The services need to collect and analyze more comprehensive data on special operations troops to support their transition to civilian life, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office.

“The Department of Defense provides a variety of programs to help service members transition from the military to civilian life,” the report found. “Our analysis of Department of Defense data on [the] Transition Assistance Program, and Special Operations Forces service members’ data specifically, shows that there are challenges with Special Operations Forces service members starting and completing [the] Transition Assistance Program on time.”

Just over nine-tenths of special operations soldiers completed the Transition Assistance Program, which helps service members access veteran benefits and develop post-transition plans and goals, but only about four-tenths of them began the program on time, the report says.

Transitioning special operations troops must balance a high operational tempo with documenting their medical issues and navigating the “loss of their Special Operations Forces identity, ... [which] can make starting, participating in, and completing [the] Transition Assistance Program and other transition activities difficult,” the report found.

Though special operations troops generally “completed [the] Transition Assistance Program at a higher rate than other service members,” data analysis is lacking, the report found.

“Neither the department nor the military services have conducted an analysis of available Transition Assistance Program data specific to Special Operations Forces service members,” it found. “Moreover, Special Operations Forces service component commands cannot develop corrective action plans to address potential issues or challenges because of the lack of analysis of Transition Assistance Program data.”

The Army has recognized “the need to collect and report on Transition Assistance Program data” but “more comprehensive analysis is needed to have a fuller picture of Special Operations Forces’ participation in [the] Transition Assistance Program,” the report found.

The report recommends that the commander of Army Special Operations Command analyze Transition Assistance Program data and program participation annually and “develop corrective action plans if appropriate,” among other recommendations.

Special operations troops need continued support throughout their service, including when they transition out of the military.

“It is imperative that service members planning to leave military service start accessing transition programs on time to fully leverage existing resources and transition activities,” the report found. “Not doing so can result in transitions that are not aligned with the department’s current policy goals and milestones”

Read the full report here.