Fort Meade ACAP
Main Office 4216 Roberts Ave, 1st
FloorFort Meade, MD 20755
301-677-9871
SFAC2462 85th Med BN AveFort Meade, MD 20755
301-677-6318
Fort Meade ACAP Team
Mrs. Countess D. Simiyu, Manager
Ms. Sheilah Wright , Administrative Assistant
Ms. Paula A. McNeill, ACAP Career Counselor
Mrs. Carmella Forman, ACAP Career Counselor
Mrs. Denise Elliott-Bourdeaux, SFAC Career Counselor
Mr. Sharif Small, AFC, ACAP Financial Counselor
Mr. George E. Matthews, Transition Service Manager
THINGS SOLDIERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUTACAP
Location and Contact Info:Fort Meade ACAP 4216 Roberts Ave, 1st FloorFort Meade, MD 20755(301) [email protected] ACAP Manager: Countess D. Simiyu Transition Service Manager: George E. Matthews
Every Soldier who has been on active duty for more than 180 consecutive days, no matter the reason for leaving the Army, is required to complete Preseparation Counseling (documented on DD Form 2648) at least 365 days prior to ETS date or Retirement. Soldiers being administratively discharged should be directed to ACAP at the first sign that discharge is a possibility. Reserve Component Soldiers have to complete Preseparation Counseling also but it will be documented on a DD Form 2648-1. The 365-day criterion does not apply to Reserve Component Soldiers unless they are AGR.•Preseparation Counseling can be done online at www.acap.army.mil or in the ACAP Center on a computer. If the Soldier completes Preseparation Counseling online she/he must call ACAP @ 301-677-9871 to schedule an Initial Counseling. It’s during Initial Counseling that the Soldier will be provided their copy of the DD Form 2648/-1 and informed about and scheduled for follow-on services. We encourage Soldiers to complete Preseparation Counseling at the office or at home vs. ACAP Center because the 2 hours it takes can be accomplished over a period of time; at the ACAP Center it must all be accomplished during one sitting.
•Only an ACAP Counselor can provide a Soldier with a DD Form 2648/-1. Therefore, Soldiers have to visit the ACAP Center in order to receive it. Soldiers who are deployed, or lack access to an ACAP Center can get their DD Form 2648/-1 by conducting Initial Counseling with the ACAP Call Center, 1-800-325-4715. At the conclusion of Initial Counseling the Counselor will sign the DD Form 2648/-1 and send to Soldier via encrypted email or postal service. •Soldiers must provide the Transition Center a DD Form 2648/-1 in order to clear.
There is no established standard for how much time a Soldier spends in ACAP.
•Soldiers may start the ACAP process 24 months in advance of retirement/separation•The most important thing Soldiers get out of Preseparation Counseling is information to help them make smart decisions about their Transition Process. Soldiers will also be exposed to the other services ACAP offers or facilitates•Other Services
VA Briefing (Mandatory)*Dept of Labor Employment Assistance Workshop (Mandatory)*MOC Crosswalk (Mandatory)*Transition Overview (Mandatory)*Financial Counseling/12-month budget (Mandatory)*eBenefits Registration (Mandatory)*Individual Transition Plan (Mandatory)*DTAP BriefingApplying for a Federal JobOperation Boots to Business (Starting a Business)Starting a Business FranchiseUnderstanding Education BenefitsDress for SuccessEmployer Day & Job FairsIndividualized assistance with resume writing, job search, interview preparation, etc
•In addition to the events/items listed as Mandatory under Other Services Soldiers, based on their particular situation, Soldiers must also possess one or more of the following prior to separation: (1) Resume (2) College Application/Acceptance Letter (3) Job Application (4) Job Acceptance/Contract
•*All of these workshops/seminars/briefings are covered during the 5-day TAP/GPS Workshop that is offered once, and sometimes twice each month. Location for TAP/GPS Workshop is McGill Training Center, RM 1. Please contact the ACAP office for more information or to schedule the workshop. Mandatory workshops/seminars/briefings can also be completed virtually by visiting www.acap.army.mil and clicking Virtual Center.
