PSTAP Assessment Longitudinal Survey

OMB Control Number: 2900-0864

Respondent Burden: 9.25 minutes
Expiration Date: XX/XX/20XX

RESPONDENT BURDEN: An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this project is 2900-0864, and it expires XX/XX/20XX. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 9.25 minutes per respondent, per year, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to VA Reports Clearance Officer at vapra@va.gov. Please refer to OMB Control No. 2900-XXXX in any correspondence. Do not send your completed VA Form XXX to this email address.

VA Post-Separation Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Longitudinal Survey

Thinking back on the time when you were planning your separation from the military, the first series of questions are about the training you may have received under what is called the Transition Assistance Program, or “TAP.” The TAP curriculum is comprised of several modules (or tracks or classes).

The following sections address important aspects of your life experiences over the past 12 months. We want to track how your perceptions of TAP have changed over time as well as understand what role it has played in you achieving your long-term transition goals.
 

1) To what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about VA TAP Benefits and Services briefings?

	Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree	Strongly agree	Not applicable
Overall, the VA TAP Benefits and Services briefings were beneficial in helping me gain the information and skills I needed to prepare me for my post-military life.
Overall, the courses provided the information I needed for a seamless transition to post-military life.
Overall, I continue to use what I learned from the VA TAP Benefits and Services briefings.
The information provided during the VA TAP Benefits and Services briefings courses continues to assist me in my transition to civilian employment.

2) How knowledgeable are you about the process needed to:

	Not knowledgeable at all	Not very knowledgeable	Moderately knowledgeable	Very knowledgeable	Extremely knowledgeable	Not Applicable
Apply for VA benefits?
Prepare for changes in my economic situation after service?
Prepare for changes in my personal life?
Avoid potential homelessness?
Apply for VA Health Care?
Obtain mental health counseling or assistance?
Avoid predatory financial practices?

3) In the last 12 months have you applied for these VA benefits, or do you plan to apply in the future?

	No	Yes, you applied in the last 12 months	Yes, you plan to apply	Did not know about this benefit	Not sure
VA Disability Compensation
VA Education (e.g, post 9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery Bill, etc.)
VA Life Insurance (e.g., Veterans' Group Life Insurance)
VA Home Loans
VA Veteran Readiness and Employment (formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment)
VA Health Care
VA Caregiver Program

4) In the past 12 months, how useful was the information you received during the VA TAP Benefits and Services briefings?

Not useful at all

Not very useful

Neutral

Somewhat useful

Extremely useful

Not applicable

5) In the past 12 months, have you contacted a Veteran Service Organization (VSO) for help understanding or claiming VA benefits, seeking employment, or adjusting to civilian life?

Yes
No à Skip to Q7
Was not aware of VSOs à Skip to Q7

6) Please rate your experience with the VSO on the following items. Mark the appropriate box for each benefit.

	Unacceptable	Needs Improvement	Average	Good	Outstanding	Not Applicable
Information provided by the VSO
Ease of contacting the VSO
Your overall experience with the VSO

7) Have you use services from a VA Vet Center?

Yes

No à Skip to Q8

8) What VA Vet Center services did you use? Mark all that apply.

Individual or group counseling

Family counseling

Employment assessment

VBA Benefits assistance

Medical screening/referral

Other_______

Prefer not to answer

To help us determine how we can better serve Veterans and transitioning Servicemembers, these next sections will be asking about some key life areas over the last 12 months. In this section, we would like to know more about your employment situation.

9) In the last 12 months, how challenging have the following areas been for you as you continue your transition into civilian life?

	Extremely challenging	Very challenging	Moderately challenging	A little challenging	Not at all challenging	Not applicable	Prefer not to answer
Managing my expectations about the salary earned in a civilian job.
Knowing the steps in conducting a job search.
Understanding how my military experiences translate to civilian job requirements.
Adapting to differences between military and civilian workforce cultures, norms and behaviors.
Interacting with civilians who are not familiar with the military.
Working with civilians who share different values from me.
Learning to have a better work-life balance after the transition
Missing the camaraderie and teamwork that was part of the military culture.

10) What is your current employment status? Select the answer that best describes your current employment.

Self-employed

Work for a business, non-profit, or government agency (not self-employed)

Not employed - pursuing education/training à Skip to Q21

Not employed - Retired and chose not to pursue further employment àSkip to Q21

Not employed - I want to work but cannot find a job à Skip to Q19

Not employed - I am currently taking time off (greater than 6 months) à Skip to Q21

Not employed - Other reason - Please specify (): _________________________________________________ à Skip to Q21

Prefer not to answer

11) Please describe your current employment: Select the ONE answer that best describes your current employment.

