II 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1555 

To amend title 10, United States Code, to improve the Transition Assistance 

Program for members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 21, 2019 

Mr. CRAPO (for himself, Ms. STABENOW, Mrs. SHAHEEN, and Mr. GARDNER) 

introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 

A BILL 

To amend title 10, United States Code, to improve the 

Transition Assistance Program for members of the 

Armed Forces, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Improving Preparation and Resources for Occupational, 

6 Vocational, and Educational Transition for 

7 Servicemembers Act’’ or ‘‘IMPROVE Transition for 

8 Servicemembers Act’’. 


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1 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 

2 this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Recodification, consolidation, and improvement of certain transition-related counseling and assistance authorities. 

Sec. 3. Connections of members retiring or separating from the Armed Forces 

with community-based organizations and related entities. 

Sec. 4. Personnel matters in connection with Transition Assistance Program. 

Sec. 5. Systems for tracking participation in Transition Assistance Program 

and related programs. 

Sec. 6. Surveys on member experiences with Transition Assistance Program 

counseling and services and in transition to civilian life. 

Sec. 7. Command matters in connection with transition assistance programs. 

Sec. 8. Comptroller General of the United States report on participation in 

transition assistance programs at small and remote military installations. 

Sec. 9. Education of members of the Armed Forces on career readiness and 

professional development. 

Sec. 10. Sense of Congress on Transition Assistance Program and other transition-related assistance for members of the Armed Forces. 

3 (c) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DE4 FINED.—In this Act, the term ‘‘appropriate committees of 

5 Congress’’ means— 

6 (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the 

7 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate; and 

8 (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the 

9 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 

10 Representatives. 

11 SEC. 2. RECODIFICATION, CONSOLIDATION, AND IMPROVE12 MENT OF CERTAIN TRANSITION-RELATED 

13 COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE AUTHORI14 TIES. 

15 (a) RECODIFICATION, CONSOLIDATION, AND IM16 PROVEMENT OF AUTHORITIES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 58 of title 10, 

2 United States Code, is amended by striking sections 

3 1142 and 1144 and inserting after section 1141 the 

4 following new section 1142: 

5 ‘‘§ 1142. Transition-related counseling and services: 

6 Transition Assistance Program 

7 ‘‘(a) PROGRAM REQUIRED.— 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 

9 and the Secretary of Homeland Security with re10 spect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating 

11 as a service in the Navy shall, in cooperation with 

12 the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Vet13 erans Affairs, carry out a program to furnish indi14 vidual counseling, information and services described 

15 in paragraph (2) to members of the armed forces 

16 under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense or 

17 the Secretary of Homeland Security, as applicable, 

18 whose retirement, separation, or release from active 

19 duty is anticipated as of a specific date, and to the 

20 spouses of such members. The program shall be 

21 known as the ‘Transition Assistance Program’. 

22 ‘‘(2) COUNSELING, INFORMATION, AND SERV23 ICES.—The counseling, information, and services 

24 furnished under the program (in this section re25 ferred to as ‘covered counseling, information, and 


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1 services’) shall include the following in connection 

2 with the transition from military life to civilian life: 

3 ‘‘(A) Information on the topics described 

4 in subsection (f). 

5 ‘‘(B) Training, employment assistance, and 

6 other related information and services, includ7 ing as described in subsection (h). 

8 ‘‘(C) Such other counseling, information, 

9 and services as the Secretaries referred to in 

10 paragraph (1) consider appropriate to assist 

11 members of the armed forces, and their 

12 spouses, in the transition from military life to 

13 civilian life. 

14 ‘‘(3) AGREEMENT.—The Secretaries referred to 

15 in paragraph (1) (in this section referred to as the 

16 ‘administering Secretaries’) shall enter into a de17 tailed agreement to carry out this section. 

18 ‘‘(4) CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES.—In carrying 

19 out the program, the administering Secretaries shall 

20 do the following: 

21 ‘‘(A) Work together to develop and revise 

22 necessary training documents, resources, and 

23 curriculum for the purposes of the program. 

24 ‘‘(B) In providing information in connec25 tion with preseparation counseling under subVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:01 May 29, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1555.IS S1555

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1 section (f)(4), use experience obtained from im2 plementation of the pilot program under section 

3 408 of Public Law 101–237. 

4 ‘‘(C) Work with military and veterans’ 

5 service organizations and other appropriate or6 ganizations to promote and publicize job fairs 

7 for members furnished covered counseling, in8 formation, and services under the program. 

9 ‘‘(D) In the case of members furnished 

10 covered counseling, information, and services 

11 under the program who have a spouse— 

12 ‘‘(i) include the spouse in such coun13 seling, information, and services, at the 

14 election of the member and the spouse; and 

15 ‘‘(ii) provide job placement counseling 

16 for the spouse in connection with the tran17 sition of the member from military life to 

18 civilian life. 

19 ‘‘(b) PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS REQUIRED.—The 

20 Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Se21 curity shall require the participation in the program under 

22 this section of all members eligible for assistance under 

23 the program. 

24 ‘‘(c) SERVICE REQUIRED BEFORE FURNISHING OF

25 PRESEPARATION COUNSELING.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

2 the Secretary concerned shall not furnish 

3 preseparation counseling under the program under 

4 this section to a member who is being discharged or 

5 released before the completion of the first 180 con6 tinuous days of active duty of the member. 

7 ‘‘(2) RETIREMENT OR SEPARATION FOR DIS8 ABILITY.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case 

9 of a member who is being retired or separated for 

10 disability. 

11 ‘‘(3) DETERMINATION OF DURATION OF SERV12 ICE.—For purposes of calculating the days of active 

13 duty of a member under paragraph (1), the Sec14 retary concerned shall exclude any day as follows: 

15 ‘‘(A) Any day on which the member per16 formed full-time training duty or annual train17 ing duty. 

18 ‘‘(B) Any day on which the member at19 tended, while in the active military service, a 

20 school designated as a service school by law or 

21 by the Secretary concerned. 

22 ‘‘(d) COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION.— 

23 ‘‘(1) COMMENCEMENT.— 

24 ‘‘(A) RETIRING MEMBERS.—In the case of 

25 a member who is retiring from the armed 


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1 forces, the furnishing of covered counseling, in2 formation, and services to such member under 

3 the program under this section shall commence 

4 as early as possible during the 24-month period 

5 preceding the anticipated retirement date. 

6 ‘‘(B) MEMBERS SEPARATED OR RE7 LEASED.—In the case of a member who is 

8 being separated or released from the armed 

9 forces (other than by retirement), the fur10 nishing of counseling, information, and services 

11 to such member under the program shall com12 mence not later than 365 days before the an13 ticipated separation or release date. 

14 ‘‘(C) DEADLINE FOR COMMENCEMENT.— 

15 Except as provided in paragraph (4), under no 

16 circumstances shall the furnishing of covered 

17 counseling, information, and services to a mem18 ber under the program commence later than 

19 365 days before the date of retirement, separa20 tion, or release of the member from the armed 

21 forces. 

