National Guard Transition Assistance Advisor
The National Guard has placed a Transition Assistance Advisor at each of the State Joint
Forces Headquarters to serve as the statewide point of contact and coordinator for easy access to
Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and to provide assistance in access to entitlements through
the Military Health System (TRICARE).
In May 2005, the partnership between the National Guard and Department of Veterans Affairs was
solidified when the Chief of the National Guard Bureau signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the
Under Secretary of Health and Under Secretary of Benefits at the Department of Veterans
Affairs. The hallmark of this partnership is that VA has access to soldiers and
families at unit events, and family programs as part of VA's outreach program targeted at returning
soldiers and their families. The goal of the partnership is to educate all Guard members and
their families about their entitlements and how to access the VA.
Transition Assistance Advisors (formerly State Benefits Advisors) assist National Guard
members with access to care and enrollment at VA healthcare facilities near their home of
record. They also assist National Guard members and their families in applying for other VA
entitlements and benefits such as compensation and pension for disabilities, insurance, loan
guarantee, vocational rehabilitation/employment (VRE) and educational benefits. Additionally,
they work with other Joint Forces Headquarters staff members and Directors of State Family Programs
to build a state coalition of support with VA and community organizations for Guard members and
their families to access in their community. While the program was set up to primarily take care of
Guard members and their families, Transition Assistance Advisors provide critical support and
facilitate the integration for the delivery of VA and community services to all members of the
active and reserve components.
State Coalition Model
The state coalition is a model that ties together the resources of the Department of Defense,
Department of Veterans Affairs, National Guard, and state and local community resources in an
effort to ensure Guard member and their families receive the benefits and support to which they are
entitled. Unlike active component members who return to a specific military base with onsite
support and services for the service member and family, reserve component members return to their
communities and civilian employment. The state coalition provides a community based network of
support of VA, state and community resources to assist Guard and Reserve members at the local
level.
Role of the Transition Assistance Advisor
The role of the State Transition Assistance Advisor is to match the member in need with those
who can provide the information or service. Transition Assistance Advisors:
- Provide information and assistance to Guard members and their families in understanding and
obtaining VA benefits and services through the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Military
Health System to meet specific needs of the service member.
- Coordinate with appropriate VA, TRICARE, Veteran Service Organizations, and other federal,
state and community resources to provide critical information and assistance in obtaining services
to meet the needs during the post-deployment period.
- Participate in the mobilization and demobilization process to brief/advise Guard members and
their families on available VA entitlements and VA and community information on available
resources.
- Assist in the coordination activities for the Post-Deployment Health Reassessment event
provided as a screening evaluation for lingering physical and mental health conditions at 3-6
months post-deployment.
- Research and resolve issues associated with entitlements when Guard members/and or their family
members encounter problems.
- Provide advice to the Joint Forces Headquarters and coordinates with Family Support
Specialists, Employer Support Groups, regarding entitlements available through Department of
Veterans Affairs, Department of Labor and other veterans’ entitlement and benefit programs.
- Highlight best practices through a monthly electronic TAA report as well as quarterly
newsletters and monthly conference calls with VA experts.
Date Last Reviewed: August 26, 2009
