How far in advance can active duty service members from all branches start training or looking for employment?

Enlisted Members may be released through a 4187 under the attached MILPER Message up to 6 months early from ETS. This is contingent on a letter from an employer with a bona fide job offer: http://www.ssi.army.mil/!CareerAdvisor/Messages/Milper%20Message%2015-019%20Enlisted%20Voluntary%20Early%20Seperations%20Program.pdf

Officers MAY be able to start work on transition leave. They will need an ethics brief and a visit to JAG if it is a government contractor.

Transition assistance is telling people 6 months out for applying to jobs in earnest. Up to 12 for federal jobs.

I am going through SFL TAP right now. There are tons of info and websites. Tools and calculators. VA stuff, DoL stuff, commercial stuff. What can be done to help? Realistically help draft resumes and convert military experiences to civilianese. Explain to civilian employers what military qualifications, experience, and leadership really means.....And offer someone a no-shit job for a realistic wage.

Tap into the Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP) at HQDA or at the nearest installation. Especially if you have networked access to no kidding J.O.B.S. https://www.facebook.com/FortCarsonSFLTAP/

In 1992 was passed over to promotion to Major for the second time COL Mikel J. Burroughs. The Army was going through a RIF and the personnel system was trying to reduce the officer corps with as many volunteers as possible an they were offering various buyout plans - a lump sump and and an annuity.
I was a relatively new believer in Christ at the time; but, I was convinced that God did not want me to quit. The previous summer I had interviewed with banking executives in Georgia and I had sent resume's to several other businesses. I did not quit and was forced out of the active component. The next month I accepted a position with a not-for-profit FFRDC company where I was employed for 20 years. I also accepted a commission in the USAR where to my chagrin I was promoted to major based on time in service and grade. By the grace of God I was promoted to LTC just after 2000 after being passed over twice. This allowed me to serve this nation on active duty again soon after 9/11 2001 when I volunteered while my mobilization orders were being processed.
I concur with the comments of COL Jon Thompson.
It is never to early to think about your post-service career. You need to pay attention to the current regulations about what is authorized so that you do not run afoul of current law or regulation; but, putting serious thought into your post-service career and having frank discussions with family and friends is a good idea. Your family and friends may well have a good idea of what you strengths are and if they are true friends they will tell you your strengths and weaknesses.

I will argue that SM need to start thinking about it right away. In 1995, I was passed over for promotion to Major and faced with trying to figure out what I was going to do next. I stretched out my remaining time as long as I could but still left active duty without a job. I never envisioned anything else so I did not have a backup plan. So I say that people should at least have an idea of what they want to do. It may be somewhat easier for officers than a junior enlisted but they should not wait until they know they are leaving. I would say that continued civilian education is also part of this. In terms of actual timelines, the Army has ACAP to help out transitioning Soldiers. Each post should have an ACAP office. Below is the Army site for ACAP and that should be a good starting reference for one who knows they are leaving. I do think that a SM should be serious about it in their last year and they need to find the right balance between their duties and their responsibilities to themselves.
https://www.acap.army.mil/default.aspx

So ...that is going to depend on yourself and situation in many ways. Most important is HAVE A PLAN - and not something you 'sorta keep in your head' - write it down, revise it as things change, but have a concrete plan with targets and goals.

My own personal approach (this was 1996 so somethings change - for one online job searches wasn't exactly a big thing then). When I was a year out from my 20, I made it clear to my unit commander and OIC that I intended to retire - I also sent a letter to the promotion board asking I not be considered for selection.

I did a lot of background research the first half of that year, also went out and picked up couple of additional IT certifications that polished my resume. Write a resume, get folks to critique, and re-write it, polish it.

At the six month mark, I started attending job fairs, mostly to link up with professional recruiters - aka 'head hunters' . Not the kind you pay to find you a job, but one who gets paid by a company when he finds them talent.

I passed out about a 100 resumes, read up on companies. I actively cultivated a relationship with a head-hunter that led me to 3 interviews - I got offers of employment from all 3 - one actually on the spot (which is the one I took).

I made a couple of mistakes - I found out later I could have negotiated a better package - some gap health coverage, since the company plan didn't cover a few things until you worked there 6 months. , but over all it went pretty smooth.

I kept in touch with that headhunter as well - referred a few people to him, things like that. He called me about 20 months after being in the civilian sector- a better job - which led to another job...

Bottom line, you have to work at it. I got fortunate I will admit that, I had a lot IT skills, retiring 1996 at a time when if you could spell Information Technology, you'd get a job.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs
I started looking for work about 3 weeks before going on terminal leave. I got lucky and found a job almost right away (just a few weeks later while on terminal leave) and started working while I was still technically on the Navy's books.

In the Aviation Industry - I would say you should begin networking in the civil aviation industry a few years before you're ready to transition... It takes time to build good relationships.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mil2civ-transition-helicopter-pilots-technicians-stacy-sheard?trk=prof-post

Under current Congressional guidelines, ACAP has to start 1 year out. They mandate classes on budgeting, resumes, and job hunting. The counselors will give tue SM a whole slew of information in the job hunt, including an email list that sends you job openings on bases. If someone needs to get out early for school or employment they can submit a 4187. For school the can get out 90 days early, for employment it is 180 days earlier than their original ETS date.

I think that there needs to be a parallel civilian career prep tool that members can use while they are serving. Military members need a career path guidance platform that helps them highlight their leadership, training, knowledge, skills and abilities. They should know educational and skills requirements of desired civilian jobs.

Members should always be networking and building relationships with perspective employers. Transitioning is a daunting task and a culture shock for many members...be proactive, informed and prepared!

I was set to retire in September of 2013 and start my terminal leave in early June 2013. To begin planning for it, I took my first Transition Assistance Program course in January of 2012 and then I took it again as a refresher in February of 2013. I had started working on my resume in January of '13 and started applying to jobs in February after I finished TAP class. I was offered position in the beginning of May with a start date in July and was able to double dip for a few months.

I always advocated early preparation for those considering transition to civvies. The earlier they can get their certifications, additional training using TA or the GI Bill, the better.

I just found out from my brother (he's in the "Army for life" program) that he was allowed to begin transitioning for retirement 2 years prior to separation.