22 ‘‘(2) COMPLETION.—Except as provided in 

23 paragraph (4), the furnishing of covered counseling, 

24 information, and services to a member under the 

25 program shall be completed as follows: 


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1 ‘‘(A) In the case of a member retiring from 

2 the armed forces, by not later than 120 days 

3 before the date of retirement. 

4 ‘‘(B) In the case of a member otherwise 

5 being separated or released from the armed 

6 forces, by not later than 90 days before the 

7 date of separation or release. 

8 ‘‘(3) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sub9 section may be construed to prohibit the furnishing 

10 of covered counseling, information, and services to a 

11 member under the program, or other counseling, as12 sistance, and information and services similar to cov13 ered counseling, information, and services, at times 

14 other than the times provided for by paragraphs (1) 

15 and (2). 

16 ‘‘(4) UNANTICIPATED RETIREMENT, SEPARA17 TION, OR RELEASE IN CONNECTION WITH

18 PRESEPARATION COUNSELING.—In the event that a 

19 retirement or other separation or released from the 

20 armed forces is unanticipated until there are 90 or 

21 fewer days before the anticipated retirement or sepa22 ration or release date, or in the event a member of 

23 a reserve component is being demobilized under cir24 cumstances in which (as determined by the Sec25 retary concerned) operational requirements make the 


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1 120-day or 90-day requirement under paragraph (2) 

2 unfeasible, preseparation counseling under the pro3 gram shall begin as soon as possible within the re4 maining period of service. 

5 ‘‘(e) FURNISHING ON IN-PERSON BASIS.— 

6 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para7 graph (2), covered counseling, information, and serv8 ices under the program under this section shall be 

9 furnished to a member on an in-person basis. 

10 ‘‘(2) WAIVER.—The Secretary of Defense and 

11 the Secretary of Homeland Security, as applicable, 

12 may waive the requirement in paragraph (1) with re13 spect to a particular member if such Secretary de14 termines, using a system established by such Sec15 retary for purposes of this paragraph, that the fur16 nishing of covered counseling, information, and serv17 ices on an online, other electronic, or other basis, 

18 rather than on an in-person basis, is necessary to 

19 avoid extraordinarily significant impediments to im20 mediate mission needs. In issuing any such waiver, 

21 such Secretary shall specify, in writing, the grounds 

22 for such waiver. 

23 ‘‘(f) TOPICS COVERED BY PROGRAM.—The 

24 preseparation counseling furnished a member under the 

25 program under this section shall include the following: 


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1 ‘‘(1) Financial planning assistance, including 

2 information on budgeting, saving, credit, loans, and 

3 taxes. 

4 ‘‘(2) An explanation of the procedures for and 

5 advantages of affiliating with the Selected Reserve. 

6 ‘‘(3) Information on programs and benefits re7 lated to veteran status, including— 

8 ‘‘(A) a description of health care and other 

9 benefits to which the member may be entitled 

10 under the laws administered by the Secretary of 

11 Veterans Affairs, and information regarding the 

12 means by which the member can receive addi13 tional counseling regarding the member’s actual 

14 entitlement to such benefits and apply for such 

15 benefits; 

16 ‘‘(B) educational assistance benefits to 

17 which the member is entitled under the Mont18 gomery GI Bill and other educational assistance 

19 programs because of the member’s service in 

20 the armed forces; 

21 ‘‘(C) a description of the compensation and 

22 vocational rehabilitation benefits to which the 

23 member may be entitled under laws adminis24 tered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, if 


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1 the member is being medically separated or is 

2 being retired under chapter 61 of this title; 

3 ‘‘(D) information on home loan services 

4 and housing assistance benefits available under 

5 the laws administered by the Secretary of Vet6 erans Affairs and counseling on responsible bor7 rowing practices; 

8 ‘‘(E) a description, developed in consulta9 tion with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, of 

10 the assistance and support services for family 

11 caregivers of eligible veterans under the pro12 gram conducted by the Secretary of Veterans 

13 Affairs pursuant to section 1720G of title 38, 

14 including the veterans covered by the program, 

15 the caregivers eligible for assistance and sup16 port through the program, and the assistance 

17 and support available through the program; and 

18 ‘‘(F) information, including appropriate 

19 training, on eligibility for enrollment and 

20 disenrollment in the Survivor Benefit Plan 

21 under chapter 73 of this title and other survivor 

22 benefits available under the laws administered 

23 by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of 

24 Veterans Affairs. 


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1 ‘‘(4) Information on civilian employment, occu2 pational requirements, and related assistance, in3 cluding— 

4 ‘‘(A) labor market information; 

5 ‘‘(B) instruction in resume preparation; 

6 ‘‘(C) job analysis techniques, job search 

7 techniques, job interview techniques, and salary 

8 negotiation techniques; 

9 ‘‘(D) certification and licensure require10 ments that are applicable to civilian occupa11 tions, including State-submitted and approved 

12 lists of military training and skills that satisfy 

13 occupational certifications and licenses; 

14 ‘‘(E) civilian occupations that correspond 

15 to military occupational specialties; 

16 ‘‘(F) information on the requirements 

17 under section 1143(a) of this title for the De18 partment of Defense and the Department of 

19 Homeland Security to provide proper certifi20 cation or verification of job skills and experi21 ence acquired while on active duty that may 

22 have application to employment in the civilian 

23 sector for use in seeking civilian employment 

24 and in obtaining job search skills; 


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1 ‘‘(G) information on government and pri2 vate-sector programs for job search and job 

3 placement assistance, and information on the 

4 placement programs established under sections 

5 1152 and 1153 of this title and the Troops-to6 Teachers Program; 

7 ‘‘(H) priority of service for veterans in the 

8 receipt of employment, training, and placement 

9 services provided under qualified job training 

10 programs of the Department of Labor; 

11 ‘‘(I) veterans small business ownership and 

12 entrepreneurship programs of the Small Busi13 ness Administration and assistance to members 

14 in their efforts to obtain loans and grants from 

15 the Small Business Administration and other 

16 Federal, State, and local agencies; 

17 ‘‘(J) employment and reemployment rights 

18 and obligations under chapter 43 of title 38; 

19 ‘‘(K) veterans preference in Federal em20 ployment and Federal procurement opportuni21 ties; 

22 ‘‘(L) disability-related employment and 

23 education protections; and 

24 ‘‘(M) career and employment opportunities 

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1 rity cards issued under section 70105 of title 

2 46. 

3 ‘‘(5) Information related to transition and relo4 cation, including— 

5 ‘‘(A) information on the geographic areas 

6 in which such members will relocate after sepa7 ration from the armed forces, including, to the 

8 degree possible, information about employment 

9 opportunities, the labor market, and the cost of 

10 living in those areas (including, to the extent 

11 practicable, the cost and availability of housing, 

12 child care, education, and medical and dental 

13 care); 

14 ‘‘(B) Federal, State, and local programs, 

15 and programs of military and veterans’ service 

16 organizations, that may be of assistance to such 

17 members after separation from the armed 

18 forces; 

19 ‘‘(C) counseling (for the member and de20 pendents) on the effect of career change on in21 dividuals and their families and the availability 

22 to the member and dependents of suicide pre23 vention resources following separation from the 

24 armed forces; 


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1 ‘‘(D) the availability of mental health serv2 ices and the treatment of post-traumatic stress 

3 disorder, anxiety disorders, depression, suicidal 

4 ideations, or other mental health conditions as5 sociated with service in the armed forces and 

6 information concerning the availability of treat7 ment options and resources to address sub8 stance abuse, including alcohol, prescription 

9 drug, and opioid abuse; 

10 ‘‘(E) the availability of medical and dental 

11 coverage following separation from active duty, 

12 including the opportunity to elect into the con13 version health policy provided under section 

14 1145 of this title; and 

15 ‘‘(F) information on the required deduc16 tion, pursuant to subsection (h) of section 

17 1175a of this title, from disability compensation 

18 paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of 

19 amounts equal to any voluntary separation pay 

20 received by the member under such section. 

