B4 April 18, 2013 www.FortHoodSentinel.comLEISURE

Additions to ACAP allow easy transition to civilian workforceBy Sgt. WILLIam WhItE

14th PAD

As the Army continues to draw down its forces, its focus moves to ensuring Soldiers transitioning outward have the best chance for success outside the service.

For those who will find them-selves caught in the sweeping net that is force downsizing, the Army Career and Alumni Program is a welcome mat to the civilian sector.

The Veterans Opportuni-ty to Work workshop is a new course for Soldiers beginning their transition. It combines several instructional briefings and classes that were previously completed separately, as well as new materials to help service members get hired.

“This is something that is extremely beneficial and will continue to be beneficial, because they are teaching you how to suc-ceed in a civilian work environ-ment,” said Staff Sgt. William Davis Jr., a force modernization analyst within the 1st Cavalry Divi-sion’s headquarters.

The VOW to Hire Heroes Act was signed into law in 2011 and was focused on assisting service members with their transition,

expanding education opportuni-ties and providing tax credits for employers who hire veterans, said Linda Christ, the transitioning services manager for Fort Hood’s ACAP program.

“The law affects every service member and there are several

agencies that are partners – the Department of Defense, Depart-ment of Labor, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security and ACAP,” Christ said. “The newest partner is the Small Business Administration.”

The workshop is a product of

those agencies’ directives, responses to Soldiers’ needs and coordination from ACAP to meet those needs of the transitioning Soldier.

Requests from Soldiers for more transition instruction resulted in an extension of the previous three-day workshop into the five-day VOW workshop, Christ said.

“This is a wonderful tool to uti-lize,” Davis said. “There are a lot of services and benefits available to veterans and this is your opportu-nity to learn them.”

Davis, who is transitioning out of the Army, attended the Senior Transition Assistance course, the VOW workshop that is tailored to senior leaders and 20-plus year retirees.

In addition to the interviewing techniques, resume preparation skills and VA benefits instruction briefings provided during the VOW workshop, ACAP continues to offer networking opportunities as well as local and national job offerings to point Soldiers in the right direction.

“One thing we really like to do is connect Soldiers directly to employ-ers,” Christ said. “We hold a mini

job fair every Thursday at the Oveta Culp Hobby Center and a mega job fair in January and June at Club Hood.”

The ACAP computer lab has soft-ware and resume wizards to go along with what you learn in the workshop, Christ added. Also in the lab is a wall posted with employer information and job openings.

Soldiers approaching their expira-tion of time in service or retirement are encouraged to begin the process as soon as possible.

“Start the process early and take it seriously to get all the help you can get,” Christ said. “We are here to help and we are quite effective at what we do.”

Christ said Department of Army guidelines for ACAP mandates commanders to ensure that each Soldier’s transitioning requirements are met in accordance with the Department of the Army standards.

The ACAP Center is located on the third floor of the Copeland Center, Bldg. 18010. Their hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 288-2227 to schedule an appointment.

Soldiers in the Veterans Opportunity to Work workshop study and prepare for mock interviews during the Senior Transition Assistance course at Central Texas Col-lege April 11.

Photo by Sgt. William White, 14th PAD

Sgt. 1st Class Gene Thomlinson, an operations sergeant with 2nd Battalion 291st Aviation Regiment, 166th Aviation Bri-gade, Division West, answers a question from Master Sgt. Kahrim Singleton, a 15th Military Intelligence Battalion Soldier who is currently transitioning out of the Army, during a mock interview at Central Texas College April 11.