I work full-time (without an additional part-time job)

I work full-time, and have an additional part-time job

I don’t have a full-time job, I work part-time by choice

I work part-time at one job, but would like full-time employment

I work part-time at more than one job, but would like full-time employment

12) Are you currently working in a permanent position or one that is temporary or seasonal? 

Permanent

Temporary or Seasonal

13) Do you currently work more than one job?*

Yes

No à Skip to Q15

14) Why do you work more than one job? Select all that apply.

[ ] By choice

[ ] Could not find a full-time job

[ ] Because one job did not provide enough for myself and/or my family

15) In the last 12 months, did you receive a promotion or raise with your current employer? Select all that apply.

[ ] Promotion

[ ] Raise

[ ] Did not receive promotion or raise

16) How well does your current job match with the skills you have built through your military service?

Does not match skillset

Does not match skillset because I wanted to pursue a different line of work

Slightly matches

Somewhat matches

Considerably matches

Completely matches my skillset

17) During the last 12 months, have you engaged in any entrepreneurial (e.g., starting your own business) activities? 

Yes, I own my own company and have ____ employees excluding myself: _________________________________________________*

Yes, I have a side-business/hobby I use to supplement my income

Yes, I have taken tangible steps to start a business during the last 12 months (by myself or with others)

No

18) In the last 12 months, were you let go or laid off from a job?

Yes, was let go or laid off from a job

No

19) In the last 12 months, have you quit or resigned from a job?

Yes, I quit or resigned from a job

No à Skip to Q21

20) Please rank your top three reasons you quit or resigned? Please rank up to three reasons for quitting or resigning by placing a 1, 2, and 3 in the boxes below with one being the primary or most important reason for resigning.

________Higher pay

________Better fit for my skills and abilities

________Want a permanent position

________Job satisfaction/better work environment

________Something more interesting

________More flexible schedule

________Better training and educational opportunities

________Better hours

________Want more hours/full-time position

________More opportunities for advancement

________Shorter commute

________Prefer not to answer

21) Are you actively looking for a new job? Select one answer.

Yes

No à Skip to Q23

22) What are the primary reasons you are looking for another job? Please rank up to three reasons for looking for another job by placing a 1, 2, and 3 in the boxes below with one being the primary or most important reason for looking for another job.

________Higher pay

________Better fit for my skills and abilities

________Want a permanent position

________Job satisfaction/better work environment

________Something more interesting

________More flexible schedule

________Better training and educational opportunities

________Better hours

________Want more hours/full-time position

________More opportunities for advancement

________Shorter commute

________Prefer not to answer

23) In the last 12 months have you enrolled, registered, or established a profile or online account with any of the following? Select all that apply.

	Enrolled/ registered in the past 12 months	Enrolled/ registered prior to past 12 months	Used services in the past 12 months	Used services prior to past 12 months	Never used	Not applicable
VA Health Care System (e.g., myHealtheVet.gov)	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Department of Labor’s American Job Center	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
VA Benefits Website (e.g., eBenefits)	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
Commercial job site (e.g., Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.)	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]
USAJOBS (federal employment)	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]	[ ]

24) In the past 12 months, did you use any of these resources to assist in obtaining employment? Select all that apply.

[ ] USAJOBS (e.g., federal jobs)

[ ] VA Veteran Readiness and Employment (formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment)

[ ] Department of Labor’s American Job Center

[ ] U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes Fast Track

[ ] Commercial job site (e.g., Indeed, LinkedIn, etc.)

[ ] Private or non-profit sector (e.g., applying directly, through a recruiter, Veteran hiring initiative, etc.)

[ ] Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program

[ ] Other - Please specify (Required): _________________________________________________*

[ ] None

Education and training are an important part of your success in civilian life. We would like to know about the changes you have made to your education status over the past 12 months.

25) In the past 12 months, did you engage in any education and/or training programs? Select all that apply.

[ ] Education at a college or university, full-time

[ ] Education at a college or university, part-time

[ ] Technical or vocational training/obtain license or certificate, full-time

[ ] Technical or vocational training/obtain license or certificate, part-time

[ ] Other - Please specify (Required): _________________________________________________*

[ ] No – Skip to Q32

26) How many academic credit hours did you complete during the past 12 months?

1 to 10

11 to 20

21 to 30

31 to 40

41 or more

Credits were not recorded

Did not complete any credits this year

27) In the past 12 months, have you engaged in an apprenticeship or internship program? Select all that apply.

[ ] Yes, apprenticeship

[ ] Yes, internship

[ ] No

28) In the past 12 months, have you obtained any new degrees or certifications?

Yes

No à Skip to Q30

29) Please select all degrees and certifications you have obtained in the last 12 months. Select all that apply.