21 ‘‘(g) COUNSELING PATHWAYS.—Each Secretary con22 cerned shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor 

23 and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, establish at least 

24 three pathways for members of the armed forces under 

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1 dividualized counseling under this section. The pathways 

2 shall address the needs of members based on the following 

3 factors: 

4 ‘‘(1) Rank. 

5 ‘‘(2) Term of service. 

6 ‘‘(3) Gender. 

7 ‘‘(4) Whether the member is a member of a 

8 regular or reserve component of an armed force. 

9 ‘‘(5) Disability. 

10 ‘‘(6) Anticipated characterization of retirement, 

11 separation, or release from the armed forces (includ12 ing expedited discharge and discharge under condi13 tions other than honorable). 

14 ‘‘(7) Health (including mental health). 

15 ‘‘(8) Military occupational specialty. 

16 ‘‘(9) Whether the member intends, after retire17 ment, separation, or release, to— 

18 ‘‘(A) seek employment; 

19 ‘‘(B) enroll in a program of higher edu20 cation; 

21 ‘‘(C) enroll in a program of vocational 

22 training; or 

23 ‘‘(D) become an entrepreneur. 

24 ‘‘(10) The educational history of the member. 

25 ‘‘(11) The employment history of the member. 


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1 ‘‘(12) Whether the member has secured— 

2 ‘‘(A) employment; 

3 ‘‘(B) enrollment in a program of education; 

4 or 

5 ‘‘(C) enrollment in a program of vocational 

6 training. 

7 ‘‘(13) Whether the member has a spouse or any 

8 dependents. 

9 ‘‘(14) Such other factors the Secretary of De10 fense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in 

11 consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the 

12 Secretary of Veterans Affairs, consider appropriate. 

13 ‘‘(h) SPECIFIC COMPONENTS OF COVERED COUN14 SELING, INFORMATION, AND SERVICES.—The covered 

15 counseling, information, and services furnished to a mem16 ber under the program under this section shall include the 

17 following: 

18 ‘‘(1) PRELIMINARY MEETING.—Before the com19 mencement of the furnishing of such counseling, in20 formation, and services under the program to the 

21 member, the member shall meet in person or by 

22 video conference with a counselor, during which— 

23 ‘‘(A) the counselor shall furnish to the 

24 member— 


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1 ‘‘(i) a self-assessment jointly designed 

2 by the Secretaries concerned (in consulta3 tion with the Secretary of Labor and the 

4 Secretary of Veterans Affairs) to ensure 

5 that the Secretary concerned places the 

6 member in the appropriate counseling 

7 pathway under subsection (g); 

8 ‘‘(ii) information regarding reenlist9 ment in the armed forces; 

10 ‘‘(iii) information regarding organiza11 tions, entities, and resources (including re12 sources regarding military sexual trauma) 

13 for individuals who are retired, separated, 

14 or released from the armed forces that are 

15 located in the community in which the 

16 member will reside after retirement, sepa17 ration, or release, including programs de18 scribed in subsection (f)(5)(B) and re19 sources through State veterans agencies as 

20 described in section 3(a) of the Improving 

21 Preseparation and Resources for Occupa22 tional, Vocational, and Educational Transi23 tion for Servicemembers Act; 

24 ‘‘(iv) a military-civilian equivalency re25 view designed to determine what licensing, 


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1 credentialing, and other requirements for 

2 occupations in the civilian sector align with 

3 or would be satisfied by the military occu4 pational specialty (MOS) and other mili5 tary skills and experience of the member; 

6 ‘‘(v) an individualized, personality7 based skills and career assessment de8 signed to determine the individual and per9 sonal strengths and career interests of the 

10 member; and 

11 ‘‘(vi) assistance in developing an indi12 vidual transition plan for the member to 

13 attempt to achieve the educational, train14 ing, employment, and financial objectives 

15 of the member and, if the member has a 

16 spouse, the spouse of the member; and 

17 ‘‘(B) the member may elect one or both of 

18 the following: 

19 ‘‘(i) To have the Secretary concerned 

20 (in consultation with the Secretary of 

21 Labor and the Secretary of Veterans Af22 fairs) provide the contact information of 

23 the member to the organizations, entities, 

24 and resources described in subparagraph 

25 (A)(iii). 


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1 ‘‘(ii) To have the Secretary of Defense 

2 and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

3 transmit information on the member from 

4 Department of Defense Form DD–2648 to 

5 State veterans agencies for transmittal to 

6 community-based organizations and related 

7 entities that provide or connect veterans to 

8 benefits and services in accordance with 

9 section 3 of the Improving Preseparation 

10 and Resources for Occupational, Voca11 tional, and Educational Transition for 

12 Servicemembers Act. 

13 ‘‘(2) GENERAL INSTRUCTION.—A course of 

14 general instruction, of at least one day, on such top15 ics specified in subsection (f), or otherwise specific 

16 to the armed force concerned, as the administering 

17 Secretaries consider appropriate. 

18 ‘‘(3) INSTRUCTION ON SPECIFIC POST-SERVICE

19 PATHWAYS.—A course of instruction, of not less 

20 than two consecutive days, on one of the following 

21 matters, as elected by the member: 

22 ‘‘(A) Employment. 

23 ‘‘(B) Education. 

24 ‘‘(C) Entrepreneurship. 

25 ‘‘(D) Career and technical training. 


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1 ‘‘(E) Such other matters as the admin2 istering Secretaries consider appropriate. 

3 ‘‘(4) INSTRUCTION ON PROFESSIONAL DEVEL4 OPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.—A course 

5 of instruction, of at least one day, on general profes6 sional development and employment assistance, in7 cluding resume-writing, interviewing skills, and such 

8 other matters as the administering Secretaries con9 sider appropriate. 

10 ‘‘(5) INSTRUCTION ON VETERANS BENEFITS.— 

11 A course of instruction, of at least one day, on the 

12 benefits and services available under the law admin13 istered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, includ14 ing the manner of application for receipt of such 

15 benefits and services and such other matters in con16 nection with such benefits and services as the Sec17 retary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate. 

18 ‘‘(6) PARTICIPATION IN APPRENTICESHIP PRO19 GRAMS.—For a member otherwise eligible to partici20 pate in such a program, participation in an appren21 ticeship program registered under the Act of August 

22 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ‘National Ap23 prenticeship Act’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 

24 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), or a pre-apprenticeship program 

25 that provides credit toward a program registered 


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1 under such Act, that provides education, training, 

2 and services necessary to transition to meaningful 

3 employment that leads to economic self-sufficiency. 

