THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1775
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
12 March 2024

*Army Regulation 600–81

Effective 12 April 2024

Personnel–General

Transition Assistance Program

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

RANDY A. GEORGE

General, United States Army

Chief of Staff

MARK F. AVERILL

Administrative Assistant to the

Secretary of the Army

History. This publication is an administrative revision. The portions affected by this administrative revision are listed in the summary of change.

Authorities. The authorities for this regulation are DoDI 1332.35 and DoDI 1322.29.

Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated.

Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency, in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25–30 for specific requirements.

Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11–2 and identifies key internal controls that must be evaluated (see appendix C).

Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, usarmy.knox.hrc.mbx.g3-publications@army.mil.

Distribution. This regulation is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.

*This regulation supersedes AR 600–81, dated 17 May 2016 and Army Directive 2019-26 is rescinded upon publication of this revision.

AR 600–81 • 12 March 2024

UNCLASSIFIED

Active Service See 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 101(d)(3).

Active Status See 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 101(d)(4).

Capstone A two-stage process consisting of a review and verification of a Soldier meeting CRS to take place no later than 90 days prior to separation. Stage 1 is an in-depth review of the Soldier’s ITP and CRS, which is conducted by TAP staff. Stage 2 consists of the commander or commander’s designee verifying, that the Soldier has a viable ITP and has met the CRS. If the commander or commander’s designee deter- mines the Soldier does not meet CRS or does not have a viable ITP, then the Soldier’s commander must confirm a WHO takes place with the appropriate interagency partners, as needed. The review and verifi- cation processes may or may not occur simultaneously (see DoDI 1332.35.)

Career readiness standards A set of common and specific activities and associated relevant deliverables as documented as part of capstone completion which must be achieved to demonstrate Soldiers are prepared to transition effec- tively to pursue their personal post-separation higher education, vocational training, and civilian employ- ment goals.

Department of Labor Employment (1–Day) Workshop DOL-led brief pursuant to 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 1144 that provides an overview of employment and career exploration in the civilian sector.

Department of Veteran Affairs (1–Day) Workshop VA-led brief that provides Soldiers with information on available veterans’ benefits and services.

Individual development plan A written plan designed to meet particular goals for individual career development that are aligned with the eligible Soldier’s organizational and operational missions (see DoDI 1332.35).

Individual transition plan A standardized document that evolves and is maintained by the Soldier that provides the framework to perform detailed assessments of their personal and professional preparedness to achieve realistic career goals after separation from AD.

Individualized initial counseling Substantive individual counseling provided to eligible Soldiers before pre-separation counseling and based on responses annotated during the self-assessment.

Integrated Disability Evaluation System The Joint Army-VA process to determine whether ill or injured Soldiers are fit for continued military ser- vice and the appropriate benefits for Soldiers who are separated or retired for disability (see DoDI 1332.18).

Internship A system of on-the-job-training offered to Soldiers to develop job skills and employment skills training that assist them to gain employment in the civilian sector (see DoDI 1322.29).

Job placement counseling Transition services, pursuant to 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 1142, for one-on-one counseling that refines and guides spouses of eligible Soldiers on all facets of the job search process, to include writing resumes.

Joint Services Transcript An official education transcript tool for documenting the recommended American Council on Education college credits for a variety of professional military education, training courses, and occupational experi- ence of servicemembers across the services. The Joint Services Transcript consolidates data from legacy documents such as the Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System, the Sailor/Ma- rine American Council on Education Registry Transcript System, the Community College of the Air Force transcript, and the Coast Guard Institute transcript (see DoDI 1322.25).

Local veterans’ employment representative A member of a state agency staff designated and assigned by the state agency administrator to serve veterans and eligible persons (see 38 USCUSCUnited States Code 4104 and Section 101, Part 1001, Title 20, Code of Federal Regulations).

Medical evaluation board For servicemembers entering the disability evaluation system, the medical evaluation board conducts the medical evaluation on conditions that potentially affect the servicemember’s fitness for duty. The medical evaluation board documents the servicemember’s medical conditions and history with a medical evalua- tion board narrative summary as part of a medical evaluation board packet (see DoDI 1332.18).

Medical treatment facility Any fixed facility of the DoD that is outside of a deployed environment and used primarily for health care; and any other location used for purposes of providing health care services as designated by the Secre- tary of Defense (see 10 USCUSCUnited States Code 1073c(i)(3)).

Senior Executive Service Any position in an agency which is classified above GS – 15, or an equivalent position, which is not re- quired to be filled by an appointment by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and in which an employee directs the work of an organizational unit; is held accountable for the success of one or more specific programs or projects; monitors progress toward organizational goals and periodi- cally evaluates and makes appropriate adjustments to such goals; supervises the work of employees other than personal assistants; or otherwise exercises important policy-making, policy-determining, or other executive functions (see 5 USCUSCUnited States Code 3132).

Soldier recovery unit Provides critical support to Soldiers who have or are anticipated to receive a profile of more than 6 months duration, with duty limitations that preclude the Soldier from training or contributing to unit mission accomplishment; or the complexity of the Soldier’s condition requires either clinical case management or the Soldier’s psychological condition is evaluated by a qualified licensed medical or behavioral health pro- vider as posing a substantial danger to self or others if Soldier remains in the parent unit (see AR 40 – 58).

Transition A period of adjustment which includes the planning and preparation accomplished during military service, when servicemembers and their Families explore and embark on endeavors in the civilian world upon leaving AD (see DoDI 1332.35).

Transition Assistance Program Activities and curriculum that provide eligible Soldiers with the targeted set of knowledge, skills, documen- tation, and assistance required to meet the CRS before transition and enable a successful transition from AD to civilian life (see DoDI 1332.35).

Transition center The military personnel work center, which accomplishes final separation processing of Soldiers complet- ing their AD tour of service.

Warm handover A capstone process between respective military services and appropriate interagency partners resulting in the person-to-person connection of Soldiers to services and follow-up resources as needed. The WHO provides a confirmed introduction and assurance that the appropriate interagency partner acknowledges that an eligible Soldier requires post-military assistance, and the interagency partner follows through on providing assistance to meet the needs of Soldiers, mitigate risk, and assist them in attaining their post- transition goals and a successful transition (see DoDI 1332.35).