Todd Moss, Ph.D., Assistant Proessor of Entrpreneurship and Emerging Enterprises at Syracuse University | Photo by Keith Pannell ()
The U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz Soldier for Life - Transition Assistance Program is excited to announce changes coming to SFL-TAP which will be more beneficial to Soldiers.
These changes are outlined in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019.
The changes include a new self-assessment that will help determine the level of transition assistance each Soldier needs, an updated curriculum for some of the classes and a requirement that Soldiers start the process of transitioning at least a year out. Technically, if a Soldiers starts 365 days out, they're late, according to SFL-TAP experts.
The new changes will take effect Oct. 1.
“The SFL-TAP team at USAG Rheinland-Pfalz is poised and ready to implement the new changes,” said Dana Cozzens, the garrison’s new SFL-TAP director. “With dedicated staff at both Kleber Kaserne and Baumholder, we offer a variety of classes and services to meet the needs of our Soldiers in order to ensure a successful transition after service.”
"This is the best thing that has happened for Army transition in 10 years," said Walter Herd, director of the Army-wide SLF-TAP program.
In the future, more changes will be made to the curriculum and a new Pre-Separation briefing will be added.
"The Army has been advocating for these changes for a while in order to better prepare Soldiers for transition," Herd said. "Now, Soldiers are getting a transition plan that is more tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual, rather than the ‘one size fits all’ program."
According to those who developed the new changes, Soldiers who are better prepared for the transition to the civilian sector will not have to spend as much time away from mission requirements, and Soldiers who need more support can get the help and advice they specifically need.
“Although I have seen some tremendous positive changes in the Transition Assistance Program over the last several years, NDAA 2019 has taken them to the next level,” Cozzens said. “These latest changes will give both SFL-TAP staff and Soldiers the freedom to personalize their training and requirements in order to get exactly what they need.”
For more information, call the Kleber Kaserne SLF-TAP office at 0611-143-541-1400 (DSN 541-1400) or the Baumholder SFL-TAP office at 0611-143-531-2610 (DSN 531-2610).
(This story has been localized from a U.S. Army Human Resources Command story dated Sept. 9)