4 ‘‘(7) ORDER OF COUNSELING AND INSTRUC5 TION.—A member shall receive the counseling and 

6 instruction required by paragraphs (2) and (3) be7 fore any other instruction required by this sub8 section. A member may undertake any other instruc9 tion required by this subsection at a pace and order 

10 satisfactory to the member, subject to the require11 ment to complete all such instruction by the deadline 

12 provided in subsection (d)(2). 

13 ‘‘(8) FREQUENCY OF TRAINING.—The Sec14 retary concerned shall ensure, to the extent prac15 ticable and subject to urgent mission needs, that 

16 members who elect to undergo additional training or 

17 counseling under this subsection are able to do so— 

18 ‘‘(A) before the time periods established 

19 under subsection (d); and 

20 ‘‘(B) in addition to such training and in21 struction required during such time periods. 

22 ‘‘(i) RECORD OF RECEIPT OF COVERED COUN23 SELING, INFORMATION, AND SERVICES IN SERVICE

24 RECORDS.—A notation on the receipt of counseling and 

25 instruction on each matter specified in subsections (f) and 


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1 (h) in connection with the furnishing of covered coun2 seling, information, and services under the program under 

3 this section, signed by the member concerned, shall be 

4 placed in the service record of each member receiving such 

5 counseling and instruction. 

6 ‘‘(j) USE OF PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATIONS.—In 

7 carrying out the program under this section, the admin8 istering Secretaries may— 

9 ‘‘(1) provide for the use of disabled veterans 

10 outreach program specialists, local veterans’ employ11 ment representatives, and other employment service 

12 personnel funded by the Department of Labor to the 

13 extent that the Secretary of Labor determines that 

14 such use will not significantly interfere with the pro15 vision of services or other benefits to eligible vet16 erans and other eligible recipients of such services or 

17 benefits; 

18 ‘‘(2) use military and civilian personnel of the 

19 Department of Defense and the Department of 

20 Homeland Security; 

21 ‘‘(3) use personnel of the Veterans Benefits Ad22 ministration of the Department of Veterans Affairs 

23 and other appropriate personnel of that Department; 

24 ‘‘(4) use representatives of military and vet25 erans’ service organizations; 


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1 ‘‘(5) enter into contracts with public entities; 

2 ‘‘(6) enter into contracts with private entities, 

3 particularly with qualified private entities that have 

4 experience with instructing members of the armed 

5 forces eligible for covered counseling, information, 

6 and services under the program on— 

7 ‘‘(A) private sector culture, resume writ8 ing, career networking, and training on job 

9 search technologies; 

10 ‘‘(B) academic readiness and educational 

11 opportunities; and 

12 ‘‘(C) such other matters in connection with 

13 the program as the administering Secretaries 

14 consider appropriate; and 

15 ‘‘(7) take such other actions to develop and fur16 nish information and services to be provided under 

17 the program as the administering Secretaries con18 sider appropriate. 

19 ‘‘(k) REPORTS AND NOTICE IN CONNECTION WITH

20 PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS.— 

21 ‘‘(1) INFORMATION WITHIN EXECUTIVE

22 BRANCH.—The Secretary of Defense and the Sec23 retary of Homeland Security shall each ensure that 

24 information on participation in the program under 

25 this section by members under the jurisdiction of 


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1 such Secretary (including timeliness of receipt of 

2 covered counseling, information, and services, rates 

3 of participation on an in-person basis and an online 

4 or other electronic basis, and number of waivers (if 

5 any) issued pursuant to subsection (e)(2)) is made 

6 available by electronic means to the following: 

7 ‘‘(A) Commanders at all levels of command 

8 at the installations concerned. 

9 ‘‘(B) All counselors and managers of coun10 seling under the program. 

11 ‘‘(C) The Secretary of Labor, the Sec12 retary of Veterans Affairs, and the heads of any 

13 other departments and agencies of the Federal 

14 Government involved in the furnishing of coun15 seling and other assistance under the program. 

16 ‘‘(2) ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of De18 fense and the Secretary of Homeland Security 

19 shall each submit to Congress each year a re20 port on the furnishing of covered counseling, in21 formation, and services under the program to 

22 members of the armed forces under the juris23 diction of such Secretary during the preceding 

24 year. Each report shall include, for the year 

25 covered by such report, the following: 


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1 ‘‘(i) The number of members eligible 

2 for covered counseling, information, and 

3 services under the program. 

4 ‘‘(ii) The number of members fur5 nished covered counseling, information, 

6 and services under the program. 

7 ‘‘(iii) The number of members eligible 

8 for covered counseling, information, and 

9 services under the program who did not 

10 participate in the program. 

11 ‘‘(iv) An assessment of the extent to 

12 which such counseling, information, and 

13 services were furnished within the times 

14 provided for by paragraphs (1) and (2) of 

15 subsection (d). 

16 ‘‘(v) Rates of participation on an in17 person basis and an online or other elec18 tronic basis, and number of waivers (if 

19 any) issued pursuant to subsection (e)(2). 

20 ‘‘(vi) The number of members placed 

21 into each counseling pathway established 

22 under subsection (g). 

23 ‘‘(vii) The number of members who 

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1 service pathways described in subsection 

2 (h)(3). 

3 ‘‘(viii) The number of members who 

4 participated in an apprenticeship or pre5 apprenticeship program described in sub6 section (h)(6). 

7 ‘‘(ix) The number of participants in 

8 the programs under subsection (e) of sec9 tion 1143 of this title (commonly referred 

10 to as ‘Job Training, Employment Skills, 

11 Apprenticeships and Internships (JTEST– 

12 AI)’ or ‘Skill Bridge’). 

13 ‘‘(x) Such other information as is re14 quired to provide Congress with a com15 prehensive description of the participation 

16 of members in the program. 

17 ‘‘(B) PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION.— 

18 Information in each report under subparagraph 

19 (A) shall be broken out— 

20 ‘‘(i) by armed force, and by compo21 nent of the armed forces; 

22 ‘‘(ii) by basis of separation from the 

23 armed forces (whether retirement or other 

24 separation and whether voluntary or invol25 untary); and 


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1 ‘‘(iii) by characterization of discharge 

2 from the armed forces. 

3 ‘‘(l) TRANSMITTAL OF MEDICAL INFORMATION TO

4 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.—In the case of a 

5 member being medically separated or being retired under 

6 chapter 61 of this title, the Secretary concerned shall en7 sure (subject to the consent of the member) that a copy 

8 of the member’s service medical record (including any re9 sults of a Physical Evaluation Board) is transmitted to 

10 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs within 60 days of the 

11 separation or retirement. 

12 ‘‘(m) JOINT SERVICE TRANSCRIPT.—The Secretary 

13 concerned shall provide a copy of the joint service tran14 script of a member of the armed forces to the following: 

15 ‘‘(1) The member— 

16 ‘‘(A) at the preliminary meeting with a 

17 counselor under the program under this section 

18 pursuant to subsection (h)(1); and 

19 ‘‘(B) on the day the member retires, sepa20 rates, or is released from the armed forces. 

