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    SFL-TAP relocates to Education Center

    SFL-TAP relocates to Education Center

    Photo By Chuck Cannon | From left to right: Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry L. Dodson Jr., garrison command sergeant...... read more read more

    FORT POLK, LA, UNITED STATES

    02.01.2019

    Story by Angie Thorne 

    Fort Johnson Public Affairs Office

    FORT POLK, La. — The Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program celebrated its relocation Jan. 24 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held within the halls of its new home, Fort Polk’s Education Center. The SFL-TAP program provides Soldiers the counseling, resources and training necessary to transition to civilian life.
    At the ceremony, the SFL-TAP team vowed its commitment to customers with the SFL-TAP pledge. The pledge states the team is committed to providing programs and services delivered with a sense of individual pride, professionalism and in keeping with the spirit of Army values.
    The team also pledged to deliver quality products and services and build relationships with communities and customers while communicating, listening, welcoming and encouraging feedback. Each team member signed a copy of the pledge.
    Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Frank, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk commanding general, was the guest speaker at the event.
    Frank praised the SFL-TAP counselors as a great team of professionals.
    “I know how important their job is and I appreciate what they do for Fort Polk Soldiers every day,” he said.
    Frank said he sees the positive impact SFL-TAP has thanks to feedback from Soldiers transitioning out of the Army.
    “This is a great program. When Soldiers decide to depart the uniformed portion of their life and transition back into their civilian clothes, they have this knowledgeable team of professionals to assist them as they build their resume, confidence and training,” he said.
    Frank said he was excited about the program’s relocation.
    “I am glad that you are here in the Education Center because you are now in the heart of South Fort Polk. This is the right place for the Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program,” he said.
    Janice Breland, SFL-TAP transition service manager, said the move is great because Soldiers now have access to what she feels is the one-stop-shop convenience of educational and transitional needs in one place.
    “They can come to one building for classes, have easy access to the college of their choice and walk across the hall to make use of the library,” she said.
    Michelle Howell, SFL-TAP contractor installation manager, said she thinks the move is terrific, adding there are more people in the building and it’s a central location with ease of access.
    “That means Soldiers will be able to easily obtain the facts they need before they transition out of the Army. The sooner they have that information, the easier it is for them to begin the process,” she said.
    One of the vendors set up for Soldiers and attendees to talk to at the ribbon-cutting celebration was Michael Pornovets, a business counselor with the Veterans Business Outreach Center, Jennings, Louisiana.
    Pornovets teaches two-day workshops that help Soldiers who want to start their own business. He said when he transitioned out of the Navy there weren’t opportunities like this.
    “I like to give back to transitioning veterans by helping future entrepreneurs like myself,” he said.
    Staff Sgt. Cornell Lockette, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 509th Infantry Regiment, said the SFL-TAP program helps him by providing better options and seeing a real future outside of the Army.
    Lockette said the move to the Education Center will help Soldiers better find the classes they need to take.
    “They didn’t always know where to go when the program was at the airfield and it’s always better to make things easier for Soldiers,” he said.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.01.2019
    Date Posted: 02.01.2019 10:39
    Story ID: 309171
    Location: FORT POLK, LA, US

    Web Views: 264
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN