scope:

Scope and Applicability.

Transition services and transition benefits are separate and distinct. As required by reference (a), participation in the TAP is mandatory for every Active Component and Reserve Component (RC) Service Member separating who have completed their first 180 days or more of continuous active duty per Title 10, U.S.C. Service Members' full-time or annual duty training and attendance at a school designated as a service school by law while on military orders will not be included in calculating the continuous 180 days. Personnel are eligible to receive transition services as early as 24 months prior to retirement. Personnel voluntarily separating may access transition services 15 months prior to their separation date. A Service Member's characterization of service, including "other than honorable", "dishonorable," or "bad conduct" discharge, does not affect eligibility to participate in the core components of the TAP.

a For short notice separations, commanders must ensure members receive transition assistance as defined in this instruction prior to commencing separation proceedings.

b The TAP is standardized across DoD. Service Members assigned to joint commands or who are located at a duty station near a DoD military installation offering transition services may attend the local TAP course, quota dependent, to meet the requirements of this instruction.

c Proactive planning is required to ensure members attend the TAP before deployment or are released from deployment early enough to attend prior to separation. There is no authority to extend the end of active obligated service date for enlisted personnel, or date of approved separation for officers, in order to attend the TAP.

Purpose.

a. To implement provisions of references (a) through (k) and issue policy guidance for establishment and execution of the Navy Transition Assistance Program (TAP). The primary mission of the TAP is to better prepare eligible Service Members and their families to transition from military service. The TAP is part of an overall prevention strategy to ensure Sailors have the tools and resources to manage challenges that life in the military and, in this case, after a career in Navy, presents to all Service Members after separation. The TAP is designed to assist transitioning Service Members with meeting their Career Readiness Standards (CRS). CRS capitalize upon skills and experiences gained during military service and are defined as a set of common and specific standards based on Service Member-defined objectives they must achieve in order to meet their post-military service goals. Core CRS are standardized across all Military Services and delivered through a cooperative effort involving Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Small Business Association and many State, community and non-profit service organizations.

b. This revision includes public law and policy updates issued from 2016 through 2020 and should be reviewed in its entirety.