21 ‘‘(2) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the 

22 day the member retirees, separates, or is released 

23 from the armed forces.’’. 


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1 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of sec2 tions at the beginning of chapter 58 of such title is 

3 amended— 

4 (A) by striking the item relating to section 

5 1142 and inserting the following new item: 

‘‘1142. Transition-related counseling and services: Transition Assistance Program.’’; and 

6 (B) by striking the item relating to section 

7 1144. 

8 (b) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF REVISED

9 PROGRAM.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The administering Secre11 taries shall take appropriate actions to carry out any 

12 modifications to the Transition Assistance Program 

13 under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, 

14 that are required by reason of the amendments 

15 made by subsection (a) by not later than the date 

16 that is one year after the date of the enactment of 

17 this Act in order to ensure that the furnishing of 

18 covered counseling, information, and services to 

19 members of the Armed Forces under the Program is 

20 fully implemented as of such date. 

21 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after 

22 the date of the enactment of this Act, the admin23 istering Secretaries shall submit to the appropriate 

24 committees of Congress a report on specific actions 


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1 to be taken to implement any modifications to the 

2 Transition Assistance Program under section 1142 

3 of title 10, United States Code, that are required by 

4 reason of the amendments made by subsection (a). 

5 (3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection, the 

6 terms ‘‘administering Secretaries’’ and ‘‘covered 

7 counseling, information, and services’’ have the 

8 meanings given such terms for purposes of section 

9 1142 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by 

10 subsection (a). 

11 SEC. 3. CONNECTIONS OF MEMBERS RETIRING OR SEPA12 RATING FROM THE ARMED FORCES WITH 

13 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND 

14 RELATED ENTITIES. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense and the 

16 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly seek to enter 

17 into memoranda of understanding (MOUs) or other agree18 ments with State veterans agencies under which informa19 tion from Department of Defense Form DD–2648 on indi20 viduals undergoing retirement, discharge, or release from 

21 the Armed Forces is transmitted to one or more State vet22 erans agencies, as elected by such individuals, to provide 

23 or connect veterans to benefits or services as follows: 

24 (1) Assistance in preparation of resumes. 

25 (2) Training for employment interviews. 


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1 (3) Employment recruitment training. 

2 (4) Other services leading directly to a success3 ful transition from military life to civilian life. 

4 (5) Healthcare, including care for mental 

5 health. 

6 (6) Transportation or transportation-related 

7 services. 

8 (7) Housing. 

9 (8) Such other benefits or services as the Secre10 taries jointly consider appropriate for purposes of 

11 this section. 

12 (b) INFORMATION TRANSMITTED.—The information 

13 transmitted on individuals as described in subsection (a) 

14 shall be such information on Form DD–2648 as the Secre15 taries jointly consider appropriate to facilitate community16 based organizations and related entities in providing or 

17 connecting such individuals to benefits and services as de18 scribed in subsection (a). 

19 (c) MODIFICATION OF FORM DD–2648.—The Sec20 retary of Defense shall make such modifications to Form 

21 DD–2648 as the Secretary considers appropriate to allow 

22 an individual filling out the form to indicate an email ad23 dress at which the individual may be contacted to receive 

24 or be connected to benefits or services described in sub25 section (a). 


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1 (d) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—Information on an 

2 individual may be transmitted to and through a State vet3 erans agency as described in subsection (a) only with the 

4 consent of the individual. In giving such consent, an indi5 vidual shall specify the following: 

6 (1) The State veterans agency or agencies elect7 ed by the individual to transmit such information as 

8 described in subsection (a). 

9 (2) The benefits and services for which contact 

10 information shall be so transmitted. 

11 (3) Such other information on the individual as 

12 the individual considers appropriate in connection 

13 with the transmittal. 

14 (e) DATABASE ON ORGANIZATIONS AND ENTITIES.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

16 Affairs shall, in coordination with the Secretary of 

17 Defense and State veterans agencies, establish and 

18 maintain a database of community-based programs 

19 and related entities that State veterans agencies may 

20 provide or connect veterans to benefits and services 

21 described in subsection (a). 

22 (2) ACCESS.—Access to the database shall be 

23 provided to the following: 


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1 (A) Members of the Armed Forces who are 

2 retiring, separating, or being released from the 

3 Armed Forces. 

4 (B) Veterans. 

5 (3) INFORMATION FOR DATABASE.—In devel6 oping the database required by paragraph (1), the 

7 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall use information 

8 obtained by the Secretary pursuant to section 401 of 

9 the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 

10 (Public Law 115–407). 

11 SEC. 4. PERSONNEL MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH TRAN12 SITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 

13 (a) MINIMUM NUMBER OF DEDICATED PER14 SONNEL.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 

16 shall take appropriate actions to ensure that the 

17 minimum number of full-time equivalent personnel 

18 of the Department of Defense dedicated to coun19 seling and other activities under the Transition As20 sistance Program at each military installation each 

21 year is not less than one for every 250 members of 

22 the Armed Forces generally projected to be eligible 

23 for participation in the Transition Assistance Pro24 gram and their spouses at such military installation 

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1 quirement in this paragraph through the use of con2 tractor personnel. 

3 (2) APPLICABILITY.—The Secretary shall com4 ply with the requirement in paragraph (1) com5 mencing not later than one year after the date of the 

6 enactment of this Act. 

7 (b) MINIMUM CIVILIAN WORKPLACE REQUIRE8 MENT.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of providing 

10 counseling under and otherwise administering the 

11 Transition Assistance Program, the Secretary of De12 fense shall take appropriate actions to ensure that, 

13 to the maximum extent practicable, each individual 

14 employed by the Department of Defense to provide 

15 counseling under the Transition Assistance Program 

16 has both prior military experience and not less than 

17 two years of experience in civilian employment at the 

18 time of employment by the Department for such 

19 purposes. 

20 (2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 

21 Congress that, in employing individuals to provide 

22 counseling under the Transition Assistance Pro23 gram, the Secretary should consider affording a 

24 preference to individuals with longevity of experience 


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1 in civilian employment at the time of employment by 

2 the Department for that purpose. 

3 (3) APPLICABILITY.—The Secretary shall com4 ply with the requirement in paragraph (1) com5 mencing not later than 90 days after the date of the 

6 enactment of this Act. 

7 (c) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 

8 one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

9 Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report 

10 on the actions taken to implement this section, includ11 ing— 

12 (1) the actions taken to implement subsection 

13 (b); 

14 (2) the number of individuals employed by the 

15 Department under subsection (b); 

16 (3) the percentage of individuals employed in 

17 connection with the Transition Assistance Program 

18 who meet the requirement in subsection (b)(1); and 

19 (4) such other information as the Secretary 

20 considers appropriate. 

21 (d) TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DEFINED.— 

22 In this section, the term ‘‘Transition Assistance Program’’ 

23 means the program of counseling, information, and serv24 ices under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code 

25 (as amended by section 2 of this Act). 


