The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) led program that provides information and training to ensure service members transitioning from active-duty are prepared for their next step in life - whether pursuing additional education, finding a job in the public or private sector, or starting their own business.

Every year, approximately 200,000 men and women leave U.S. military service and return to life as civilians, a process known as the military to civilian transition.

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provides information, tools and training to ensure service members and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life.

Military to civilian transition occurs within a complex and dynamic network of relationships, programs, services, and benefits, which includes transition planning and assistance efforts by individual Service branches, the interagency TAP partnership, and community resources delivered through local government, private industry, and nonprofit organizations.

In addition to the Military Departments, TAP is the result of an partnership between the Departments of Defense (DoD), Labor (DOL), Veterans Affairs (VA), Homeland Security (DHS), Education (ED), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The mandatory components of TAP are applicable for all service members, including National Guard and Reservists transitioning or being released from active duty, after serving 180 continuous days or more in accordance with Title 10, United States Code, Chapter 58.