This bill aims to enhance the transition experience for service members leaving the military by providing better counseling and support services. It ensures that both service members and their spouses receive the guidance they need to adjust to civilian life.
Enhancing the Transitioning Servicemember’s Experience Act or the ETS Act This bill expands the provision of pre-separation counseling under the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and other services for members of the Armed Forces who are transitioning to civilian life. Regarding pre-separation counseling under TAP, the billsets a minimum duration of counseling depending on a member's post-service employment, education, or training status; prohibits individuals who are responsible for the retention of members in any of the Armed Forces from providing counseling; removes restrictions on the types of counseling for which a spouse of a member may be included; expands financial planning counseling to include information about debt and investing; requires that financial planning counseling be provided by an individual who has significant experience in financial planning; andrequires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor to audit counseling annually. If a military department determines an individual is at risk for a difficult transition to civilian life, that department must provide the individual's information to the VA and Labor. The VA and Labor must timely contact the individual, as specified. Additionally, the bill extends transitional health care for members separating from service to 270 days (currently 180). The bill alsoexpands eligibility for certain Labor job counseling, training, and placement services for veterans to members of the Armed Forces who are eligible for TAP; andexpands the Solid Start program by requiring the VA to provide TAP materials to veterans and analyze data assessing the effectiveness of TAP.