The National Defense Authorization Act  for Fiscal Year 2005 mandated that GAO report on TAP for service  members separating or retiring from the military and members of the  Reserves and National Guard who are released from active duty in a  process referred to as demobilization. The use of the Reserves and National Guard has increased dramatically in  recent years, with more called to active duty than at any other time since  the Korean War. These federal agencies facilitate interagency coordination through regular  meetings and formal agreements. Reserve and National Guard members returning from overseas may get  similar information but generally do not have time to attend formal TAP  components during demobilization. All separating service  members with at least 180 days of active duty must receive preseparation  counseling. 2.) Because of the demobilization timetables, many Reserve and National  Guard members cannot take advantage of TAP components offered to full- time active duty military personnel and instead receive much shorter  presentations as part of large groups at demobilization briefings. As expected, estimated participation rates have been the highest for  preseparation counseling where attendance is mandated in law. Many Actions are Under Way to Improve TAP, but Challenges Remain in Meeting the Needs of Reserves and National Guard

The agencies administering the program have taken several actions to  improve TAP program materials for all eligible personnel separating from  the military, including Reserve and National Guard members. DOL plans to use focus groups and survey data to assess the strengths and  weaknesses of its employment workshop curriculum in serving the needs  of all service members. Actions Are Planned or Under Way to Increase Participation in TAP

DOD and its partner agencies are considering or have undertaken several  actions designed to increase participation in TAP, including    making attendance mandatory or mandating that service members  receive permission to attend TAP, so that individuals have the  opportunity to participate with the support of their commanders or  other leaders;    emphasizing the importance and relevance of veterans’ benefits by  offering this information before the employment workshop as a stand- alone briefing by VA;    sending DOL contractors and VA staff overseas to present their TAP  components to service members located at bases around the world;  and    developing a centralized database to automate and manage information  on participation. Meanwhile, DOL is currently  involved in three state pilot programs of employment workshops designed  for returning Reserve and National Guard members. Appendix I: Scope and Methodology

To assess how the transition assistance program (TAP) is administered,  we reviewed the legislative and regulatory history of TAP, including  records of congressional hearings, and interviewed responsible officials,  including TAP managers and other officials from the Departments of  Defense (DOD), Labor (DOL), and Veterans Affairs (VA); the armed forces;  Reserve Affairs; and the National Guard Bureau. Military and Veterans’ Benefits: Observations on the Transition  Assistance Program.
Why GAO Did This Study

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 mandated that GAO review whether the transition assistance program (TAP) is meeting the needs of service members leaving the military. GAO (1) assessed TAP administration, including program participation, and (2) identified actions agencies are taking to improve TAP and challenges that remain. TAP serves military personnel with at least 180 days of active duty who separate or retire and members of the Reserves and National Guard who are released from active duty, a process termed demobilization. Recently, the Reserves and National Guard have been called to active duty in greater numbers than at any other time since the Korean War.

What GAO Found

Transition assistance is intended to help service members successfully adjust to civilian life after serving in the military. Jointly administered by the Departments of Defense (DOD), Labor (DOL) and Veterans Affairs (VA), the four components of TAP are coordinated through meetings of agency TAP managers and interagency agreements. Both the method of delivery and the level of participation may vary, with participation rates highest for the mandatory preseparation counseling. Because they demobilize within days after they return from overseas, generally members of the Reserves and National Guard may get similar information but not the time to participate fully in TAP. At demobilization they may complete their preseparation counseling forms as a group without individual attention; get 45 minutes of briefing on veterans' benefits rather than a half-day; and receive no employment preparation. Participation of service members in the Disabled TAP component is not known, because VA does not track this information. The federal agencies have taken actions to improve TAP's content and increase participation among full-time active duty military personnel but face challenges serving Reserve and National Guard members because of their rapid demobilization. To improve content, the agencies have updated, or plan to update, their manuals, forms, and other materials, and DOL is assessing its employment workshop curriculum using focus groups and survey data. To increase participation, DOL and VA provide some employment workshops and veterans' benefits briefings overseas, and DOD is considering mandating participation in all components. While the agencies have not assessed when and where to offer TAP for members of the Reserves and National Guard, DOL has pilot programs in three states that will offer employment workshops after the members return home.