An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | July 26, 2019

JBSA-Fort Sam Houston M&FRC hosts ‘TAP Too’ workshop for transitioning spouses

By David DeKunder 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Spouses of transitioning service members will learn about resources and programs that can help them as they enter civilian life at the TAP Too workshop at the Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Military & Family Readiness Center, building 2797, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 28.

TAP Too will include topics and issues that impact spouses of transitioning service members covered by subject matter experts from programs and organizations throughout JBSA and the local community. TAP, or Transition Assistance Program, provides counseling and job assistance to servicemembers who are preparing to leave the military.

Yazmine Gutierrez, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston M&FRC work/life consultant, said the workshop will assist spouses of transitioning servicemembers in connecting them with resources that will help them during the transition process.

“TAP Too is a program that is geared specifically towards our transitioning spouses,” Gutierrez said. “The Military & Family Readiness Center organization with the Transition Assistance Program hope to prepare the spouses for that military to civilian transition period.”

The workshop agenda covers phases of transition and includes topics on finances, education, family, health care and Department of Veteran Affairs benefits. Representatives from various organizations that help military families will provide information and answer questions about their programs and services.

In addition, the workshop will have a panel of spouses who have gone through the transition process who will share their experiences.

“We want to create an environment where spouses can feel comfortable coming in, asking those questions and getting those resources firsthand,” Gutierrez said. “This is an environment where people are all going through the same thing and we hope to bring together a community resource for spouses who are transitioning.”

Elizabeth Treon, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston M&FRC director, said as a spouse of a service member who retired four years ago, she understands the challenges spouses go through during the transition process.

“The workshop is going to give them an idea of what to expect,” Treon said. “We don’t think about the impacts we are going to face when separating or transitioning: what is our medical coverage going to look like, what are we considering in our budget. It’s a complete acclimation process and it’s not going to happen in a day. With TAP Too, we want to hone in on the key things that we see the military spouses struggle with.”

Treon emphasized the importance of being prepared for the transition period and that TAP Too can be part of that preparation process.

“A family in transition trained to navigate potential obstacles, having awareness of the cycles of transition and being able to identify signs of depression and suicide will not only save money and marriages but potentially a life,” Treon said. “As you can see, the added value of an emboldened transitioning spouse is immeasurable.”

Plans are for the TAP Too workshop to be held on a quarterly basis, four times a year. If spouses aren’t able to attend the Aug. 28 workshop, the next one will be Nov. 27.

For more information or to register for TAP Too, call the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston M&FRC at 210-221-2705 or go to e.afit.edu/ghddd7VV.