HR3387-119

What This Bill Does

The ETS Act broadens transition assistance for servicemembers leaving active service. It explicitly includes special operations forces in Transition Assistance Program counseling and requires at least three days of preseparation counseling for members who already have full-time employment or education or vocational training lined up, and at least five days for other members. Counseling may not be provided by personnel responsible for retention, must be in person where practicable, may be remote if necessary, and the timing window is expanded from 365 to 540 days. The bill extends transitional health care availability for certain separated or recently separated members from 180 to 270 days. It orders GAO to study SkillBridge within two years, including service-by-service participation criteria, program differences, employer selection, contract development, best practices, and uniformity. It requires VA to maintain a public ZIP-code-searchable website for programs serving recently separated veterans and their dependents. It expands job counseling, training, and placement services to TAP-eligible members and updates Solid Start so it can refer to TAP classes or preseparation counseling, furnish TAP materials to veterans, and define TAP, Vet Centers, and veterans service organizations.

Who Benefits and How

Transitioning servicemembers benefit from longer counseling lead time, minimum counseling days, and separation counseling that is separated from retention pressure. Special operations forces benefit because the TAP counseling coverage expressly includes them. Recently separated veterans benefit from 270 days of transitional health care and a VA ZIP-code website for local programs. TAP-eligible members benefit from access to veteran job counseling, training, and placement services before separation. SkillBridge participants benefit from a GAO review of service differences, employer selection, contracts, best practices, and possible uniformity.

Who Bears the Burden and How

DOD transition offices must deliver three- or five-day counseling, expand the counseling window to 540 days, separate counseling from retention functions, and provide in-person or remote options. VA Solid Start staff must incorporate TAP materials and update outreach tied to TAP classes or preseparation counseling. VA website staff must build and maintain the ZIP-code program search for new veterans and dependents. GAO analysts must complete the SkillBridge study and report within two years. State workforce staff must handle expanded job counseling, training, and placement eligibility for TAP participants.

Key Provisions

• Expands TAP preseparation counseling to include special operations forces and three- or five-day minimum counseling periods.
• Extends the TAP counseling window from 365 to 540 days and separates counseling from retention personnel.
• Extends transitional health care from 180 to 270 days.
• Requires a GAO SkillBridge study and report within two years.
• Creates a VA ZIP-code-searchable website for new-veteran and dependent programs.
• Expands job counseling eligibility and connects Solid Start outreach to TAP materials.