Farewell Transition GPS (Goals, Plans, Success): Changes to TAP Include Dropping the TGPS

Courtesy Photo | The Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act significantly altered the Department of Defense (DoD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for the first time since 2011. In addition to the major changes coming to TAP on October 1, 2019, the TAP curriculum and activities will no longer be referred to as Transition GPS (Goals, Plans, Success) or TGPS.  

UNITED STATES

09.30.2019

Courtesy Story

DoD, Military-Civilian Transition Office

From DoD Transition to Veterans Program Office

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act significantly altered the Department of Defense (DoD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for the first time since 2011.

In addition to the major changes coming to TAP on October 1, 2019, the TAP curriculum and activities will no longer be referred to as Transition GPS (Goals, Plans, Success) or TGPS.

The name TGPS was established after President Obama signed the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act of 2011, which spurred the evolution of transition assistance and prompted the federal government to address veteran unemployment by preparing transitioning service members for post-separation careers.

There is no new formal name for the TAP curriculum, it will simply be called the transition assistance curriculum, or TAP curriculum.
Dropping the GPS from the name of the TAP curriculum was formally decided on by the TAP interagency Curriculum Working Group, the body responsible for updating, reviewing and modifying the transition assistance curriculum.

“It was not always clear [to service members] what TGPS was,” said Tamre Newton, Director, DoD Transition to Veterans Program Office. “Many professionals working in the transition space already referred to the TAP curriculum without the GPS attached to the name,” she continued.

“As an interagency partnership, we have moved past the TAP that was established by the VOW Act,” said Newton. “TAP has gone through many changes over the years, but we are confident the changes that are rolling out October 1st will have a huge impact on transitioning service members and their families.”

DoD TAP, not to be confused with TAPS (which is the acronym for the non-profit, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), is an outcome-based program that bolsters opportunities, services, and training for transitioning service members in their preparation to meet post-military goals.

The mandatory components of TAP are applicable for all service members who have been on active duty for 180-continuous days or more. This includes National Guard and Reserve members transitioning, or being released, from active duty.

“TAP is a continuously evolving program designed to best meet the needs of those approximate 200,000 service members who transition each year,” said Newton. “These changes are certainly a step in a positive direction. TAP services are designed to be individualized and tailored to the unique needs and goals of each transitioning service member.”

For updated information about the changes to TAP rolling out this October, visit:

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/344594/changes-dod-tap-heres-you-need-know-about-october-1-2019-roll-out

About the Transition to Veterans Program Office:

TVPO is responsible for designing, overseeing, and evaluating the Transition Assistance Program.

TAP is a result of an interagency partnership between DoD, Department of Labor, Department of Education, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, Small Business Administration, and the Office of Personnel Management.

• Date Taken: 09.30.2019
• Date Posted: 09.30.2019 11:07
• Story ID: 344597
• Location: US