Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is a Commander’s Program and a Soldier’s
responsibility. The program provides transition assistance services to eligible Soldiers
with at least 180 or more continuous days of Title 10 activeduty service, except for
those in a training status. TAP helps all eligible transitioning Soldiers discover
knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to be competitive and successful in the
global workforce. Soldiers begin the transition process 18 months prior to transition or 24 months prior
retirement, spreading requirements out over the course of several months using a
distributive model (short-notice separations only are authorized a five-day consecutive
class). Along with Soldiers, retired Soldiers, Army Family members and Department of
the Army civilians (experiencing a BRAC or RIF) are eligible for transition assistance
services as well. Going early and often to TAP is statistically proven to increase the
chance of post-transition success for Soldiers. The Army transformed the way Soldiers transition in order to give them the greatest
opportunity for a successful and productive post-service career. Congress mandated
three requirements prior to a Soldier’s transition and the Department of Defense
mandated additional Career Readiness Standards (CRS). All requirements completed and noted on a Soldier’s DD Form 2648.
