MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – Out with the old, in with the new. Headquarters Marine Corps recently replaced the Transition Assistance Program and Transition Assistance Management Program with the Transition Readiness Seminar, which is designed to better prepare service members for their next missions in life.
The new program specifically guides Marines in specialized classes on what each Marine plans to do after the military.
“The Transition Readiness Program is a new initiative to update the old programs and give Marines one week of training and education for transition out of the Marine Corps,” said Lt. Col. Michael S. Tyson, commanding officer of Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3.
The new seminar, required for separation, guides Marines in a group setting. After classes on Veteran’s Association benefits and G.I. bill benefits, Marines divide into specialized classes focusing on taking college courses, attending vocational training schools, starting a business, as well as jumping directly into the civilian workforce.
The course also allows service members to spend five days gathering information on what awaits them in the next chapter of their lives, a change from the old class that only offered three days.
“The old program gave a lot of information in a short amount of time,” said Sgt. Molly A. Howe, the career planner with MWHS-3 and a Gilroy, Calif., native. “Now, the new program is more specialized. It helps to be in a small group with like-minded people to bounce ideas off of and share knowledge with.”
The course provides online resources and updated guide books that show civilian equivalent jobs to each military occupational specialty, helping service members recognize their transferable skills.
“In a recession, it is harder to find a job and be competitive. The new class better prepares service members for the challenges outside of the military,” said Tyson.
With the new program, service members are more likely to successfully find a job and have financial stability as a civilian.