Army Regulation 600–81

Personnel-General

Soldier for Life

- Transition

Assistance

Program

Headquarters

Department of the Army

Washington, DC 17 May 2016

UNCLASSIFIED

SUMMARY

AR 600–81

Soldier for Life - Transition Assistance Program

This new Department of the Army Regulation, dated 17 May 2016--

o   Clarifies specific “warm handover” guidance for Soldiers separating with anunder other-than-honorable condition or characterization of service, or with a bad-conduct discharge (paras 7-2e(2) and 7-8c).

o   Includes language to permit students and trainees to receive transitionassistance program services, on a space-available basis, for up to 180 days post DD Form 214 date, and is consistent with the transition Soldier Life Cycle (chap 7).

o   Prescribes the policies for the Soldier for Life - Transition AssistanceProgram (throughout).

o   Includes changes to reflect 10 USC 1142, which excludes Servicemembers whohave not completed 180 continuous days of active duty not including full-time training duty, annual training duty, and days attending a service school while in active service (throughout).

o   Incorporates Army Directive 2014-18, Army Career and Alumni Program (herebysuperseded) (throughout).

         Headquarters                                                                                                                          *Army Regulation 600–81

Department of the Army Washington, DC

         17 May 2016                                                                                                                               Effective 17 June 2016

Personnel-General

Soldier for Life - Transition Assistance Program

consistent with controlling law and regu- o f S t a f f , G – 1 ( D A P E – H R P – T D ) , 3 0 0 lations. The proponent may delegate this A r m y  P e n t a g o n ,  W a s h i n g t o n ,  D C approval authority, in writing, to a divi- 20310–0300. sion chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating Committee management. AR 15–1 reagency, in the grade of colonel or the quires the proponent to justify establishcivilian equivalent. Activities may request i n g / c o n t i n u i n g c o m m i t t e e ( s ) , c o o r d i n a t e a waiver to this regulation by providing draft publications, and coordinate changes justification that includes a full analysis of in committee status with the U.S. Army t h e e x p e c t e d b e n e f i t s a n d m u s t i n c l u d e Resources and Programs Agency, Departf o r m a l r e v i e w b y t h e a c t i v i t y ’ s s e n i o r ment of the Army Committee Managelegal officer. All waiver requests will be ment Office (AARP–ZX), 9301 Chapek e n d o r s e d b y t h e c o m m a n d e r o r s e n i o r Road, Building 1458, Fort Belvoir, VA leader of the requesting activity and for- 22060–5527. Further, if it is determined warded through their higher headquarters

t h a t a n e s t a b l i s h e d “ g r o u p ” i d e n t i f i e d

t o t h e p o l i c y p r o p o n e n t . R e f e r t o A R

within this regulation later takes on the

H i s t o r y .  T h i s  p u b l i c a t i o n  i s  a  n e w 25–30 for specific guidance.                          characteristics of a committee, as found in

          Department of the Army regulation.                Army internal control process. This          AR 15–1, then the proponent will follow

S u m m a r y . T h i s r e g u l a t i o n p r e s c r i b e s regulation contains internal control provi- all AR 15–1 requirements for establishing

            policies governing the Soldier for Life -           sions in accordance with AR 11–2 and            and continuing the group as a committee.

          Transition Assistance Program. This regu-        identifies key internal controls that must

l a t i o n i m p l e m e n t s D O D D 1 3 3 2 . 3 5 a n d be evaluated (see appendix B).                       Distribution. This publication is availa-

         DODI 1332.36                                   S u p p l e m e n t a t i o n . S u p p l e m e n t a t i o n o f ble in electronic media only and is in-

          Applicability. This regulation applies to       this regulation and establishment of com-            tended for command levels C, D, and E

t h e R e g u l a r A r m y , t h e A r m y N a t i o n a l mand and local forms are prohibited with-          for the Regular Army, and D and E for

          Guard/Army National Guard of the United      out prior approval from the Deputy Chief         the Army National Guard/Army National

          States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless o f S t a f f , G – 1 ( D A P E – H R P – T D ) , 3 0 0 Guard of the United States, and the U.S.

         otherwise stated                                           A r m y  P e n t a g o n ,  W a s h i n g t o n ,  D C Army Reserve.

20310–0300.

Proponent and exception authority.

