Transitioning from the Military to Higher Education: A Case Study of the Transition Assistance Program

Abstract: Joining the military can be an exciting and hopeful time for individuals looking to serve their country, embark on a new journey, and take advantage of professional and personal benefits the military offers. The military is an institution in which service members are trained in very specific skills, behaviors, and values. The training provides service members with the necessary operational, technical, and personal tools to operate within the military’s institutional hierarchy. While transitioning in the military can be as much of a shock as transitioning out of the military, transitioning out of the military has not historically received as much attention. Zogas (2017) noted that “Young veterans regularly observe that the military does an extremely effective job of training them to operate within the military, and an extremely poor job of reversing that training or preparing them before sending them back into civilian life” (p. 1). For this reason, many veterans struggle as they transition out of the military. This study examines the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) model utilized between 2014 to 2018, and in particular the training and processes designed to help service members pursue higher education, through a qualitative case study of one military Air Force Base. Four service members, three TAP Instructors, and one TAP Financial Counselor volunteered to participate in this study. Findings from interview questions, TAP and higher education track observations, and document reviews suggested that service members experience challenges during their transition but are better equipped to make informed decisions for their transition upon completing TAP.