ACC grants additional $260,000 for transition assistance

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Russell Wicke
  • Air Combat Command Public Affairs
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --  Air Combat Command recently granted the Airmen and Family Readiness Center more than $260,000 additional funding for the Transition Assistance Program in response to Force Shaping separations.

Air Combat Command has anticipated the increased outflow of people and responded with an aggressive transition assistance service, according to Ira LeGrande, ACC Airman and Family Readiness policy analyst.

The Force Shaping effort is expected to save the Air Force $6 billion every year if it meets the reduction goal of 40,000 Airmen by 2009, according to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley. The money saved will go to modernizing the Air Force's aging fleet.

"The Transition Assistance Program is designed to deliver the information and skills needed to make a successful transition to the civilian sector," said Mrs. LeGrande. According to her, this service has been ramped up to accommodate the exodus of Airmen through Sept. 30.

Force Shaping causes a significant increase in people who will participate in TAP. For this reason, ACC now offers pre-separation counseling in small groups as well as the traditional individual counseling. Other adjustments include offering TAP seminars twice a month at most ACC bases and an increased number of workshops. Seminars are offered in collaboration with the Department of Labor and typically run three to five days long, depending on the base. However, those enrolled in TAP are not required to take leave for local seminars, said Gayle Brinkley AAFR policy analyst. "Participation in the seminar is official duty," she said. She also said the seminars "cover all aspects of successful transition from military to civilian life." Material taught includes techniques in job searching, career researching, interviewing, resume writing and more.

One aspect without change is the counseling requirement. Pre-separation counseling is mandatory for all Airmen separating or retiring. Although the TAP seminars are not mandatory, Mrs. LeGrande emphasized they are highly recommended. But for those who don't want to attend the seminar, AAFR offers individual workshops people can tailor to their specific goals.

Retiring and separating Airmen can begin participation in TAP up to 24 and 12 months respectively before the date of anticipated retirement/separation.

"Participating in TAP doesn't ... obligate you to separate," said Miss Brinkley. "In fact, early participation can help you decide whether it is more advantageous for you to voluntarily separate or await the outcome of the board."

The important thing is that each Airman separating, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, be "fully prepared to exercise options that will serve them and their families well," said Peggy Rayfield, Air Force Personnel Center Family Programs chief.

Officials at AAFR said they understand Force Shaping may cause some hardship on those separating involuntarily and assure they are "sparing no efforts to ensure [people] receive the individual attention they deserve," said Jean Michel ACC Branch Chief of AAFR.

"We have no control over Force Shaping decisions [but] it's our goal to provide all ACC Airmen impacted by [this] with world-class service," said Mr. Michel. "They deserve no less."