Should service members enrolled in SFL-TAP still be included in daily unit tasks?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:04:27 -0400

Response by SGT Callen Pool made May 25 at 2016 6:08 PM

SGT Callen Pool — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:08:23 -0400

It honestly depends on the daily unit tasks you speak of. If the class Is not during pt hours and the soldier has time to clean and change, I would say yes but only if it doesn't interfere with the class.

Response by SFC Josh Billingsley made May 25 at 2016 6:08 PM

SFC Josh Billingsley — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:08:40 -0400

To a certain extent yes, however, they should also be focused on transition out of the army. Something they should not forget is they are not out yet

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 6:12 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:12:10 -0400

The SMs are supposed to enroll early enough, so there is enough time to complete the SFL-TAP activities. It is a Commander's Program, so what does the CDR have to say?

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made May 25 at 2016 6:16 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:16:00 -0400

Soldiers can enroll in SFL-TAP 24- to 18-months prior to ETS/retirement...can commanders afford to lose these Soldiers for that amount of time and still maintain missions?

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made May 25 at 2016 6:22 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:22:07 -0400

DUTY
Fulfill your obligations. Doing your duty means more than carrying out your assigned tasks. Duty means being able to accomplish tasks as part of a team. The work of the U.S. Army is a complex combination of missions, tasks and responsibilities — all in constant motion. Our work entails building one assignment onto another. You fulfill your obligations as a part of your unit every time you resist the temptation to take “shortcuts” that might undermine the integrity of the final product.

SELFLESS SERVICE
Put the welfare of the nation, the Army and your subordinates before your own. Selfless service is larger than just one person. In serving your country, you are doing your duty loyally without thought of recognition or gain. The basic building block of selfless service is the commitment of each team member to go a little further, endure a little longer, and look a little closer to see how he or she can add to the effort.

It works both ways.. The commander has a duty to support the Soldiers transition.. but has a Duty to complete all assigned missions as well.
If the tasking does not interfere of compete with a fixed time/day TAP class, briefing, ect.. Then the SM should do thier duty and support the unit.
If the commander can do without the SM reasonable and without impacting the mission, then they have the duty to support the SM

Response by SSG Jeff Beltran made May 25 at 2016 6:28 PM

SSG Jeff Beltran — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:28:36 -0400

Balance is the key word regarding enrollment on SFL-TAP. Each case should be reviewed as a case by case and without any type of bias towards that SM regardless if they are preparing for retirement or ets, medical retirement etc. Every SM regardless how long they have served will one day have to go through SFL-TAP and the important factor is taking care of yourself and your family once you have completed your term of Service in order to transition successfully in your next chapter of life.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 25 at 2016 6:34 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:34:06 -0400

Good Question. I remember my last duty day and I think I was going thru TAP. I got to Play the Terrorist taking over the Ship as Practice for the Security Alert Team. "Officer of the Deck, Petty Officer Nagel is up here on the Bridge and says he is taking over the Ship" Oh yeah that was special I just looked at Duty Weapons Incredulously. Oh things got interesting real fast.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 6:49 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:49:08 -0400

Soldiers should still be part of daily tasks, specifically when SFL-TAP is complete. Not unlike some people that drag the system and generate appointments that do not exist and abuse the system. It boils down to individual integrity, and accountability done by leadership to ensure the Soldiers had ample time for preparation and success and still justify their paycheck until ETS/Retirement. This is just an opinion.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2016 7:47 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 May 2016 19:47:30 -0400

Yes. SMs are able to start SFL-TAP 18 months prior to ETS. A good unit should have these soldiers identified and start SFL as soon as possible for multiple reasons.
1) it allows the SM to get the maximum amount of time to use the SFL-TAP to its fullest potential.
2) it gets all appointments set up and out of the way so that after a month of two maybe three they're available for the mission at all times
3) it prevents SMs from thinking they're going to reenlist and then when there window closes because they were waiting too long, now they have 90 days to submit terminal leave, get orders, clear, and do SFL

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2016 11:18 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 May 2016 11:18:48 -0400

Thank you all for the feedback! Here is a statement given by a transition counselor of that led to me asking the question. "We have 1SG's, CO's come in here to retire with 1-2 months left, a little money saved up & no plan." 18-24 months is optimal, but many people transition after deployment with much less then that amount of time. As a few people have stated, BALANCE is what seems to be a

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2016 2:57 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 May 2016 14:57:55 -0400

NO. Unless it's after TAP has ended for the day. I'm seeing all types of service members try to get their life together after the military and some of them are lost because they were pulled in different directions when they should have been at TAP paying attention to what was about to come their way. In some states, unemployment lasts 6 months. Then what? Do you have your certificate of eligibility for the GI Bill? Oh, never heard of it, you're now on HOLD with the VA and another semester behind? You probably should have been at TAP to learn this. Don't have a suit for your first job interview? There was probably a resource at TAP you could have learned about. Didn't get that civilian credential before you left the service? You could have learned about it during TAP. Don't know what LinkedIn is? You're LinkedOut. Now, I know all TAP classes are not created equally but there is some value - IF YOU ATTEND.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2018 5:49 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 05:49:05 -0400

No. SFL-TAP is your location of duty. Anything you can find on SFL-TAP by the Army states, "Mission comes first." But, that's coming from the Army. SFL-TAP is a Federally mandated program created by Congress. Your commanders and Sergeant Majors don't have a say in your transitioning out of the Army. It's a program designed to help you get a job and not be another statistic when you ETS. Damn your unit, damn your CoC, damn your squad leader, damn your team leader, because they won't do a damn thing for you when you're out. All they want is to keep their trackers green.