll also debunked common myths surrounding TAP.

“A big misconception about TAP is that it’s only for people who spend a year or two in the service and then decide to get out, but we serve everyone,” Carroll said. “Retirees need help just like everyone else, so we help them change careers, too.”

Although TAP is designed to help soldiers prepare for service, TAP is considered a military service program, and meeting with a serviceman’s counselor is part of TAP. Sometimes through the program, soldiers decide to re-enlist.

“We all value our customers, quality service, guidance and service to our country,” Rodriquez said. “As they go through the process, they will be able to evaluate their skills and turn them into civic skills that will put them above other skills.”

Editor’s Note: For registration information or general inquiries about TAP, contact Renita Ricks-Thomas at 703-696-0973 or [email protected]