Curbelo offers bill supporting smooth transition from military to civilian life

U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) has put forth a bipartisan measure to better help separating active-duty military personnel get back into the swing of civilian life and work.

Rep. Curbelo on Feb. 6 introduced the Better Access to Technical Training, Learning, and Entrepreneurship for Servicemembers Act, or the BATTLE for Servicemembers Act, H.R. 4954, along with U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL). The bill aims to prepare military personnel who are leaving the service ranks by increasing their awareness of and participation in U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP) courses.

“We owe it to our servicemembers, and their families, to better help them transition back to the civilian job market,” Rep. Curbelo said.

DOD requires all departing members of the Armed Forces to complete TAP training at least 90 days before they leave service. According to a summary provided by Curbelo’s office, TAP offers a required core curriculum on many civilian-transitioning topics, such as obtaining veterans’ benefits, and provides optional two-day workshops in one of three focus areas: higher education, technical and skills training, or entrepreneurship.

“We have a variety of programs available, though too many of these brave men and women are not aware they exist,” Curbelo said. A November 2017 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found that less than 15 percent of eligible active-duty personnel participated in a two-day TAP workshop during fiscal 2016, according to Curbelo’s office.

To solve the problem, H.R. 4954 would require departing personnel to actively opt out of the two-day, specialized training workshops rather than opt in. This simple change of defaulting to participation and requiring action for non-participation would boost the numbers of personnel availing themselves of the benefit, Curbelo’s office said.

“While much work must still be done to help ensure they have successful and productive post-military careers, this legislation is a positive step forward in achieving those goals,” said Curbelo.
Joining Curbelo as original cosponsors of H.R. 4954 were U.S. Reps. Jack Bergman (R-MI) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). The bill awaits consideration by the House Armed Services Committee.