JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Active-duty members who are about to retire or separate from the military gleaned more insight about their transition to civilian life during an all-day workshop Feb. 18 at the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Military & Family Readiness Center.
The Transition Information Program, a partnership between JBSA and the Military and Veterans Community Collaborative, featured panel discussions on topics ranging from education to employment as well as networking opportunities for participants. The collaborative brings government, state and local organizations and businesses together in an effort to support Texas veterans.
The program, which was offered at JBSA-Lackland in September and at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston in December, serves as a supplement to pre-separation briefings and the Transition Assistance Program already available to active-duty members who will soon retire or separate from the military, David Patrick, collaborative member, said.
'It's more focused on what's available in the community," he said. "Once active-duty members go outside the gates of their installations, they have to navigate a whole new system."
"The TIP enhances four subject areas - education, civilian health care, housing and employment," Fernando Conejo, Texas Veterans Commission veterans education coordinator, said. "This gives service members a more in-depth look at these areas and provides them with networking resources."
Conejo, who served as education panel leader during the workshop, said the program also "reinforces" what active-duty members have heard at other briefings.
The workshop opened with remarks from Brig. Gen. Bob LaBrutta, 502nd Air Base Wing and JBSA commander, and continued with panel discussions that addressed the subject areas of education, civilian health care, housing and employment.
In addition to the Military and Veterans Community Collaborative and the Texas Veterans Commission, organizations represented at the TIP included the American GI Forum, Workforce Solutions Alamo, Bexar Area Agency on Aging and the Military Officers Association of America.
"The TIP is another program to set service members up for success as they transition to the civilian community," Mike Bell, 802nd Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant, said. "Knowing what to expect gives them more confidence."
Ray Ramos, 802nd FSS community readiness consultant, said the workshop helps "relieve a lot of the stress and anxiety for service members as they transition into the civilian sector."
"They're also more aware that the Military & Family Readiness Center is ready to assist them and their families through programs such as this," he said.
Maj. Oscar Hernandez, Air Force Research Laboratory Bioeffects Division tactical bioeffects team chief, said he benefited from the workshop.
"It teaches you how to write resumes, sell yourself and target the job you want," he said. "It also teaches you what veterans' benefits you're entitled to, how to get them and how to use them."