Bill Overview
Title: TIER Act
Description: This bill adds additional factors for the design of the counseling pathways to address the needs of members of the Armed Forces under the Transition Assistance Program.
Sponsors: Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
Target Audience
Population: Members of the Armed Forces
Estimated Size: 1800000
- The bill is aimed at members of the Armed Forces, specifically those transitioning out of military service.
- The Transition Assistance Program is a program that prepares service members for civilian life after military service.
- The act will specifically affect service members who are about to leave or have recently left the military.
- The changes will likely impact both current and future members undergoing the transition process.
Reasoning
- The policy affects members of the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life. These individuals may have unique challenges such as career changes, adjusting to civilian norms, and dealing with psychological adjustments.
- The budget constraints suggest targeted assistance rather than universal coverage. Not all transitioning members will experience high-impact changes, so we should see a diversity of responses from low to high impact.
- The cost per person might be significant, especially if aiming to provide comprehensive assistance including counseling and retraining, which means not all can be served equally.
- A large proportion of the transitioning population are young adults starting families or pursuing education and new career paths, requiring support in these areas.
- The policy's effectiveness could be magnified if targeted properly, ensuring high impact in crucial early years post-transition.
Simulated Interviews
Recently Discharged Army Corporal (Texas)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe the policy could help me understand my career options better.
- Right now, I feel uncertain about the transition to a civilian job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Recently Retired Navy Officer (California)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having clear pathways for business would make things less intimidating.
- I think this policy might help map out training opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retiring Air Force Pilot (Virginia)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could better prepare me for a non-military career.
- Clearer pathways could speed up my transition.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Returning Home from Navy Deployment (Florida)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'd benefit from a counselor that understands civilian educational pathways.
- The policy could improve my confidence about providing for my child.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Recently Discharged Marine (North Carolina)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Transition assistance with focus on IT certification would be great.
- The policy seems like it could tailor the job counseling to my needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired Army Major (Washington)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I foresee a slight benefit from this policy in understanding civilian leadership needs.
- Targeted transition help would be reassuring.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Recently Discharged Air Force Airman (Ohio)
Age: 24 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could offer a clearer education funding pathway.
- Knowing what civilian life brings would ease my anxiety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Army Medical Officer transitioning to civilian role (Hawaii)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The counseling could cover some queries about medical practice certifications.
- It appears like a good initiative for structured career advice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Marines Engineering Specialist becoming a reservist (New York)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The program might clarify paths to leveraging skills I already have.
- This seems slightly beneficial for planning post-reserve career paths.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired National Guard Colonel (Arizona)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the impact for me is minimal, as my primary focus is community engagement.
- For others younger than me, I see this as more directly beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $35000000)
Year 2: $31000000 (Low: $26000000, High: $36000000)
Year 3: $32000000 (Low: $27000000, High: $37000000)
Year 5: $34000000 (Low: $29000000, High: $39000000)
Year 10: $36000000 (Low: $31000000, High: $41000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $55000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy primarily involves enhancing existing services rather than creating entirely new programs.
- Successful implementation depends on sufficient training and the adaptability of program staff.