STUTTGART, Germany — The Army "keeps rolling along," but everyone's time in uniform ends. Few know this better than USAG Stuttgart Transition Services Manager James Hill ━ that's why he's here to help.
Hill arrived in Stuttgart to lead the garrison’s Transition Assistance Program this summer, bringing with him a wealth of experience in administration and service. Arguably as important, he has an intimate knowledge of what it feels like to struggle after transitioning out of the military. It was a struggle he was able to endure thanks to the knowledge he gained during his transition, he said.
Once called the Army Career and Alumni Program, or ACAP, the Army rebranded and invested considerably into the Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Program in the mid-2010s. Now known simply as TAP, the program is a staple in every Soldier's career, ensuring that they have access and awareness of programs that are tailor-made to help them find success.
"I actually went through ACAP and then decided to stay in," Hill said. "By the time I was ready to get out, it was called Soldier For Life. Then, through a series of events, I ended up homeless. But I used the information I was given in SFL TAP to take advantage of VA benefits. The VA saved my life."
Hill served in the Army as a human resources specialist, or 42A, before completing his active-duty service in 2017 at Camp Zama, Japan. From there, he moved to the western Pacific island of Palau, where he had planned to run a business, doing so for three months before a slump in tourism made that impossible. He then moved to Guam, where he was unhoused.
Amid his financial struggles, Hill was able to rely on two critical programs — VA disability and the GI Bill — that he had learned about during his time in TAP, ultimately putting them to use just when he needed them most.
"I didn't have a paystub, [so I] couldn't get a place. I was moving from Airbnb to Airbnb, going through my life savings," Hill said. "I was almost out of money, but VA disability kicked in just in time, with backpay. I was finally able to get a place because of the GI bill and the housing money counting as income."
Over the next two years, he would attend college online, earning associate and bachelor's degrees in human resources. He then took a job as a government contractor before landing a federal position in Hawaii.
"If you think about it, we are amazingly lucky to have a transition services manager that has struggled and succeeded like that," said USAG Stuttgart Human Resources Director Dennis Heaney, whose directorate includes TAP. "He has the education and the work experience, he knows the regulations. While that’s important, what he really has is the ability to lead that program from a place of sympathy and understanding. To our transitioning service members, that is invaluable."
Hill doesn't mince words when connecting his past experiences with his current role. For him, embracing this job means helping people facing the same challenges that he did. This experience has led him to strongly advise that transitioning service members start planning early.
"I've found myself in an extraordinary position, coming into a program that had solid infrastructure and being able to inject my personal passion, history and enthusiasm," he said. His enthusiasm for the program is clear as he emphasizes its many merits.
Service members are encouraged to begin enrollment in TAP within 18 months of separation, 24 months for retirees. Reservists who are at USAG Stuttgart but are not demobilizing back to their unit need to come by the TAP Center as soon as they arrive on station, according to Hill.
For that matter, the USAG Stuttgart TAP Center is open to all branches of service. While each branch has their own variation of TAP, the programs incorporate the same career readiness standards. Given the joint service community at USAG Stuttgart, Hill encourages everyone to come by regardless of their uniform pattern, and chances to do so are bountiful.
"We have a lot of opportunities and community engagements planned," Hill said. "We are partnered with ACS on a community job fair Oct. 23. On April 9, we are doing a Hiring Our Heroes event. Things like the [Army] Career Skills Program are difficult, geographically, but I am hopeful that we have a lot of great partners here at USAG Stuttgart that are going to help our transitioning folks gain needed experiences and skills."
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For more information on TAP, visit the official website.
The USAG Stuttgart TAP Center is located on the fourth floor of Building 2915 on Panzer Kaserne.
This article appeared in the 4th Quarter 2024 edition of the Stuttgart Citizen magazine.
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