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 Furthermore, coverage of VA benefits is often brief and relies on outdated materials, leaving service members with insufficient information on crucial services and entitlements available to them as veterans.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this community will grow and under one banner, one voice as “Operation:Year One” we will force change and revamp a outdated system so no future service member has to go through the pitfalls the struggles we had to endure… so please if you know a veteran tell them about this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

Welcome 🙏🏽 vets TODAY is the kickoff to this community OPERATION:YEAR ONE I’ve dreamed of spreading info to veterans for a long time but no platform suited me,till I found Skool yesterday.. so please bear with me as I navigate this platform. Every 4 days I’ll be switching different topics, but during those 4 days I will dive deep into each subject giving you the truth and information the VA didn’t want you to know and how to really MAXIMIZE your civilian life as a veteran, these next 4 days I wanna do 2 things. 1. Learn more about my followers like what branch you served and a little backstory about you 2. I wanna make you get in your own head and really find what makes you tick and along the way I hope the self reflection awakens something in you I cater to more of the transitioning veterans but if you are a salty veteran who could give advice or learn something new please use the info I have collected over the years to grow and prosper out in the CIV world. IDENTITY LOSS AFTER SERVICE - when you get out of service you have no more orders being barked at you, no more 5am command PT sessions, honestly no accountability and something happens neurologically not slowly, but immediately your brain goes from “I know who I am and I know what matters” to “who am I?” That gap is where we are at now for this phase that gap is identity loss… “A lot of veterans struggle after getting out because the military didn’t just give us a job — it gave us an identity. When that disappears overnight, it’s normal to feel lost. That doesn’t mean you failed. It means you’re between chapters.” Let me say this for EVERYONE IM NOT HERE TO “fix” anyone. IM HERE to helping you understand: - Why YOU feel the way YOU do - That YOU are not alone - That this phase is temporary - That a new identity can be built intentionally Once YOU GRASP THAT understanding, the shame drops. And when shame drops, healing starts. For my vets who are in the community I wanna leave you with a question…