TAA Best Practices
April 2010
FLORIDA (Roger Jarriel) – Title of Best Practice: J-1 Workshop proves to be a good avenue to make personal contact with fulltime National Guard staff.
Point of contact(s): Roger Jarriel (FL TAA) Col. Sterling Heymen Chief of military personnel for FLARNG, LTC Daniel Mahnke, Deputy Chief of personnel, CSM Erwin Ullery, CSM for the state of FL. and various unit TNG Officers and NCOs.
Concise description of event: This annual workshop is designed to update the fulltime personnel on new automation systems implementations used throughout the National Guard.
List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: FL Yellow Ribbon Team, FL TAA, Worksource Innovations and VA Reps.
Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: I believe by explaining what the various agencies can provide to each fulltime Service member and their families, this was a good way to filter information to all FLARNG members both fulltime and M-DAY which means all should benefit.
After action items:
What went well? The venue was sufficient.
What improvements are needed? Possibly get more agencies involved.
Lessons learned? This was another way to expand our services to all veterans.
INDIANA – Title of Best Practice: Wounded Warrior Resource Conference
Point of contact(s): Roger Peterman, TAA; Craig Cooley, Asst TAA; Becky Kruse, Yellow Ribbon Coordinator; Christina Marcuson, Yellow Ribbon Support Specialist; CPT Martin Munoz, CDR CBWTU, Rock Island, IL
Concise description of event: Yellow Ribbon Support Conference for the Service members and families who are in the CBWTU program and are not part of the normal Yellow Ribbon Post Deployment program.
List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis VA Regional Benefits Office, Vet Center, TAA, Yellow Ribbon, Military Family Life Consultants, INNG Family Program, INNG Counter Drug, INNG Education Office, INNG Employment Coordinator, MFRI Passport Towards Success, Small Business Administration, Social Security Administration, Indiana Workforce Development, Department of Labor, Military One Source, Employer Support of Guard and Reserve, Tri-Care, Chaplain, Psychological Health, American Legion, VFW
Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: There will be 120 Service members and families in attendance.
After action items:
What went well? Bringing together the Service members and families of the CBWTU that other wise miss the Post Yellow Ribbon Events.
What improvements are needed? Phase II will be providing an event for those individuals who have REFRAD or ETS.
Lessons learned? We should have started the process earlier.
MAINE - Title of Best Practice: Veterans Outreach at University and Community Colleges
Point of contact(s): Ann Connor – KVCC 207-453-5800, Laurie Krzywda, UMA 207-621-3458, Lisa Whitney, University College Bath 207-442-7736
Concise description of event: Outreach program for veterans was designed to give the veteran either a resource fair or one vendor to speak to a specific benefit - with several speakers over the course of several weeks. Speakers included, VHA, VBA, Vet Ctr, One Source, TAA, ESGR, DOL
List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: DOL, State Director of Veteran Services, Vet Ctr, OneSource, TAA, ESGR.
Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: 41
After action items:
What went well? Good turn out for the first events.
What improvements are needed? Most colleges did this over a lunch break. It worked better having just one resource at a time.
Lessons learned?
NEW JERSEY – Title of Best Practice: When first starting out as a new TAA Ensure eyes and hands on approach to all soldiers in WTU, assigned to your state, let them see you; make sure the WTU soldiers have TAA contact information.
Point of contact(s): WTU Visit Fort Dix made possible by SFC Louis Tuck JFHQs, NJ ARNG Health Services 609-562-0865. Visit to NJ ARNG Medical Hold made possible by 1SG Chrystal Adkins
Concise description of event:
List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: 60 day Yellow Reintegration Event (Piscataway NJ) supported by Rutgers University, University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ, Veterans Administration and staff, NJ Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Staff, Family Programs Office, and NJ National Guard.
Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: Approximately 200 Soldiers (Yellow Ribbon Reintegration).
Approximately 50 Family Members/Dependents (FAC Briefing)
After action items:
What went well? N/A
What improvements are needed? N/A
Lessons learned? N/A
PUERTO RICO – Title of Best Practice: United State Small Business Administration Briefing.
Point of contact(s): Mrs. Ana M. Vera – Lender Relations Specialist – Veterans Business Development Officer Tel. 766-5422
Concise description of event: This briefing opened the door to show once more how effective the PR TAA program is used to promote and disclosure all the acquired benefits that exist and are available for our Veterans. At the end of my allocution, all participants filled out an evaluation sheet stating their gratitude for having me as part of the briefers for that occasion. Their gesture motivated the SBA District Director to send me a praise letter and an invitation for future SBA briefings. Letters and invitations are included as part of this report.
List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: N/A
Total number of Veterans members who benefited from this best practice: 62
After action items:
What went well? The auditorium and parking areas was lent and coordinated by me at our Museum conference room.
What improvements are needed? None
Lessons learned? N/A
VERMONT – Title of Best Practice: Working with my VSO partners to raise money for the Veterans Home.
Point of contact(s): Ron LaBounty 802-338-3354
Concise description of event: We raised money through coin drops and bake sales and regular donations through each organization and will continue to support the Veteran's Home in the future the same way.
List coalition groups who assisted in the event or participated: The MOPH, VFW, and American Legion and I took up donations to the tune of $1,500.00 for the shelters food pantry.
Total number of service/family members who benefited from this best practice: There are 22 disabled veterans in the home that benefit from this directly and countless others who gave that get the feeling of doing something great.
After action items:
What went well? Everything went fine and we filled the pantry with money left over to fill it again at less three more times.
What improvements are needed? I think we are in the process of making this home a better place for these veterans and future veterans that may need the services.
Lessons learned? No lessons really learned. But we seen what a little effort and a little charity can do to lift a man’s spirit and feel good while doing it.