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1 SEC. 5. SYSTEMS FOR TRACKING PARTICIPATION IN TRAN2 SITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND RELATED 

3 PROGRAMS. 

4 (a) SYSTEMS FOR TRACKING PARTICIPATION.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 

6 one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

7 the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 

8 Homeland Security shall each establish and main9 tain an electronic tracking system and database, ap10 plicable across the Armed Forces, in order to collect, 

11 assemble, and make available as described in para12 graph (2) information on the participation and 

13 progress of members of the Armed Forces under the 

14 jurisdiction of such Secretary in the Transition As15 sistance Program at the individual, installation, and 

16 total forces levels, including information on the fol17 lowing: 

18 (A) Compliance with the commencement 

19 and completion timeframes of the Transition 

20 Assistance Program required by subsection (d) 

21 of section 1142 of title 10, United States Code 

22 (as amended by section 2 of this Act). 

23 (B) Participation and completion by mem24 bers of the specific elements of the Transition 

25 Assistance Program described in subsection (h) 

26 of such section 1142. 


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1 (C) Notes made by counselors in connec2 tion with the provision of casework and other 

3 services under the Transition Assistance Pro4 gram. 

5 (D) Such other matters in connection with 

6 participation and progress of members in the 

7 Transition Assistance Program as such Sec8 retary considers appropriate. 

9 (2) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.—Informa10 tion in the tracking systems and databases required 

11 by paragraph (1), other than information described 

12 in paragraph (1)(C), shall be available as follows: 

13 (A) To members of the Armed Forces un14 dergoing the transition from military life to ci15 vilian life, for the personal information of mem16 bers. 

17 (B) To commanders of members of the 

18 Armed Forces at all levels of command for 

19 members under their command. 

20 (C) To all counselors and managers of 

21 counseling under the Transition Assistance Pro22 gram for members they serve. 

23 (D) To the Secretary of Labor, the Sec24 retary of Veterans Affairs, and the heads of any 

25 other departments and agencies of the Federal 


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1 Government involved in the furnishing of coun2 seling and services under the Transition Assist3 ance Program. 

4 (b) DIGITAL PORTAL.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Commencing not later than 

6 two years after the date of the enactment of this 

7 Act, each Secretary concerned shall establish and 

8 maintain an interactive, Internet-based platform for 

9 members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction 

10 of such Secretary to act as a portal for members un11 dergoing counseling under the Transition Assistance 

12 Program in order to permit such members to do the 

13 following: 

14 (A) View information on and track 

15 progress of the member concerned in the re16 quired instruction and counseling of the Transi17 tion Assistance Program. 

18 (B) View the individual assessments of the 

19 member concerned taken pursuant to clauses (i) 

20 and (v) of subsection (h)(1)(A) of section 1142 

21 of title 10, United States Code (as amended by 

22 section 2 of this Act). 

23 (C) View and make changes to the transi24 tion plan of the member concerned as described 


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1 in subsection (h)(1)(A)(vi) of such section 

2 1142. 

3 (D) Access information on the programs 

4 and resources available to members of the 

5 Armed Forces and their spouses at the military 

6 installation concerned in connection with the 

7 Transition Assistance Program. 

8 (E) Access information and resources re9 lated to the topics under subsection (f) of such 

10 section 1142. 

11 (F) Access the online version of the cur12 riculum of instruction under the Transition As13 sistance Program. 

14 (G) Access and download a digital copy of 

15 the Joint Service Transcript of the member 

16 concerned. 

17 (H) Schedule, view, or change appoint18 ments with counselors in connection with the 

19 Transition Assistance Program. 

20 (I) Access the database maintained pursu21 ant under section 3(d). 

22 (J) Take the surveys conducted pursuant 

23 to section 6(a). 

24 (K) Access such other digital information 

25 and resources in connection with the Transition 


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1 Assistance Program as the Secretaries con2 cerned and the administering Secretaries jointly 

3 consider appropriate. 

4 (2) PROTECTION OF PRIVACY.—In carrying out 

5 this subsection, the Secretaries concerned shall take 

6 all necessary and appropriate actions to protect the 

7 personal privacy of individual members of the Armed 

8 Forces as required by law. 

9 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

10 (1) The term ‘‘Transition Assistance Program’’ 

11 means the program of counseling, information, and 

12 services under section 1142 of title 10, United 

13 States Code (as amended by section 2 of this Act). 

14 (2) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the 

15 meaning given that term in section 101(a)(9) of title 

16 10, United States Code. 

17 (3) The term ‘‘administering Secretaries’’ has 

18 the meaning given that term for purposes of section 

19 1142 of title 10, United States Code (as so amend20 ed). 


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1 SEC. 6. SURVEYS ON MEMBER EXPERIENCES WITH TRANSI2 TION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COUNSELING 

3 AND SERVICES AND IN TRANSITION TO CIVIL4 IAN LIFE. 

5 (a) SURVEYS ON MEMBER EXPERIENCES WITH

6 TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM COUNSELING, INFOR7 MATION, AND SERVICES.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each Secretary concerned 

9 shall conduct surveys of members of the Armed 

10 Forces under the jurisdiction of such Secretary at 

11 the conclusion of the receipt by such members of 

12 counseling, information, and services under the 

13 Transition Assistance Program in order to assess 

14 the experiences of such members, and their spouses 

15 (if applicable), in the receipt of such counseling, in16 formation, and services. 

17 (2) ELEMENTS.—The surveys under paragraph 

18 (1) shall be designed to obtain information on the 

19 Transition Assistance Program as follows: 

20 (A) Member assessments of the quality of 

21 instruction. 

22 (B) Member satisfaction with the scope 

23 and quality of courses and services, including 

24 courses under paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of 

25 subsection (h) of section 1142 of title 10, 


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1 United States Code (as amended by section 2 of 

2 this Act). 

3 (C) Member assessments of the adequacy 

4 of courses and services to meet member transi5 tion needs. 

6 (D) Obstacles or barriers confronted by 

7 members in accessing counseling and services. 

8 (E) Whether members participated in the 

9 curriculum of the Transition Assistance Pro10 gram on an in-person basis or an online, other 

11 electronic, or other basis. 

12 (F) Such other matters as the admin13 istering Secretaries shall specify for purposes of 

14 this subsection. 

15 (3) COMMENCEMENT.—Each Secretary con16 cerned shall commence the conduct of surveys pursu17 ant to paragraph (1) by not later than 120 days 

18 after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

19 (b) PILOT PROGRAM ON SURVEYS ON MEMBER EX20 PERIENCES IN TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 

22 Affairs shall, in consultation with the Secretary of 

23 Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the 

24 Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Labor, 

25 conduct a pilot program to assess the feasibility and 


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1 advisability of surveying veterans who have been re2 tired, discharged, or released from the Armed Forces 

3 for at least one year, and not longer than four years, 

4 at the time of a survey in order to assess the experi5 ences of such veterans in the transition from mili6 tary life to civilian life. 

7 (2) MANNER OF CONDUCT.—The Secretary of 

8 Veterans Affairs may conduct the survey under the 

9 pilot program through a contract with a qualified 

10 non-governmental organization selected by the Sec11 retary for purposes of the pilot program. 

