VA transition programs offered

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The Department of Veterans Affairs administers a variety of benefits and services that provide financial and other forms of assistance to servicemembers of all branches and their dependents as they transition from wearing the uniform to retirement or separation from the military.

At Hanscom AFB, the VA maintains an office in Building 1217, across from the Airman and Family Readiness Center, to assist with a myriad of those services through that transition, as well as after.

In addition to individual VA benefit advisory assistance available by appointment, officials are involved in the newly developed Transition GPS (Goals, Plans and Success), formerly known as Transition Assistance program, or TAP Seminar.

"There have been extensive changes in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for those servicemembers leaving the military," wrote Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Opportunity Curtis L. Coy in an email last month to all VA benefits advisors announcing the new program.

The mandatory Transition GPS program for servicemembers leaving the military is broken down into several different segments: "Resilient Transitions," "Military Occupational Classification Crosswalk," "Financial Planning," "Employment Workshop," VA Benefits I and II," as well as a capstone event.

The local advisors present the "VA Benefits I and II" portion of the program.

"During these briefings, servicemembers are provided detailed information on education, health care, life insurance, home loans and other VA benefits and services, as well as an overview of the disability compensation process," said Carol Bousquet, VA benefits advisor.

The briefing also provides an introduction to the eBenefits portal, a web-based application system for veterans, she said.

Both briefings, she added, are highly interactive and include practical exercises, videos of personal experiences and a question and answer session.

The Transition GPS program is offered through the Airman and Family Readiness Center.

"The goal is to provide transitioning servicemembers with a set of value-added, individually tailored training programs and services to equip them with the set of tools they need to pursue their post-military goals successfully," she said.

As part of the enhanced Transition GPS program, servicemembers, as well as spouses, have the option of also selecting from three tailored, two-day tracks to attend.

"One of the VA-sponsored career technical training tracks offered to transitioning servicemembers is a shorter-term training program for those who already possess job-ready skills and industry-recognized credentials," said Bousquet. "In addition, an education track is available to those who may be pursuing a traditional college education."

There is also an entrepreneurship track for those wanting to start a business, she added.

"The program offers assistance in identifying required credentials and investigating training options to pursue those qualifications," she said. "The outcome is a customized plan for success to help smooth the transition to a technical career."

A session of the Career Technical Training program will be held Aug. 25-26. Servicemembers interested in attending can register with the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 781-225-2765. The program runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is held in the VA Benefits Classroom in Building 1217. Future offerings will be every other month.

VA officials recommend completion of the Transition GPS program prior to attending.

For further information on the course or other VA services offered locally, contact the VA Benefits Office at 781-225-2624 or 781-225-2625.