Revamped Transition Assistance Program to Help Troops After the - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

Those leaving the military will soon get some extra help finding work.

It's all thanks to changes to the decades-old Transition Assistance Program (TAP).

President Obama made the announcement at a veterans convention in Reno last week.

The project has been in the works all year, and Fort Hood is playing a major role.

This isn't SFC Anthony Durham's first time to leave the Army.

He left once before in 1992.

"Back then, it was essentially, they teach you how to write a resume, and there wasn't a lot after that," said Anthony.

The only problem is, the TAP has evolved very little since the 90's.

Now a slumping economy is leaving exiting service members like Anthony and SGT Jeffery Brush uncertain.  

"I'm kind of nervous, because I don't know what's out there, I've been in the Army so long," said Jeffry.

But hopefully, things will soon get easier for these soldiers.

Last December, workers from four installations, including Fort Hood, were called to Washington to draw up plans to revamp the program.

Fort Hood Transition Services Manager Linda Christ was one of them.

"What prompted this is upcoming force reduction that is going to hit all the services in both the active and the reserve components," said Linda.

By November, the program changes will be in place.

They include a mandatory year of preparation time, during which troops will go through more personal and high tech workshops.

They'll also get financial counseling and help signing up for VA benefits.

Anthony says they're some much needed tweaks that can make a world of difference.

"You know, you see veterans out on the street all the time. It's just good that there is an effort being put forth to get those people jobs," Anthony said.

The changes are even creating jobs at the Army Career and Alumni Center at Fort Hood.

In order to make it all happen, they're increasing their staff from 19 to 41 employees.

Fort Sill and Fort Washuta are testing new workshops this week, and next week Fort Hood and Fort Wadsworth will test changes for reserves.

Reporter/Photographer: Sophia Stamas sstamas@kcentv.com