Transition Assistance Program Data Dictionary
The following established style guidelines reflect the longstanding practices of developers and editors of content for the Transition Assistance Program area. They are consistent with rules and guidance outlined in the Associated Press Stylebook and reflective of Office of Military Community and Family Policy style and usage preferences.
Do:
§ Pay attention to the overall organization and flow of an article. Information and ideas should be logically organized and there should be some sense of continuity or ‘flow’ from one idea to the next.
§ Avoid redundancy.
§ Write in gender-neutral terms, except if appropriate (as in the case of gender-specific services/groups).
§ Flesh out and clarify statements and ideas.
§ Ensure that subheads reflect the content of the following text.
§ Focus on the positive side of content as much as possible.
§ Keep the wide audience range in mind.
Do not:
§ Make assumptions.
§ Tell people how they feel.
§ Tell people what they should, need to, must, ought, can’t or won’t do.
§ Tell people what they always or never do.
Formatting
§ Keep bullets to seven or less for each section.
§ “Less is more”; be concise.
Preferred terms:
Preferred: / As opposed to:military life / military lifestyle
military life cycle / military lifecycle
some or many / most or all
can, may or might / will or are
often or generally / always
tend to / usually
partner, spouse / husband, wife
transition assistance or transition assistance services / transition services
Transition GPS (Goals, Plans, Success) or Transition GPS / Transition Goals, Plans, Success (GPS) or TAP GPS or TAPS GPS or T-GPS
DEFINITIONS
§ ACAP
Army Career and Alumni Program.
§ accelerated learning
An educational process that allows students to progress through the curriculum at an increased pace.
§ ASVAB
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. A three-hour test that covers ten different areas helps service members determine where their abilities lie.
§ capstone
Capstone, as defined by each military department, is the component of Transition GPS when commanders, or their designees, verify that service members have met the career readiness standards.
§ career readiness standards
A set of common and specific standards and associated deliverables that must be achieved to demonstrate that service members are prepared to transition effectively and pursue their personal, post-separation higher education, career technical training and civilian employment goals.
§ career ready/readiness
Service members are empowered with the training, skills, tools and opportunities to make informed career decisions, and are confident they can advance their personal civilian goals.
§ Community College of the Air Force
Accredited institution providing transcript services to Air Force personnel, as well as associate degrees in applied science.
§ curriculum vitae
A document similar to a resume, but more detailed and primarily used when applying for education, research, scientific or academic positions. It summarizes educational and academic backgrounds, teaching and research experience, publications, awards, honors, affiliations and presentations.
§ Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
DoD program supporting service branch off-duty, voluntary education programs.
§ Department of Labor
United States government organization that partners with DoD and Department of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance for transitioning service members and offers the Veterans’ Employment Training Service.
§ DOL employment workshop
A three-day, mandatory DOL-led employment assistance workshop.
§ Department of Veterans Affairs
The federal agency that provides a comprehensive system of assistance for veterans including health care, benefits and burials and memorials.
§ education center or education services office
Installation office where eligible personnel can receive education assistance and information.
§ eligible service member
A member of the armed forces, including the reserve components, being discharged, separated, retired or released from active duty after the first 180 continuous days or more serving under title 10.
§ military and family support center
Facility on a military installation with the resources and expertise to deliver military family support programs. May be called Army Community Service, Marine Corps Community Services, Fleet and Family Support Center, or Airman and Family Readiness Center.
§ federal resume
Although there is no mandated form, this resume contains all the information required to apply for a federal job.
§ individual development plan
A written plan designed to meet particular goals for individual career development that are aligned with the eligible service member’s mission and organizational operations. It outlines developmental objectives with training activities, for example, professional military education and military certifications.
§ individual transition plan
An evolving document created and maintained by the service member that provides the framework to perform detailed assessments of their personal and professional preparedness to achieve realistic career goals after separation from active duty.
§ ITP checklist (Service Member’s Individual Transition Plan, DD Form 2958)
Documents completion of the career readiness standards requirements and other actions that show Service members are ready for transition to civilian life.
§ interview
Formal meeting often used to evaluate the qualifications of a job applicant.
