Transition to Civilian Life
Transition to Civilian Life
With 100,000 soldiers expected to leave the military in the next five years, the Army is revamping its Transition Assistance Program to help both departing soldiers and spouses enter the civilian work force, Thomas Lamont, assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs, said Oct. 22 at the Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Association of the United States Army.The Army is about to begin helping soldiers and spouses with such things as finances and a job search a full year before their military obligation ends, rather than the present 90 days.The expanded program, Lamont said, "leverages a whole-of-government approach, including the Departments of Veteran Affairs and Labor" to assist those leaving the service.The program consists of comprehensive three-day workshop at military installations.The workshops are presented by facilitators from state employment services, Army support services, Department of Labor contractors, or the Department of Veterans Affairs.Workshops cover such things as career decision-making, resume writing and interviewing, and occupational and labor market conditions.Army leaders said the transition to the civilian work force is one of the major stresses soldiers and their families face.