12 (3) ELEMENTS.—The survey under the pilot 

13 program shall be designed to obtain the information 

14 on the following: 

15 (A) Current employment status, and em16 ployment history since retirement or separation. 

17 (B) Receipt, whether currently or in the 

18 past, of unemployment benefits. 

19 (C) Educational attainment after military 

20 service. 

21 (D) Participation of or membership in a 

22 veterans’ service organization or other support 

23 or other group oriented towards veterans. 

24 (E) Satisfaction with transition, including 

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1 ceived in connection with transition (whether 

2 pursuant to the Transition Assistance Program 

3 or a program under any other provision of law). 

4 (F) Whether veterans participated in the 

5 curriculum of the Transition Assistance Pro6 gram on an in-person basis or an online, other 

7 electronic, or other basis. 

8 (G) Challenges faced during transition. 

9 (H) If married at the time of transition— 

10 (i) participation of spouse in the coun11 seling and assistance described in subpara12 graph (E); and 

13 (ii) satisfaction of spouse with the 

14 counseling and assistance described in sub15 paragraph (E), if any, participated in by 

16 the spouse. 

17 (I) Whether veterans felt sufficiently pre18 pared for a career, education, or other advance19 ment after military service as a result of par20 ticipation in the Transition Assistance Pro21 gram. 

22 (J) Recommendations for improvements to 

23 the counseling and assistance furnished in con24 nection with transition, or for other mecha25 nisms to ease and facilitate transition. 


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1 (K) Such other matters as the Secretary of 

2 Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the other 

3 Secretaries referred to in paragraph (1), con4 siders appropriate. 

5 (4) SURVEY RESULTS.—The results of the sur6 vey under the pilot program shall be broken out by 

7 number of years post-separation of the veterans cov8 ered by the survey. 

9 (5) REPORT.—Not later than two years after 

10 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

11 of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate 

12 committees of Congress a report on the pilot pro13 gram. The report shall set forth the following: 

14 (A) The results of the survey conducted 

15 under the pilot program. 

16 (B) An assessment by the Secretary of the 

17 feasibility and advisability of continuing surveys 

18 such as the survey under the pilot program on 

19 a permanent basis, as frequently as once every 

20 two years or such other frequency as the Sec21 retary considers appropriate. 

22 (c) PROTECTION OF PRIVACY.—In carrying out this 

23 section, the administering Secretaries, the Secretary of 

24 Education, and the Secretaries concerned shall take all 

25 necessary and appropriate actions to protect the personal 


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1 privacy of individual members of the Armed Forces and 

2 veterans as required by law. 

3 (d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

4 (1) The term ‘‘Transition Assistance Program’’ 

5 means the program of counseling, information, and 

6 services under section 1142 of title 10, United 

7 States Code (as amended by section 2 of this Act). 

8 (2) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the 

9 meaning given that term in section 101(a)(9) of title 

10 10, United States Code. 

11 (3) The term ‘‘administering Secretaries’’ has 

12 the meaning given that term for purposes of section 

13 1142 of title 10, United States Code (as so amend14 ed). 

15 SEC. 7. COMMAND MATTERS IN CONNECTION WITH TRANSI16 TION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. 

17 (a) INCLUSION OF SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPATION IN

18 PROGRAMS IN COMMAND CLIMATE ASSESSMENTS.—Each 

19 command climate assessment for the commander of a mili20 tary installation shall include an assessment of the extent 

21 to which the commander and other command personnel 

22 at the installation encourage and support the participation 

23 in covered transition assistance programs of members of 

24 the Armed Forces at the installation who are eligible for 

25 participation in such programs. 


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1 (b) TRAINING ON PROGRAMS.—The training provided 

2 a commander of a military installation in connection with 

3 the commencement of assignment to the installation shall 

4 include a module on the covered transition assistance pro5 grams available for members of the Armed Forces as6 signed to the installation. 

7 (c) COVERED TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

8 DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered transition 

9 assistance programs’’ means the following: 

10 (1) The program of counseling, information, 

11 and services under section 1142 of title 10, United 

12 States Code, as amended by section 2 of this Act 

13 (commonly referred to as the ‘‘Transition Assistance 

14 Program’’). 

15 (2) The programs under section 1143(e) of title 

16 10, United States Code (commonly referred to as 

17 ‘‘Job Training, Employment Skills, Apprenticeships 

18 and Internships (JTEST–AI)’’ or ‘‘Skill Bridge’’). 

19 (3) Any other program of apprenticeship, on20 the-job training, internship, or transition assistance 

21 specified by the Secretary of Defense for purposes of 

22 this section. 


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1 SEC. 8. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES 

2 REPORT ON PARTICIPATION IN TRANSITION 

3 ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AT SMALL AND RE4 MOTE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. 

5 (a) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 18 months 

6 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp7 troller General of the United States shall submit to the 

8 appropriate committees of Congress a report on a review, 

9 conducted by the Comptroller General for purposes of the 

10 report, on the participation in covered transition assist11 ance programs of members of the Armed Forces assigned 

12 to small military installations and remote military installa13 tions in the United States. 

14 (b) COVERED TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PRO15 GRAMS.—For purposes of this section, covered transition 

16 assistance programs are the following: 

17 (1) The Transition Assistance Program. 

18 (2) The programs under section 1143(e) of title 

19 10, United States Code (commonly referred to as 

20 ‘‘Job Training, Employment Skills, Apprenticeships 

21 and Internships (JTEST–AI)’’ or ‘‘Skill Bridge’’). 

22 (3) Any other program of apprenticeship, on23 the-job training, or internship offered at a small 

24 military installation or remote installation that the 

25 Comptroller General considers appropriate for inclu26 sion in the review under this section. 


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1 (c) SMALL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS; REMOTE

2 MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.—For purposes of this section: 

3 (1) A small military installation is an installa4 tion at which are assigned not more than 10,000 

5 members of the Armed Forces. 

6 (2) A remote military installation is an installa7 tion that is located more than 50 miles from any 

8 city with a population of 50,000 people or more (as 

9 determined by the Office of Management and Budg10 et). 

11 (d) SCOPE OF REVIEW.—In conducting the review, 

12 the Comptroller General shall evaluate participation in 

13 covered transition assistance programs at a number of 

14 small military installations and remote military installa15 tions that is sufficient to provide a complete under16 standing of the participation in such programs of members 

17 of the Armed Forces at such installations throughout the 

18 United States. 

19 (e) ELEMENTS.—The review under this section shall 

20 include the following: 

21 (1) Rates of participation of members of the 

22 Armed Forces in covered transition assistance pro23 grams at small military installations and remote 

24 military installations in the United States. 


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1 (2) In the case of the Transition Assistance 

2 Program, the following: 

3 (A) Compliance with the deadlines for par4 ticipation provided for in subsection (d) of sec5 tion 1142 of title 10, United States Code (as 

6 amended by section 2 of this Act). 

7 (B) A comparison between rates of partici8 pation in person and rates of participation on 

9 line. 

10 (C) The average ratio of permanent, full11 time equivalent program staff to participating 

12 members at small military installations and at 

13 remote military installations. 

