Madam Chairwoman and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting the American Legion Auxiliary to appear before you today to discuss the Transition Assistance Program (TAP.)

Today I represent the American Legion Auxiliary (Auxiliary), the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization with 900,000 members in 8,900 communities across the country.  Here in South Dakota we have 16,000 members in 221 communities.  We are an 89-year-old organization whose members are female veterans and mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, granddaughters or great-granddaughters of American Legion members. Our mission is to serve veterans, their families and their communities. Personally, I have four nephews serving on active duty. Two serving in the Air Force, one in the Navy and one with the Marine Corps. 

Reformat TAP

The goal of TAP is to provide those separating from military service, including Guard and Reserve, and their families the tools to make a seamless transition to civilian life. The curriculum for this program has included a narrowly defined yet broad-based agenda with the intent to impart as much information as possible to the active duty component.  Guard and Reserve members haven’t had the benefit of a comprehensive TAP.  While there is little debate as to the value of the information being shared during TAP, we hear continually from service members and their families that TAP is either too much or too little given at the wrong time and in the wrong setting with the expectation that all service members hear the same message at the same time and in the same way.  So, what changes need to be made for TAP to be more effective? 

First, one size doesn’t fit all.  The retiree may need different information than the three year enlistee; a degreed service member who may have a variety of professions to chose from needs different resource options from the service member entering a trade, going back to school or who is undecided.  If you’re not disabled, why sit through two-hours of DTAP briefings?  Guard and Reserve members are further alienated as they return back to civilian lives that are now very different then when they left.

Second, timing matters.  Hitting a service member and his or her family too early or too late can dilute the message.  Delivering any message in anticipation of or immediately following a deployment that isn’t directly related to “getting back to home and family” has no chance of sticking. 

Third, accuracy, no matter the delivery or message line is critical.  We hear of miscommunication too many times.  Hearing you’re not eligible for the GI Bill because your high school GPA isn’t high enough is just wrong.  Not being given clear and compelling reasons to enroll in the VA immediately upon separation to claim the five-years eligibility for VA health care is wrong. 

Fourth, too much information being delivered at one time in combination of any of the above issues means much of it gets lost or not absorbed.  We all know what happens to brochures, CD’s, workbooks--they get lost or tossed. 

Fifth, while technically the civilian job of a Guard or Reserve member is covered under USERRA, we all know that in practice, these service members have difficulty re-entering the workforce or picking up their careers because of subtle hiring practices that don’t work in their favor.  Employers don’t want to hire someone who may be leaving again in a year.

What changes might make TAP effective?

Following the example of Turbo TAP, which was designed with the National Guard in mind, any face-to-face program must be appropriately timed, relevant and to the point.  It must take into consideration that one size doesn’t fit all.  To over simplify, the Auxiliary feels strongly that TAP needs a more contemporary face.  Instead of giving service members and their families what we think they need, we need to give them the option of choosing what they know they need.

We recommend establishing a program that collectively is no more than 24 hours of content with an agenda flexible and varied enough to appeal to participants at all stages of readiness for transition.  The program should consist of a menu of presentations and/or workshops with minimum and mandatory requirements established for participation.  The program should be established in such a way that one or two mandatory general sessions start TAP followed by a diverse agenda of programs that would appeal to participants on a variety of levels and stages.  If planned right, this format change would not require additional staff resources, would include much of the same content and material currently being used but focus on what’s important to the participant.

The Model of Turbo TAP

In an effort to better serve our Guard and Reserve forces, Turbo TAP was created to assist service members and their families handle the multiple and rapid transitions to and from civilian life. Online, interactive and available 24/7, Turbo TAP has become one of the most robust and popular tools for reintegration available to service members and their families.  Its well-organized content contains valuable up-to-date information on resources and earned benefits.  

Since its debut, we have heard nothing but positive response to the program. 

Make TAP a Mandatory Program

The most current Department of Labor statistics report that 60 to 65 percent of all separating active duty service members attend TAP seminars and 30 percent of all separating National Guard and Reservists attend a portion of TAP. According to written testimony from John M. McWilliam, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Veterans’ Employment and Training, Department of Labor, May 16, 2008, the DoD has adopted the recommendation from the Task Force on Returning Global War of Terror Heroes to increase attendance at TAP sessions to 85 percent of separating service members. 

We wholeheartedly support this DoD initiative but believe that they should take it one step further. Currently, the only branch of the military to make TAP required is the Marine Corps. The American Legion Auxiliary recommends that each branch of the military make TAP a mandatory requirement for all transitioning service members bringing participation to 100 percent.

Creation of Measurable Outcomes

The Auxiliary is further recommending that a clear set of measurable standards be established at multiple levels of the program to ensure excellence.

• The DoL is accountable for a high standard of delivery and therefore outcome;
• DoD must hold each branch accountable for administration and implementation of TAP;
• Uniform performance goals need to be established for commanding officers responsible for TAP, regardless of branch;
• Measurement outcomes need to be established to gauge the effectiveness of the program on its participant’s ability to successfully reintegrate after service.

Summary

Our men and women in uniform have made tremendous sacrifices defending our nation. They go through initial training to prepare them to endure unique stress and perform actions that are not present in civilian life. It is only right that at the conclusion of their service, they go through a transition program that meets them on their terms ensuring a seamless transition back to civilian life. The American Legion Auxiliary recommends:

• Reformatting TAP to fulfill the needs of specific service members – including our Guard and Reserve
• Requiring TAP mandatory for all separating service members
• Creating measurable standards to gauge effectiveness and success

TAP is an essential component of reintegration for all members of our military regardless of branch or rank.  TAP done right becomes an invaluable step in successful reintegration. 

Thank you again for allowing me to represent the opinions of the American Legion Auxiliary through this testimony. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.