Veteran Employment Initiative

1. Veteran Employment Initiative Transition GPS/TAP Training for Command Career Counselors Updated: 2 Jan 2013

2. Topics • VEI/VOW • Background; VEI Core; Career Readiness Standards • Exemptions • Implementation Timeline • CCC Role • Pre-separation Counseling • 2648; ITP; DD Form 2958 • Required Documentation for attend TGPS/TAP • Member Responsibilities • CAPSTONE Event • Completion of ITP Checklist (DD Form 2958) • Documentation and Tracking in CIMS

3. VeteranEmployment Initiative &VOW ACT Background • Veteran Employment Initiative • Presidential Interagency Task Force (DoD, VA, DoL, SBA, ED, OPM, OMB, WH) announced 5 Aug 2011 • High veteran unemployment and expected “drawdown” • Develop proposals to maximize career readiness • New training and service delivery models • Strengthen transition from military to civilian life • VOW to Hire Heroes Act signed on 21 Nov 2011 • Improve existing Transition Assistance Program • Mandatory participation in elements of Transition Program (with limited exemptions to be approved by SECDEF) by 21 Nov 2012 Separate but complementary initiatives

4. VEI Core Recommendations • Adopt standards of career readiness • PQS for transition: DD Form 2648, ITP and ITP Checklist (DD Form 2958) • Implement a revamped transition assistance curriculum • Transition GPS (Goals, Plan, Succeed) revised curriculum • Legacy TAP fulfills requirement until TGPS fully implemented • Optional tailored workshops • Implement a “CAPSTONE” Event • Validate Career Readiness Standards • Warm hand-off to partners for any unresolved issues • Implement a “Military Life Cycle” transition model • Navy Career Development Board Concept recommended by SECDEF/SECVA Concept approved and announced by the President 4

5. Career Readiness Standards (CRS) PQS for Transition – Outcomes of Transition GPS Part of Individual Transition Plan

6. CAPSTONE & Optional Tracks • CAPSTONE (Mandatory) • Verify outcome-based objectives of the Transition GPS curriculum • Verify service member has a viable plan for transition • EDUCATION TRACK (Optional) • Provides service members with comprehensive assistance in navigating the university education process to ensure academic success • TECHNICAL TRAINING (Optional) • Provides service members with comprehensive assistance in navigating the technical/trade process to ensure success • ENTREPRENEURSHIP (Optional) • Provides overview of entrepreneurship with 8-week follow on class available through SBA Additional tracks tailored to use of GI Bill benefits

7. VOW Act Exemption Policy No Service member, to include Reservist, is exempt from participating in Pre-separationcounseling or the VA Benefits Brief. Exemptions from the DoL Workshop are: • Service members retiring after 20 or more years may opt out. • Members of the Reserve Components and Guard being demobilized/deactivated after serving 180 continuous days or more on Active Duty may opt out. • Must have confirmed employment or documented acceptance to education institution • All Guard and Reserve members who have previously attended TAP may opt out of TAP. • Commanders in the Service member’s chain of command may waive mandatory participation where Sailors are needed to support a unit on orders to be deployed within 60 days. • A “make-up” plan must be developed. [exemption for time requirements] • An exempt Service Member must formally document their decision to not participate on the DD Form 2958. LIMITED PARTICIPATION: • Bad Conduct or dishonorable discharge– not eligible to attend optional tracks or CAPSTONE event. • Other than honorable discharge – CO determine whether can attend optional tracks or CAPSTONE event.

8. Timeline Timeline • Nov 2012 Mandatory TAP attendance • Nov 12 – Oct 2013 Implement new Transition Curriculum workshop (Transition GPS: Goals – Plan – Success ) • January 2014 CAPSTONE required • 2014 Implement TAP in Military Life Cycle (Career Development Board)

9. Command Career Counselors Rolein the Transition Process • Pre-Separation Counseling (DD Form 2648) • Initiate the ITP • Schedule Transition GPS • Schedule VA Brief (for those exempt from Transition GPS) • Update Career Decisions section of CIMS • Verify SNM has required documentation to attend GPS • Completed DD Form 2648/2648-1 • VA E-benefits registration • Individual Transition Plan (ITP) with Block 1 initiated • Provide additional counseling assistance as requested • Document CAPSTONE completion date • Verify ITP completion • Document Career Readiness Standards met Need continued support of Command Career Counselors

10. Pre-Separation Counseling • Pre-separation should be conducted 9-12 months from EAOS • Per NAVADMIN 300/11All 2648/2648-1s have to be completed via the DMDC website www.dmdc.osd.mil/tap • Print a copy and have member sign it, two copies to member and maintain one for your retain file • Counseling shall include at a minimum: • VA e Benefits registration • Issuing of DD Form 2958 (ITP checklist) and ITP • ITP block 1 to be initiated • Discuss required documentation for attending TGPS/TAP • Schedule member for TGPS or VA Benefits (for exempt members only) • Attendance at legacy TAP suffice for meeting the requirements of VOW Act/VEI.

11. Changes to DD FORM 2648 Updated copy of pre-sep counseling script is available at on the TAP • 11. DOL Employment Workshop mandatory unless exemption criteria is met. • 11.d. Inform Service members that “Hire Vets First” is obsolete, check N/A. • 15.a. VA Benefits Briefing is mandatory, checking “NO” not an option. • 17. Member must develop a12-month post separation budget during PFM Seminar in Transition GPS. • 18. Active Component must complete a continuum of Military Service opportunity counseling as part of their CRS. • 19. VA briefing mandatory, check “YES” • 20 & 21. Members no longer have the option of checking “NO” to VA brief. DTAP is part of the VA Benefits Briefing 1 and 2. • 25. Standardized ITP required. Complete Section 1, Block 1 of the ITP, “Personal Assessment”.