14 (D) The average number of program staff 

15 (including full-time equivalent staff and con16 tractor staff) physically and permanently lo17 cated on installation at small military installa18 tions and at remote military installations. 

19 (3) Such other matters with respect to partici20 pation in covered transition assistance programs of 

21 members assigned to small military installations and 

22 remote military installations as the Comptroller Gen23 eral considers appropriate. 

24 (f) TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DEFINED.— 

25 In this section, the term ‘‘Transition Assistance Program’’ 


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1 means the program of counseling, information, and serv2 ices under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code 

3 (as amended by section 2 of this Act). 

4 SEC. 9. EDUCATION OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 

5 ON CAREER READINESS AND PROFESSIONAL 

6 DEVELOPMENT. 

7 (a) PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION REQUIRED.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 101 of title 10, 

9 United States Code, is amended by inserting after 

10 section 2015 the following new section: 

11 ‘‘§ 2015a. Education of members on career readiness 

12 and professional development 

13 ‘‘(a) PROGRAM OF EDUCATION REQUIRED.—The 

14 Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program to provide 

15 education on career readiness and professional develop16 ment to members of the armed forces. 

17 ‘‘(b) ELEMENTS.—The program under this section 

18 shall provide members with the following: 

19 ‘‘(1) Information on the transition plan as de20 scribed in section 1142(h)(1)(A)(vi) of this title. 

21 ‘‘(2) Information on opportunities available to 

22 members during military service for professional de23 velopment and preparation for a career after mili24 tary service, including— 


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1 ‘‘(A) programs of education, certification, 

2 training, and employment assistance (including 

3 programs under sections 1143(e), 2007, and 

4 2015 of this title); and 

5 ‘‘(B) programs and resources available to 

6 members in communities in the vicinity of mili7 tary installations. 

8 ‘‘(3) Instruction on the use of online and other 

9 electronic mechanisms in order to access the edu10 cation, training, and assistance and resources de11 scribed in paragraph (2). 

12 ‘‘(4) Such other information, instruction, and 

13 matters as the Secretary shall specify for purposes 

14 of this section. 

15 ‘‘(c) TIMING OF PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—Sub16 ject to subsection (d), information, instruction, and other 

17 matters under the program under this section shall be pro18 vided to members at the times as follows: 

19 ‘‘(1) Upon arrival at first duty station. 

20 ‘‘(2) Upon arrival at any subsequent duty sta21 tion. 

22 ‘‘(3) Upon deployment. 

23 ‘‘(4) Upon promotion. 

24 ‘‘(5) Upon reenlistment. 


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1 ‘‘(6) At any other point in a military career 

2 specified by the Secretary for purposes of this sec3 tion. 

4 ‘‘(d) SINGLE PROVISION OF INFORMATION IN A YEAR

5 WITH MULTIPLE EVENTS.—A member who has received 

6 information and instruction under the program under this 

7 section in connection with an event specified in subsection 

8 (c) in a year may elect not to undergo additional receipt 

9 of information and instruction under the program in con10 nection with another such event in the year, unless such 

11 other event is arrival at a new duty station.’’. 

12 (2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec13 tions at the beginning of chapter 101 of such title 

14 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 

15 section 2015 the following new item: 

‘‘2015a. Education of members on career readiness and professional development.’’. 

16 (b) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 

17 one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

18 Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate com19 mittees of Congress a report on the program of education 

20 required by section 2015a of title 10, United States Code 

21 (as added by subsection (a)), including the following: 

22 (1) A comprehensive description of the actions 

23 taken to implement the program of education. 


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1 (2) A comprehensive description of the program 

2 of education. 

3 SEC. 10. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON TRANSITION ASSISTANCE 

4 PROGRAM AND OTHER TRANSITION-RELATED 

5 ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 

6 FORCES. 

7 It is the sense of Congress— 

8 (1) to acknowledge that the Armed Forces face 

9 significant and often competing pressures in car10 rying out its essential and fundamental mission to 

11 defend the nation; 

12 (2) that ensuring the effective transition of 

13 members of the Armed Forces from military life to 

14 civilian life represents an essential component of this 

15 mission, contributing directly to the long-term suc16 cess of the United States military and its missions 

17 through its effects on— 

18 (A) the long-term success and well-being of 

19 current and former members of the Armed 

20 Forces and their families; 

21 (B) the perception of the Armed Forces by 

22 the American public; and 

23 (C) the civilian-military partnership inte24 gral to the United States military; 


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1 (3) that the program of counseling, informa2 tion, and services under section 1142 of title 10, 

3 United States Code (as amended by section 2 of this 

4 Act), while effective in the worthy goal of reducing 

5 the need for unemployment assistance among former 

6 members of the Armed Forces, should be designed 

7 and carried out for the holistic benefit, in both good 

8 and bad economic climates, of members of the 

9 Armed Forces participating in the program, and not 

10 simply as a metric or tool for employment; 

11 (4) to support and commend efforts by the De12 partment of Defense, the Department of Labor, and 

13 other agencies of the Federal Government in coordi14 nating Federal and State efforts to assist members 

15 of the Armed Forces in identifying civilian equiva16 lences for military occupational skills, but also to 

17 urge the Department of Defense to ensure that the 

18 Transition Assistance Program also provides mem19 bers the tools and assistance for reinventing them20 selves during the transition from military life to ci21 vilian life, even when their new personal and profes22 sional goals do not align with their military occupa23 tions; 

24 (5) to commend and further encourage efforts 

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1 tion Assistance Program requirements into leader2 ship assessments and criteria for promotion of com3 manding officers in the Armed Forces; 

4 (6) to encourage the Secretary of Defense to as5 sign accountability and responsibility for compliance 

6 with Transition Assistance Program requirements to 

7 the lowest level of command appropriate and to es8 tablish uniform, Armed Forces-wide policy on the in9 dividuals at unit level who are responsible for moni10 toring compliance of members of the Armed Forces 

11 with such requirements; 

12 (7) that the Secretary of Defense should seek to 

13 enhance collaboration and access to transition-re14 lated services by members of the Armed Forces by 

15 seeking to co-locate Federal, State, and local offi16 cials and contractors who administer the Transition 

17 Assistance Program and State and local officials and 

18 partner, non-governmental entities associated with 

19 the Transition Assistance Program or who offer 

20 transition-related services in the same or proximate 

21 physical locations, when possible; 

22 (8) that the Secretary of Defense and the Sec23 retary of Labor should seek to minimize subjectivity 

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1 tions of the Comptroller General of the United 

2 States; and 

3 (9) to encourage the Department of Defense, 

4 the Department of Labor, the Department of Vet5 erans Affairs and appropriate State agencies to work 

6 together, and with veterans service organizations, to 

7 establish in States or locales, as appropriate, local 

8 points of contact responsible for— 

9 (A) at the election of members of the 

10 Armed Forces relocating to such State or locale 

11 after military service, contacting the members 

12 before separation from the Armed Forces; 

13 (B) providing members of the Armed 

14 Force with employment, education, and other 

15 appropriate information about the State or lo16 cale to assist in relocation; and 

17 (C) coordinating services for members of 

18 the Armed Forces and the spouses who relocate 

19 to the State or locale after military service. 

Æ 


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