             The proponent of this regulation is the          Suggested improvements. Users are

            Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1. The propo-          invited to send comments and suggested

            nent has the authority to approve excep-       improvements on DA Form 2028 (Recom-

          tions or waivers to this regulation that are m e n d e d C h a n g e s t o P u b l i c a t i o n s a n d

Blank Forms) directly to the Deputy Chief

Contents (Listed by paragraph and page number)

Chapter 1

Introduction, page 1

Purpose • 1–1, page 1

References • 1–2, page 1

Explanation of abbreviations and terms • 1–3, page 1

Responsibilities • 1–4, page 1

Mission • 1–5, page 1

*This regulation supersedes AD 2014–18, dated 23 June 2014.

                                                                                              AR 600–81 • 17 May 2016                                                                                    i

UNCLASSIFIED

Contents—Continued

Chapter 2 Responsibilities, page 2

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs • 2–1, page 2

Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1 • 2–2, page 2

Chief, National Guard Bureau • 2–3, page 4

Chief, Army Reserve • 2–4, page 5

Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management • 2–5, page 6

The Surgeon General • 2–6, page 8

Commander, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command • 2–7, page 9

Commander, U.S. Army Recruiting Command • 2–8, page 9 Army commanders at all levels • 2–9, page 9

Chapter 3 Structure, page 10

Overview • 3–1, page 10

Statutory and Department of Defense requirements • 3–2, page 10

Principles of support • 3–3, page 10

Standards of service • 3–4, page 10

Chapter 4 Soldier for Life – Transition Assistance Program, page 11

Command responsibility • 4–1, page 11

Transition priority for services • 4–2, page 11

Transition participation • 4–3, page 11

Virtual curriculum in Joint Knowledge Online • 4–4, page 13

Chapter 5 Soldier for Life - Transition Assistance Program process, page 14

Veterans Opportunity to Work requirements • 5–1, page 14

Career readiness standards requirements • 5–2, page 14

Program Career Tracks • 5–3, page 14

Capstone process (completion is mandatory) • 5–4, page 15

Program transition timeline • 5–5, page 15

Early steps in the program • 5–6, page 16

Identifying Soldiers for transition services • 5–7, page 16

Notifying Soldiers for transition services • 5–8, page 17

Preseparation counseling • 5–9, page 19

Preseparation counseling for Soldiers within the Integrated Disability Evaluation System • 5–10, page 22 Preseparation counseling for prisoners • 5–11, page 23

Preseparation counseling for eligible, pre-deploying Active Component Soldiers • 5–12, page 23

Directed initiatives—Partnership for Youth Success program • 5–13, page 23

Initial counseling • 5–14, page 24

Individual transition plan • 5–15, page 25

Follow up with new clients • 5–16, page 25

Military occupational specialty crosswalk process • 5–17, page 25

Department of Labor Employment Workshop • 5–18, page 25

Department of Labor Employment Workshop exemptions • 5–19, page 26

Veterans Administration Benefits Briefings • 5–20, page 26

Financial Planning Workshop • 5–21, page 26

Wrap-up counseling • 5–22, page 27

Installation clearance • 5–23, page 27 Army retention • 5–24, page 27

ii

Contents—Continued

Chapter 6 Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, page 28

Army Reserve Component Soldiers • 6–1, page 28

Army National Guard • 6–2, page 28

Army National Guard model • 6–3, page 28

U.S. Army Reserve • 6–4, page 29

U.S. Army Reserve model • 6–5, page 29

Chapter 7 Soldier for Life–Transition Assistance Program Client, page 31

Eligible clients • 7–1, page 31

Soldiers • 7–2, page 31

Spouses and dependents • 7–3, page 31

Exceptions to eligibility • 7–4, page 32

Eligible retirees and veterans • 7–5, page 32

Eligible Soldiers referred to the Integrated Disability Evaluation System • 7–6, page 32

Eligible Soldiers assigned or attached to a Warrior Transition Unit, and Soldier and Family Assistance Center clients

• 7–7, page 32

Eligible prisoners • 7–8, page 32

Eligible Soldiers subject to the Army Stop Loss Program • 7–9, page 33

Eligible demobilizing Reserve Component Soldiers • 7–10, page 33 Involuntary separations • 7–11, page 33

Chapter 8 Army Career Skills Program, page 34

Objective • 8–1, page 34

Implementation • 8–2, page 34

Sample screening and selection process for commander use • 8–3, page 37

Criteria for Career Skills Programs • 8–4, page 38 Army Reserve career skills • 8–5, page 38

Chapter 9 Connect Soldiers: Soldier for Life, page 40

Objectives • 9–1, page 40

Task organizatio