Army Career and Alumni Program

The principal service provider for the Army Career and Alumni Program.

Army Career and Alumni Program

The ACAP Center is the principal service provider for the Army Career and Alumni Program. Comprised of one government representative and a number of contracted counselors and administrative staff, the ACAP Center is responsible for delivering both transition assistance and job assistance services.

Mission: Deliver a world class Transition Program for America’s Army that empowers members to make informed career decisions through benefits counseling and employment assistance.

Vision: Ensure that all transitioning members of the Army are fully aware of their earned transition benefits and provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully compete in the civilian job market.

Goals: Any effective program of services is realized based on a shared understanding of the program's objectives. ACAP is designed to accomplish several key objectives.

ACAP offices:

Camp Mobile

Camp Stanley

The Foundation of ACAP

ACAP is a centrally funded and administered program that provides transition and job assistance services on major installations. While Public Law was the foundation of the Transition Assistance Program initiative, the Army decided to go beyond basic requirements set by Congress and establish the Army Career and Alumni Program. Unlike the other Services, the Army supplements funding for ACAP rather than ask installations to use existing BASOPS funding.

ACAP Saves Money

The Army’s ACAP goals are targeted on its human resource needs and are worthy of every leader’s support. First, as an employer, the Army spends more than $10 Million dollars a month on Unemployment Compensation payments made to recently separated Soldiers. Each Soldier who meets eligibility criteria is entitled, by law, up to 26 weeks of unemployment compensation, and the Army must pay for it. While we are required to inform transitioning Soldiers of their eligibility for unemployment compensation, ACAP also helps transitioners to understand the negative impact of unemployment on the attainment of career goals. ACAP also provides transitioners the detailed job assistance training, counseling and resources needed to quickly find a job – often before leaving active duty. An Army Research Institute (ARI) study demonstrated that the full use of all ACAP services reduces the time it takes for a transitioner to find a job and increases the amount of money they earn.

ACAP Promotes AC Recruiting and Retention

As important as saving money is, the Army’s ACAP goals also include support to the manning of the total Army. ACAP supports the Army’s Active Component recruiting effort by producing successful alumni. The decision to enlist in the military and, more specifically, the Army, is often influenced by friends and relatives. When alumni are successful they serve as powerful examples of what Army service can do for a young man or woman’s future. Those who are capable of translating Army skills, training, and experience into rewarding careers are living billboards promoting the Army as a great place to start. ACAP also supports Active Component retention by helping Soldiers to intelligently compare their Army earnings, benefits, and potential for growth with what they can reasonably expect to achieve in the private sector. Many ACAP clients realize that they need to stay on active duty in order to gain new skills, education, training and experience. In FY 2002, more than 7,100 ACAP clients reenlisted – that’s the equivalent of almost 14 battalions.

ACAP Supports Manning the Total Army

As recent wars have demonstrated, the Army is more than the Active Component. ACAP supports the Reserve Component by helping transitioning Soldiers to understand how service in the Guard or Reserves can augment their starting civilian salaries and provide valuable training and benefits. Civilian employees are also a valuable part of the total Army. ACAP promotes Army civilian employee retention by assisting dislocated Army civilian employees to find new jobs. ACAP demonstrates to all civilian employees that the Army truly cares and will be there for them; even if their jobs are eliminated. Both military and civilian supervisors of Army civilian personnel are encouraged to refer their employees who have been adversely impacted by force reduction or A-76 actions to the ACAP Center for assistance.

ACAP — a Debt of Honor

ACAP exists to support the total Army. The Army expects its leaders to support ACAP because it helps the Army to conserve scarce budget dollars and man the force. Finally, but most importantly, the Army expects its leaders to support ACAP because they owe it to their Soldiers. A Soldier’s decision to leave active duty cannot erase his or her sacrifices and dedication. The Army’s leaders have always taken care of their Soldiers.

ACAP — Learn More

The ACAP Transition Services manager will be happy to arrange a visit to the ACAP Center for you and your staff to provide an overview of ACAP services. During your visit, you can tour the Center and view a demonstration of the ACAP XXI automated system. In addition, the TSM and staff are available to present informational briefings at installation/unit professional training and meetings, or to host such events at the ACAP Center. The Center representatives can also provide regular updates of ACAP installation/unit performance objectives and outcomes in meeting DoD and Army Transition goals.

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Date created: 10/7/2010 1:00:54 PM
Date last updated: 12/13/2010 2:46:36 PM