Defense Civilian Downsizing PDF Download

Since 1990, about 300,000 service members have left the armed forces every year due to the downsizing of the military. Because of inadequate support from the Defense Department and military service headquarters, however, many of these persons and their spouses have not been receiving timely assistance in the transition to civilian life as required by law. Officials responsible for providing transition services did not know who was leaving, departing service members were not being given information translating their military experience and training into marketable civilian skills, members either were not being provided individual preseparation counseling or were not receiving it promptly, and many service members and their spouses did not have a chance to attend transition seminars and use job assistance centers. Service members and their spouses who received transition services told GAO that they had found them helpful in readjusting to civilian life. In September 1993, the Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum stressing the need for commander support of the program.