I wanted to share some critical insights about the military's Transition Assistance Program (TAPS). If you're separating or retiring soon, it's important to understand where this program falls short. While TAPS is mandated, it often fails to adequately prepare service members for civilian life, and here's why: • It's Mandated, Not Empathetic: TAPS often feels like a box-ticking exercise mandated by Congress, rather than a genuinely supportive program focused on individual transitions. This approach can lead to a rushed process that doesn't truly address the specific needs and goals of veterans. • Inexperienced Instructors: A significant issue is that the program is often taught by contractors who lack military experience. These instructors may not understand the unique challenges and experiences of service members, making their advice less relevant or impactful for veterans. • Generic Advice: TAPS tends to provide a generic, "one-size-fits-all" approach to crucial aspects like resume writing and job interview preparation. This broad advice isn't sufficient for the nuanced and specific requirements of the civilian job market, where tailored applications are key. For instance, resume writing advice might help create a basic document, but it won't provide the specific targeting needed for various organizations and positions. Similarly, interview practice can be highly scripted and unrealistic, failing to prepare individuals for unscripted, real-world scenarios. • Insufficient Coverage of Vital Areas: Critical topics like in-depth professional networking are barely addressed, receiving only a few hours of attention. This is a major gap, as networking is vital for identifying job opportunities and understanding industry expectations. Furthermore, coverage of VA benefits is often brief and relies on outdated materials, leaving service members with insufficient information on crucial services and entitlements available to them as veterans. Understanding these shortcomings is crucial for anyone relying on TAPS for their transition. Today I wanted to teach you how most veterans started on the wrong foot in the civilian race… but I also wanted to show you why “Operation: Year One” was created born out of serious oversight this community will grow and under one banner, one voice as “Operation:Year One” we will force change and revamp a outdated system so no future service member has to go through the pitfalls the struggles we had to endure… so please if you know a veteran tell them about this community it’s free to join, explain to them the mission we are on and how operation:year one will rectify this error as well as guide veterans and build them up for future SUCCESS in the civilian world. So take time and reflect on the message tonight and realize this community very soon will be a force for good on the federal level. 👇 this is the assignment for today be honest be real and let me hear your story!!

Thank you @Cruz G for inviting me to post a little about me. I live in Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 UK and served in the Royal Air Force for 6 years, as back then in the uk as a woman you could not start a family and stay in 😢. I have been a mental health coach for the last 4 years, a Psychotherapist and trauma counsellor, hold a Masters in War & Psychiatry and currently a Trainee Dr in Counselling Psychology, and in systematic and family Therapy. I’m passionate about helping others understand and change their lives so they thrive instead of survive. I am honoured to get to know other veterans from across the pond. Anyone interested to know more, my newly formed Community .https://www.skool.com/support-with-monique-5256

How are my vets doing today!? Did you hit the gym ? Go to church, spend time with family ? In 5 hours im dropping my next lesson plan! Like in the military “ if you are on time you are already late!”

In ONE word describe how it felt when you received your DD214. Now imagine you felt like that everyday how would your life be right now ?

So for the last 27 hours on starting up this community I have devoted nearly 25 hours of work and 2 hours of sleep I shit you not but life can throw curve balls and I had to rush my mother to the hospital so I’ve been here all day… I wanted to turn this pain into a PHYSICAL lesson for all my vets; life will knock you down when you least expect it.. but a veteran’s resilience is unstoppable so today I’m going take a knee focus on my family and in a few hours I’m going to get back to SKOOL and this community and continue building it brick by fucking brick Take this quote and burn 🔥 it to MEMORY…. “IF YOU APPLY PRESSURE TO ANYTHING YOU FOCUS ON, THE UNIVERSE MUST BEND TO YOUR WILL.” So tomorrow I’ll be back and moving forward with the next lesson plan thank you and rest up TROOP you earned it.🫡