12. Individual Transition Plan (ITP) • Print and issue all six blocks of ITP to Service member during pre-sep counseling. • The ITP is an evolving document that is reviewed and modified throughout the entire transition process. • Complete page 1 of block 1 with member. Attach DD Form 2648/2648-1 (as appropriate) to ITP. • Inform member to bring ITP to Transition GPS and update accordingly. • ITP will be reviewed by Command Representative during Career Readiness verification.

13. DD Form 2958 ITP Checklist • Section I – Member Information (completed by CCC w/mbr) • Block 8/9 required for documentation of Exemptions • Section II, III & IV – To be completed by member as they work through their ITP • Bold items indicate CRS and must be met based on member’s desired track • ALL required to meet blocks 10, 13, 14, 15(AC) and 20 • Employment track - additional blocks 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23 • Educational track - additional blocks 19, 25, 26, 27

14. Documentation for Attending Transition GPS/TAP • Personnel attend Transition GPS or TAP with the following required pre-requisites: (1) Completed DD Form 2648/ DD Form 2648-1 (2) VA E-benefits registration (3) Individual Transition Plan (ITP) template (with a block 1 initiated) • In addition, to assist members in meeting Career Readiness Standards (CRS) and to obtain the most benefit from the course, it is recommended they bring the following documentation for their own personal use during various modules of the class. (1) Copy of Career Interest Assessment from O*Net "Interest Profiler“ (2) Copy of VMET (3) Copy of most recent LES (4) Copy of Evals/FITREPS (5) SMART transcript and training record (6) A copy of your credit report (personal use)

15. Member’s Responsibility • To complete the transition process, member must: • Complete pre-separation counseling. • Pre-separation counseling begins at least 9-12 months before separation • Complete the Transition GPS Core Curriculum.  • If required, select and complete one of the three optional Transition GPS tracks based on CRS. • Complete DD Form 2958 ITP Checklist and applicable blocks of ITP. • Attain CRS based on which employment or education/technical training goal he or she intends to pursue after military service. • Complete Capstone event. • Capstone event must be completed no later than 90 days before separation.

16. Transition GPS Model – Full Operational Capability DoL Employment Workshop Education Module (NAVY – 2 days) Technical Training Module (VA 2-days) Entrepreneurship Module (SBA – TBA) Piloting Transition GPS Curriculum

17. CAPSTONE Event • Preferred method is to attend a CAPSTONE event conducted by transition counselors at Navy transition sites in small group (less than 25) seminars (2-4 hours). • For those unable to attend a transition site CAPSTONE event due to operational commitment, a local CAPSTONE with a transition counselor (CCC or designated rep) will be conducted to verify that mandatory elements on the DD Form 2958 ITP checklist are complete and CRS is verified. • Currently working on a CAPSTONE SOP • Capstone event is mandatory for those separating after 1 January 2014.

18. CAPSTONE Completion of DD Form 2958 ITP Checklist • Section II, III & IV – To be completed by member as they work through their ITP • Bolded item indicate CRS and must be meet based on members desired track • ALL required to meet blocks 10, 13, 14, 15(AC) and 20 • Employment track additional blocks- 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23 • Educational track additional blocks- 19, 25, 26, 27 • Section V – Required for those at risk of not attaining employment or educational goals after separation. • Section VI – Upon review of sections II-IV and member’s ITP the Transition Counselor and member’s command representative must verify whether or not CRS has been met. • Either FFSC Staff or CCC may sign block 32a; block 33a must be signed by member’s command. • Ensure DD Form 2958 and DD Form 2648 are filed in member’s service record.

19. CIMS Documentation and Tracking

20. Review • VEI/VOW • Background; VEI Core; Career Readiness Standards • Exemptions • Implementation Timeline • CCC Role • Pre-separation Counseling • 2648; ITP; DD Form 2958 • Required Documentation for attend TGPS/TAP • Member Responsibilities • CAPSTONE Event • Completion of ITP Checklist (DD Form 2958) • Documentation and Tracking in CIMS

21. Navy Transition Career Development Life Cycle Delivery Model Career Development Board Sailor Career Toolbox • Within 30 days of reporting onboard first duty station • 6, 12, 18 months after reporting onboard • Annually thereafter • Coordinated effort of entire chain of command • Develop and manage career • Navy eLearning • Navy COOL • USMAP • SMART Transcript • SMOLAA • Electronic Service Record • Electronic Training Jacket Separate Accession Career Progression Retire RC Affiliation Retire Education Employment Retirement • Official Military Personnel File • Physical Readiness Information Management System • Navy Awards • Career Management System/Interactive Detailing • Fleet RIDE/Perform To Serve A qualified Sailor is a sought after employee

22. POINTS OF CONTACT • For general policy questions contact OPNAV (N135): Mr. Perry Christiansen - (901) 874-4372/DSN 882-4372, perry.christiansen@navy.mil or Mr. Tom Albert - (901) 874-4254/DSN 882-4254 tom.albert@navy.mil • For specific execution questions, contact CNIC (N91): Ms. Rise Ruhl - (202)433-6763/DSN 288-6763; rise.ruhl1@navy.mil

23. QUESTIONS