Joint Base Charleston  Military and Family Support Center

As of May 2022 the Bureau of Labor Statistics for South Carolina reports South Carolina's unemployment rate is 3.3%; total unemployed people, 79K.

The Military & Family Readiness Center is able to assist. Both Centers have employment specialists who assist with resume writing and cover letters, pursuing federal or private sector employment and assist military spouses with reaching their career goals. For those still unsure, staff members can also assist with providing career exploration through personal interest inventories identifying personal and career goals and exploring spouse education opportunities.

Additionally, both Centers at Joint Base Charleston conduct employer panels with local and national companies twice monthly. Contact our office at (843) 963-8883 for more information.

GOAL: The goal of the Transition Assistance Program is to provide information, tools and training to ensure service members and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life; whether pursuing additional education, finding a career or starting their own business.

THE PROGRAM: The Transition Assistance Program is administered locally at your Military and Family Readiness Center. The mandatory components of TAP are applicable for all service members who have at least 180 continuous days or more on active duty; this includes National Guard and Reserve.

• TAP begins no later than 365 days prior to transition for those who are separating or retiring. It is recommended retirees begin the transition process at least two years prior to retirement. In the event of an unanticipated separation or retirement, or a member of the Reserve Component is demobilized with less than 365 days, TAP must begin as soon as possible within the remaining period of service.
• Individualized Initial Counseling between the service member and a TAP counselor is the official start to the transition process. During the IC session, service members complete their personal self-assessment and begin the development of their Individual Transition Plan to identify their unique needs of the transition process and post-transition goals.
• Once the individualized IC is complete, pre-separation counseling commences. Pre-separation counseling, just like IC, must start no later than 365 days prior to transition. Pre-separation counseling covers by-law information to include benefits, entitlements and resources for eligible transitioning service members. Caregivers and spouses are especially encouraged to attend pre-separation counseling with their service member.
• The DoD Transition Day follows pre-separation counseling, and is mandatory for transitioning service members. This portion of TAP includes curriculum modules on building resiliency by managing your own transition, a Military Occupational Code Crosswalk to help define and translate military skills, and the financial plan for transition module, which fulfils the mandated financial literacy requirement.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs will continue to provide a brief, formerly known as VA Benefits I and II, on the VA benefits and services available to service members and veterans.
• The Department of Labor will provide a required one-day brief on preparation for employment, which is a change from the current 3-day DOL Employment Workshop.

TAP will also include a service member election of two-days of instruction; these include the: DOL Employment Track, DOL Vocational Track (Career and Credential Exploration), DoD Managing Your Education Track, and the Small Business Administration Entrepreneurship Track. Transitioning service members may be required to elect at least one track, but may attend more than one based on their ITP and post-transition goals.

CULMINATING EVENT: The Capstone event, which is the where commanders verify achievement of career readiness standards and a viable ITP, must happen no later than 90 days before separation or released from active duty.

Contact the Military & Family Readiness Center at 843-963-4406 for more information or to get started.

Unemployment benefits are managed through the South Carolina Unemployment Commission. Select Online Claims Process and Job Registration on the homepage. Spouses who are leaving South Carolina on a permanent change of station move must be on the active-duty member’s orders and continue to work until 14 days or less before you make your move to qualify for South Carolina unemployment benefits. 

Please go directly the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce website for further information.