Are the military transition programs really setting our service menbers up for a successful transition?

MCPO Dean Phelps — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 09:25:25 -0500

Based on the number of organizations getting government funding to help transitioning service members I wonder what the TAP classes are not providing and why we don't improve these programs . Has anyone attended any of the programs and what did you gain if anything?

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 24 at 2013 10:34 PM

SFC James Baber — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 22:34:45 -0500

My straight forward and honest answer, no.

Most of everything that is taught or given to you within the TAP, ACAP, DTAP, etc, and whatever they are calling it now is more about checking the block than actually providing you nay real assistance.

I kept trying to get resume assistance to transform my military skills and jargon to civilianize it, and all I would get was here are some pamphlets and websites to try, instead of sitting down with me and guiding me the right way or giving me critiques on what to do, and usually when I went into their office they were sitting around BSing with one another when they could have actually been helping transitioning SMs with issues such as mentioned.

Response by LTC Chad Storlie made Apr 11 at 2014 3:25 PM

LTC Chad Storlie — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:25:43 -0400

Two Books on Amazon :

(1) Combat Leader to Corporate Leader - http://www.amazon.com/Combat-Leader-Corporate-Lessons-Civilian/dp/ [login to see] /ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=1-4

(2) Battlefield to Business Success - http://www.amazon.com/Battlefield-Business-Success-Chad-Storlie-ebook/dp/B00598JLJO/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=1-7&keywords=storlie

Authored Articles:

(1) Article about me in Georgetown Alumni Magazine - http://alumni.georgetown.edu/career/career_81.html

(2) Harvard Business Review Blog - http://blogs.hbr.org/2010/11/dont-play-golf-in-a-football-g/

(3) Harvard Business Review Blog - http://blogs.hbr.org/2010/10/the-value-of-military-skill-se/

(4) Patriot News Op - Ed on Veteran's Day - http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/11/five_things_to_do_to_make_this_veterans_day_different_chad_storlie.html

(5) Podcast on Translating Special Operations Skills to Business - https://soundcloud.com/#ournorthwestern/01-14-careertracks-chadstorlie

(6) Podcast on Book Combat Leader to Corporate Leader - https://soundcloud.com/#ournorthwestern/career-tracks-chad-storlie

(7) Federal Computer Weekly - Hiring Veterans - http://fcw.com/articles/2011/11/07/comment-chad-storlie-hiring-veterans.aspx

(8) Oxford Leadership Journal - Managing & Leading in the Midst of Uncertainty - http://www.oxfordleadership.com/journal/vol2_issue1/storlie.pdf

(9) American Legion Magazine - Business Lessons of the Tuskegee Airmen - http://www.legion.org/careers/215804/tuskegee-airmen%E2%80%99s-business-lessons

(10) Fox News Detroit - http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/20072030/best-practices-and-success-trends-for-military-veterans-in-career-transition-and-2nd-career-advancement

(11) Omaha World Herald - Memorial Day - http://m.hutchinsonleader.com/news/opinion/commentary-mission-for-veterans-talk-about-friends-you-lost/article_b7ff4076-aa72-11e1-9f06-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm

(12) Big Think - Recruiting Veterans - http://bigthink.com/experts-corner/recruiting-veterans-makes-a-huge-human-capital-difference

(13) Denver Post - What Military Leaders Can Learn from Business Leaders - http://www.americanhomecomings.com/news/2014/02/06/military-leaders-learn-thing-two-business-leaders-column/

Response by Sgt Seth Busse made May 25 at 2014 4:15 PM

Sgt Seth Busse — Sun, 25 May 2014 16:15:05 -0400

I don't really think so. I transitioned in' 06 in California and they had a well rounded program. Then in' 07 troop surge got me back door drafted and I transitioned again in' 14 out of Quantico so I got to see old and new transition programs. The new program is almost entirely focused on navigating USAJOBS. No consideration was given to navigating the VA, housing markets, credit scores, insurance plans, the Affordable care act, or move planning. It was just a funnel to put veterans into public sector jobs. If I hadn't needed the check in the box to get out I would have stopped attending. Not worth my time.