Subject: Army Transition Program Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked QuestionsPurpose:The Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP), provides Soldiers and their eligible Family members transition and job assistance services at 74 Army installations. ACAP services include pre-separation counseling and employment assistance.
Eligibility:Active duty Soldiers preparing to transition from the Army are eligible to receive ACAP services. All Soldiers must receive the mandatory pre-separation counseling and complete DD Form 2648, Pre-separation Counseling Checklist for Active Component Service Members, prior to leaving the Installation.Active duty Soldiers and their eligible Family members may initiate ACAP services up to 1 year prior to separation and for 180 days following their release from active duty. If retiring, ACAP services can be initiated by the Soldier and eligible Family members up to 2 years prior to retirement date and thereafter on a space available basis for life.
1. Is ACAP mandatory?ACAP is mandatory for all Soldiers who will have a minimum of 180 days of continuous active duty at the time of their separation. 2. When can my Soldiers start ACAP?Retirees may start ACAP after their 18th year of service, and non-retiring Soldiers have up to 24 months before separation. With an early start, Soldiers can take full advantage of all ACAP services without interfering with duty requirements.
Fort Meade Army Career Alumni Program, ACAP4216 Roberts Ave, 1st Floor
Fort Meade, MD 20755Phone: 301-677-9871
3. Where can Soldiers receive ACAP services?The Fort Meade ACAP Center is located at 4216 Roberts Ave (the street runs between the post theater and post chapel).
4. Can Soldiers do everything on line?Soldiers can’t do everything online. However, Soldiers can register for and schedule services as well as receive required Preseparation Counseling and complete DD Form 2648 or DD Form 2648-1online. ACAP On-Line makes the process of getting services easier and provides access to the same job search tools and resources used in the ACAP Center to write resumes and cover letters, practice job interview skills and conduct online research.
5. What is the average length of time required for a Soldier to complete ACAP?Pre-Separation Counseling + Initial Counseling: 3 hours. If Soldiers completes Preseparation Counseling online at office or home, the actual visit with ACAP Counselor only lasts 30minutes if the Soldier has completed Pre-separation Counseling online. TAP/GPS Workshop (includes Transition Overview, MOS Crosswalk, VA Briefing, Department of Labor Employment Assistance Workshop, Financial Counseling, VA online benefits registration, and Individual Transition Plan Overview): 5 days, Monday – Friday. Optional Seminars: (a) Starting a Business: 2 days (offered quarterly) (b) Higher Education Application: 2 days (offered quarterly) (c) Technical Track: 2 days (offered quarterly) (d) Dress for Success: 3 hours (offered quarterly) (e) Starting a Business Franchise: 2 hours (offered quarterly) (f) Applying for a Federal Job: 2 hours (offered monthly) (g) Employer Day: 2 hours (offered bi-monthly) (h) Job Fair: 3 hours (offered quarterly). Optional Services: (a) Resume Assistance: Time will vary based upon the skill sets of the Soldier. However, I rarely see a Soldier spend more than 5 hours with a Counselor working on a resume for the duration of her/his transition period. Most Soldiers who interact with a Counselor about their resume normally email their resumes to the Counselor and receive assistance electronically (b) Interview Practice: May take one to two hours but this is a service with extreme low utilization. Additionally, many Soldiers will work writing and revising resumes, searching for job opportunities, preparing for job fairs and and researching career fields. Obviously, all this work can’t effectively be accomplished in a compressed timeframe. Consequently, Soldiers often spread their ACAP related activities over a period of months. Finally, Soldiers have to work their ACAP activities around duty requirements. That’s why it is important to get your Soldiers started early. BOTTOMLINE: If a Soldier attended the mandatory TAP/GPS Workshop and attended every seminar, and utilized every service the total amount of time he/she would be away from work is 120 hours. Spread over an 18-month period this equals 7 hours per month; 15-month period = 8 hours per month; 12-month period = 10 hours per month; 6-month period = 20 hours per month.