§ military life cycle
Begins at the first duty station and continues throughout the military career of an eligible service member. It includes the development of the individual development plan. Throughout the military life cycle, service members shall be trained, educated and postured to become career-ready upon separation from military service. Upon commencing the transition process to go from the military to civilian sectors, the individual development plan shall migrate into the individual transition plan. The military life cycle shall also include a capstone.
§ military occupation code crosswalk
Translates military skills, training and experiences into the identification of the required skills appropriate for civilian jobs.
§ Montgomery GI Bill
Federally-funded VA program that provides education benefits to service members.
§ MTA
Military Tuition Assistance
§ NAF positions
Non-appropriated fund positions are federal government jobs funded from sources other than monies appropriated by Congress.
§ Navy College Program
Navy voluntary education program.
§ NCPACE
Navy College Program for Afloat College Education.
§ noncompetitive position
A federal government position in the competitive service that is not filled by selection from an open competitive examination.
§ NPGS
Naval Postgraduate School.
§ occupational questionnaire
Part of some federal job applications that assesses a candidate’s qualifications.
§ Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF 612)
Form that may be used as part of an application or federal employment.
§ Outstanding Scholar Program
Program that allows some federal agencies to make immediate employment offers for select entry-level positions to college graduates with a 3.5 GPA or better.
§ Preseparation counseling
A mandatory component of Transition GPS provided to eligible service members by transition assistance program ) staff/command career counselors to inform them of services and benefits eligible to them during and after their discharge or release from active duty.
§ Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges
A network of colleges and universities partnered with DoD to meet the educational needs of the mobile military. Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges has designated five individual degree networks: SOCAD (Army), SOCNAV (Navy), SOCMAR (Marine Corps), SOCCOAST (Coast Guard), and SOCGUARD (National Guard).
§ TAMP
The Transitional Assistance Management Program offers transitional TRICARE coverage to certain separating active duty members and their eligible family members. TRICARE eligibility under the TAMP is good for up to 180 days. Care is available for a limited time.
§ transition
A process of moving from one situation to another such as a military member leaving active duty and moving on to civilian life, or a student leaving high school and going to work in the community or going to college.
§ Transition Assistance Program
The Transition Assistance Program provides information and training to ensure service members leaving military service are career ready for their next step — whether pursuing additional education, finding a job in the public or private sector or starting their own business.
§ Transition GPS (Goals, Plans, Success)
The components of the redesigned transition program providing service members with the training, services, resources and tools they need to build competencies, meet the career readiness standards and successfully transition into civilian life.
§ tuition
Fee charged for instruction, especially at institutions of higher learning, such as colleges and universities.
§ tuition assistance
Also known as TA, money provided to eligible service members to cover, or help cover, the cost of tuition at academic institutions. Tuition assistance is an entitlement for military personnel and does not have to be repaid to the government as long as the service member does not receive a failing or incomplete grade or withdraw from the course.
§ tuition assistance top-up
Money provided by the VA to cover tuition costs not covered by a service branch TA program.
§ Verification of Military Experience and Training (DD Form 2586)
Document that lists a service member’s military job experience and training history, recommended college credit information and civilian job equivalents.
§ VA Benefits Briefings I & II
VA-led mandatory briefings that provide eligible service members with information on available veterans benefits and services.
§ Veterans Education Assistance Program
Voluntary contribution program that helps veterans pay for education.
§ Veterans Employment Initiative Task Force
A task force created at the direction of the president to develop a new training and services
delivery model to ensure all service members have the support they need when they
transition from military to civilian life. The task force is composed of leadership from the
departments of Defense and VA, other agencies, and economic and domestic policy teams.
§ Veterans Employment Training Service
Training service offered to transitioning service members and veterans through a partnership between the DoD, the VA, and the DOL.
§ veterans’ preference
Preference given to certain veterans when applying for federal government positions, usually by adding five or ten points to their examination scores.
§ voluntary education programs
Continuing adult or post-secondary service branch education programs pursued by service members during their off-duty time (may be called Army Continuing Education System, Marine Corps Lifelong Learning, Navy College Program, or Air Force Voluntary Education).
Revised June 2013