Airmen not alone during transition from military

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Jones
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The transition from military service to civilian employment can be a stressful experience, but the Airman and Family Readiness Center is here to help.

The A&FRC hosts pre-separation counseling briefings for Airmen who are either separating or retiring from the Air Force.

The briefing offers information that touches all areas of a transitioning Airman's life including veteran's benefits and entitlements, employment and education options and health insurance programs.

Additionally, Airmen are provided information to formulate an individualized transition plan with the A&FRC's assistance.

"It is your personal plan to get from point A, which is in uniform, to point B, which is out of uniform," said Mrs. Patti Gordon, an A&FRC community readiness technician.

The briefing also helps Airmen to deal with transition-related stress. Though providing Airmen resources and a plan for their transition can go a long way to alleviate stress, various counselors are also available who can help Airmen cope with stress during and after their military service.

While still serving, Airmen may seek counseling from chaplains, first sergeants, mental health professionals and through the Military Family Life Consultant program. After returning to the civilian sector, counselors from the Veteran's Administration are available to former Airmen.

"Any type of change that affects a member and their family, such as changing jobs, finding a new home and changing children's schools, is huge," she said. "The more we can do to lessen the impact on all involved, the more successful the transition becomes."

In order to get the most benefit from the transition program, Airmen should not hesitate to plan for their separation or retirement, Mrs. Gordon said. Airmen can attend the pre-separation briefing as early as a year from separation or two years from retirement, but they are congressionally mandated to accomplish the briefing at least 90 days before they leave the service.

"The pre-separation briefing should be completed before accessing other transition benefits," said Mrs. Gordon. "Airmen cannot leave the military service without it."

Without the briefing, a veteran could miss out on benefits and entitlements regardless of whether they are returning to the civilian sector to go to school or whether they're seeking a second career, she said.

"The briefing has information for all," Mrs. Gordon said. "That's why Congress feels it's so necessary."

Other transition services here include the three-day Transition Assistance Program Workshop and the Discovery Resource Center.

The workshop, which is offered once monthly, provides hands-on information regarding job search, resume preparation, networking and interviewing skills. It also includes an employers' panel which allows participants to interact with leaders from the civilian workforce. "Personnel who attend this workshop typically find a civilian job about 4-6 weeks quicker than those who do not," said Richard Lambert, an A&FRC community readiness consultant.

The Discovery Resource Center is set up in the A&FRC and serves as a job-search headquarters. It has 12 computers with resume templates, a copier, fax machine, shredder, job postings and employment books that are available for check out.

In an effort to ensure the entire family is prepared for the transition, the A&FRC encourages spouses to attend the pre-separation briefing and other optional transition services.

"Our primary purpose is to assist our members with their next steps in life--the sooner, the better," Mrs. Gordon said.