6. Should it be expected that a transitioning Soldier may have multiple ACAP appointments?Yes. Soldiers can require several appointments to complete their ACAP services.
7. How can the mission be met if Soldiers are at ACAP?The earlier a Soldier starts the ACAP process, the easier it is for them to schedule ACAP services around mission requirements and use ACAP On-Line to receive services. By allowing your Soldiers to begin their ACAP process early and spread their investment of time over a longer period, their participation in ACAP services will have a minimal impact on your mission.
8. Does ACAP train Soldiers in a new skill or career field?No. ACAP helps Soldiers to set new career goals and attain those goals, but it does not deliver skills training except in the area of job search skills.
9. The unit is going to be deploying. Can Soldiers initiate ACAP now or do they have to wait until they return to start?So long as non-retiring Soldiers are within 24 months of separation and retirees have been on active duty more than 18 years they can start ACAP services at any time. Starting the ACAP process before deployment will help you to ensure that your unit timeliness rate stays high and helps Soldiers plan for a well-orchestrated separation when they return from deployment. Even while they are deployed Soldiers can use job search tools and receive counseling support through ACAP On-Line.
10.Can Soldiers use ACAP services during duty hours?Army policy considers ACAP to be an official use of time, just like a dental appointment or visit to JAG. Soldiers can use ACAP On-Line to receive services at their leisure, whether from work or home. As always, the unit mission is a Soldier’s priority, and will take precedence over ACAP services
11. Are Soldiers who are being involuntarily separated required to receive ACAP services?All Soldiers who will have 180 days or more of continuous active duty upon separation are required to receive ACAP services. Commanders are urged to refer Soldiers to ACAP the immediately after a situation occurs that indicates a possibility the Soldier may be separated.
12. Are DA Civilians (DAC) eligible to receive ACAP services?Yes. DA Civilians who are subject to a RIF or BRAC are eligible to receive ACAP services either online or at an ACAP Center. They can attend workshops targeted to their needs, receive counseling and use resources such as research materials and automation. DA Civilians may take up to 40 hours of administrative leave to accomplish their transition goals.
13. Can family members of Soldiers and DA Civilians use ACAP services?Family members of eligible Soldiers and DA Civilians can prepare for their entry or re-entry into the job market by participating in the same ACAP services – workshops, counseling, tool usage – as Soldiers or DA Civilians.
14. Who can participate in ACAP Job Fairs and Employer Days?Generally, ACAP Job Fairs and Employer Days are targeted to Soldiers and take place on the Installation. Employers who participate in these events, typically, are interested in hiring Soldiers and look to fill their job openings with individuals who have skills that are found in military occupations. DA Civilians and Family members may also attend these job fairs and will often locate good job leads and opportunities through them.
Points of Contact
George Matthews, Transition Services Manager, (301) 677-9874, [email protected]
Countess Simiyu, ACAP Center Manager, (301) 677-9871, [email protected]
Upcoming Seminars
Sign up for a virtual center account
Use the virtual center calendar to see the schedule of classes
Soldiers who attended the TAP workshop before November 2012 completed the 3-Day TAP workshop, which only included a VA Briefing and DOL Employment Workshop.
November 2012 the VOW ACT, Veterans Opportunity to Work, was implemented. With this new Act came new ACAP guidelines. Soldiers leaving the military are now required to complete the following:
DD Form 2648/2648-1 - ACAP ChecklistVA BriefingDOL Employment Workshop DD Form 2958-Service Member’s Individual Transition Plan ChecklistTransition OverviewMOS CrosswalkFinancial Planning WorkshopResume
As a result of the new guidelines, Soldiers must complete the Transition Overview, MOS Crosswalk, Financial Workshop, DD2958(ITP Checklist) and a resume of their choice federal or civilian. The good news is these workshops can be completed online via the virtual center at www.acap.army.mil . To complete this training you must sign up for a virtual center account. For additional information contact the ACAP office, 301-677-9871 or the National Call Center, 1-800-325-4715
New VOW ACT Guidelines
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