Staff Sgt. Raymond Mills Patricia Botkins, Warfighter and Family Readiness Center community readiness consultant, explains the Transition Assistance Program to Chief Master Sgt. Jerry Thomas, U.S. Air Force Band.

Now what Sergeant Bentley must figure out is how to put all of her professional accomplishments into one succinct resume to help her get a job in her next career.

The Transition Assistance Program offered through the Warfighter and Family Services Center is designed to assuage military members’ practical and personal fears about separating from the military. TAP courses cover everything from interview coaching to Tricare advice to courses that help explain how to ensure family members take advantage of all possible benefits.

‘‘When you retire and go into the civilian sector, rank falls away,” said Pinky Mason, WFSC’s educational programs director. ‘‘You’re not Captain Robert Smith. You’re just Bob. That’s why our programs are also supposed to help retiring military members stand up and be noticed for their accomplishments.”

Sergeant Bentley attended a workshop Aug. 24 that focused on strategies to decide what type of career is right for her.

‘‘I took this class to focus on what will be my next job, but I ended up getting a little extra out of it with resume help,” Sergeant Bentley said.

TAP is divided into two sections.

One is for enlisted members in ranks up to E-8, and O-1 to O-4.

The second, an executive program is for O-6s and up, and O-5s with 11 months or less time before retirement.

Military members and their families are eligible to begin participating in TAP activities two years before a retirement and one year before a separation. Two regular TAP courses and one E-TAP course are offered each month. The WFSC recommends completing the separation checklist, DD-2648, before enrolling in a TAP course.

‘‘During the next two months, we’re going to redesign some of the TAP courses offered at Bolling,” Mrs. Mason said. ‘‘Three-day courses typically offered by the Air Force will be expanded to five, and offered at least twice a month.”

Civilian contractors and hiring managers are brought in as professional consultants for those transitioning out of the military.

‘‘We’ve had Northrup-Grumman, Booz Allen Hamilton, the Federal Aviation Administration and many other major industry leaders come in to advise TAP attendees,” Mrs. Mason said. ‘‘We try to give all military members the tools they need to walk off the installation and succeed.”

For information, visit www.afpc.randolph.af.mil⁄news⁄story.asp?id=123216907 or call 202-433-6151.