New Transition Assistance Program Benefits Service Member’s Future Plans

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Benjamin Lewis | Military personnel attend the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) class in preparation of separating from active duty service at Naval Station Rota, Spain.  

ROTA, SPAIN

02.27.2020

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Benjamin Lewis 

Naval Station Rota, Spain

Deciding to transition out of active duty military service can be a big decision and a little daunting if you don’t know where to turn. Whether you’ve made up your mind to get out of the military or are still on the fence, there are many resources available.

Stefanie Hurley is the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Manager, the Family Employment Readiness Program (FERP) Manager, and volunteer program coordinator at Naval Station Rota’s Fleet & Family Support Center (FFSC). She’s been in Rota for just over a year, but has been in the education field for 15 years.

Hurley said when she’s wearing her “TAP hat,” she’s working with service members, career counselors, contractors, and the community to provide resources, education, and training to ensure service members have the most successful transition into civilian life as possible. She teaches TAP workshop classes, coordinates additional workshops, and provides one-on-one guidance in regards to TAP workshops and civilian employment.

Recently, a new curriculum was rolled out for service members to better tailor their desired workshops to their needs with the addition of the Individualized Initial Counseling session.

“Service members meet with a TAP or Career Counselor to discuss their post-transition goals and begin the process of tailoring their TAP experience,” said Hurley. “So now the hope is that service members begin the TAP workshop process with an idea of the different resources available related to what their individual goals are.”

You may have heard Christina Brewer on “T-Bone and Chickbrew in the morning” on AFN Rota radio 102.5 FM on Fridays, 6:00 to 7:30 a.m, but she wears many hats in the community - a Rota Girl Scouts committee chair, a Red Cross volunteer, a Navy reservist, and In addition to these obligations, she helps teach the TAP class.

Brewer starting teaching TAP in Romania, January 2019. She is prior active duty Navy and had taken the class when she separated. She didn’t consider teaching the course until someone she was volunteering with at Red Cross said she was leaving her job teaching the course and thought Brewer would be a good fit.

“As it turns out I love teaching the TAP class,” said Brewer.

Brewer said the changes give service members an opportunity to take the courses that will help benefit and match up with their future employment or educational goals. And she added that with a variety of classes, the class sizes are smaller giving Brewer more direct and one-on-one attention to each service member.

“My favorite part about teaching TAP is seeing all the different career changes or education goals that our service members come up with," said Brewer. "I’ve had people who are creating YouTube personalities; I’ve had people who are going to be horse ranchers; people who are going to be police officers - and that doesn’t mean it’s anything they even did in the military. It’s so wonderful, this is such a diverse group of individuals with so much talent who are currently serving our country. It’s great to see how they are planning on growing and becoming their own civilian in the future.”

“I feel the TAP class has greatly assisted me in figuring what avenues may be best for me to take so that I may have my career/education on track. Whether that be seeing what cities and states my desired field of work is more sought after compared to others or finding out my access to care from Veterans Affairs treatment facilities,” said Hospitalman George Costaportillo, assigned to U.S. Naval Hospital Rota, who recently took the class.

Hurley added, “Some other changes were related to the content of the courses. The core courses include a DoD Transition Day, a VA day, and Employment Fundamentals of Career Transition course. Service members may elect to take additional tracks related to employment, education, vocational training, or entrepreneurship. The TAP manager, that's me, also has more involvement with the initial counseling and pre-separation counseling sessions which provides a new and different perspective for the transitioning service members.”

Angel Lopez instructs the VA benefits portion, covering key topics such as G.I. Bill benefits and filing for disability and medical benefits. For VA questions, you can contact him at 727-3232.

Hurley also said that she thinks many service members are unaware that she’s able to assist with resumes, both civilian and federal, and give general help when seeking employment or education after the transition.

“Another thing that isn't really known is that spouses are more than welcome to attend TAP workshop as well and any of the tracks that we have available,” said Hurley.

Once the service member has a confirmed seat in the class (talk to your command career counselor), the service member will need to reach out to Hurley to reserve a space for their spouse.

“I will do my best to reserve a seat with their spouse for that workshop and if it is full, they will be on standby in the instance there is a no-show,” said Hurley. “I can also offer the class to them at a later date when we have more seats available.”

Costaportillo added, “I would highly recommend this class to service members who are either dead set on leaving the military or even those who seem split on the idea. I walked away less intimidated about the thought of leaving an environment, which was all I've only known for my entire adult life, and so much more confident on my decision to transition into a civilian lifestyle with the information I've gained.”

Know that you’re in good hands if planning your transition to civilian life, or just want some help with your resume. Stop by FFSC or call them at 727-3232 to get in touch with Hurley.

• Date Taken: 02.27.2020
• Date Posted: 02.27.2020 09:07
• Story ID: 364008
• Location: ROTA, ES