[ ] Trade/technical school certification/degree

[ ] Apprenticeship certification

[ ] Associate Degree (e.g. AA, AS)

[ ] 4-year college degree (e.g., BA, AB, BS)

[ ] Master’s degree (e.g., MA, MS, MSW, MBA)

[ ] Professional degree (e.g., MD, DDS, DVM, LLB, JD)

[ ] Doctorate degree (e.g., PhD, EdD)

[ ] Prefer not to answer

30) Please rank the methods you are using to pay for your education/training: For each method used, please rank the selections beginning with 1 for the primary method.

________Student Loans

________GI Bill

________Working part-time or full-time

________Scholarship

________Money from other sources (e.g., parents, relatives, savings, etc.)

________Other (e.g., VR&E, Target Foundation, etc.)

[ ] None of the above

________Prefer not to answer

31) If you did not choose GI Bill above, why did you not use your GI Bill to pay your education? Select all that apply.

[ ] Transfer to another beneficiary

[ ] Saving it for future educational purposes

[ ] Have used all my funds/eligibility

[ ] Did not know about GI Bill

[ ] Other, please specify: _________________________________________________*

[ ] Not applicable

32) Does your current level of education allow you to pursue your career goals?

Yes

No

33) Does your current level of education allow you to meet your personal salary goals?

Yes

No

Two very important life areas that impact your overall transition are your health and relationships since your transition. The next set of questions will help us determine if your needs are being met in your civilian life and how we can better prepare Servicemembers during TAP.

34) Do you have an ongoing physical health condition, illness, or disability (e.g., high blood pressure, pain)?

Yes

No à Skip to Q37

35) Did you develop this condition in the last 12 months?

Yes

No

36) Are you currently seeking treatment for your physical health condition(s)?

Yes

No

37) Do you have an ongoing mental/emotional health condition, illness, or disability (e.g., depression, anxiety)?

Yes

No à Skip to Q40

38) Did you develop this condition within the last 12 months?

Yes

No

39) Are you currently seeking treatment for your mental/emotional health condition(s)?

Yes

No

40) Select all of the healthcare resources in which you are currently enrolled? Select all that apply.

[ ] Employer-provided health insurance (could be from your current or former employer, a family member’s current or former employer, or a union)

[ ] A plan you purchased through a healthcare exchange (e.g., Healthcare.gov, State exchange, Affordable Care Act/ “Obamacare”, etc.)

[ ] TRICARE

[ ] VA

[ ] Medicaid

[ ] Medicare

[ ] Other government assisted health plan

[ ] Something else - Please specify (Required): _________________________________________________*

[ ] Prefer not to answer

[ ] None of the above

41) Of the healthcare resources selected above, please select your one primary source of healthcare?

Employer-provided health insurance (could be from your current or former employer, a family member’s current or former employer, or a union)

A plan you purchased through a healthcare exchange (e.g., Healthcare.gov, State exchange, Affordable Care Act/ “Obamacare”, etc.)

TRICARE

VA

Medicaid

Medicare

Other government assisted health plan

Something else - Please specify (Required): _________________________________________________*

Prefer not to answer

42) Over the last 3 months, how satisfied have you been with:

	Very dissatisfied	Somewhat Dissatisfied	Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Very satisfied
Your physical health?
Your emotional/mental health?
Your health care?

43) What is your marital status? 

Living with a domestic partner à Skip to Q45

Never married

Married-first and only marriage à Skip to Q45

Married-second or later marriage à Skip to Q45

Separated

Divorced

Widowed

Prefer not to answer

44) Are you currently in a romantic relationship? 

Currently in a relationship

Not currently in a relationship

Prefer not to answer

45) Are you a parent or have you served in a parenting role during the past three months (including both your own biological children and other children for whom you have parenting responsibilities)? Select one answer.

Yes

No

Prefer not to answer

46) FAMILY — Considering the people to whom you are related by birth, marriage, adoption, spouse/significant other, etc.:

	None	One	Two	Three or Four	Five to Eight	Nine or more	Prefer not to answer
How many relatives do you see or hear from at least once a month?
How many relatives do you feel comfortable with that you can talk about private matters?
How many relatives do you feel close to such that you could call on them for help?

47) FRIENDSHIPS — Considering all of your friends including those who live in your neighborhood:

	None	One	Two	Three or Four	Five to Eight	Nine or more	Prefer not to answer
How many of your friends do you see or hear from at least once a month?
How many friends do you feel comfortable with that you can talk about private matters?
How many friends do you feel close to such that you could call on them for help?

48) Please tell us a little about your sense of connection with others:

	Never	Hardly Ever	Some of the Time	Often
How often do you feel that you lack companionship?
How often do you feel left out?
How often do you feel isolated from others?

The final area we’d like to ask you about is your financial situation. VA wants to understand whether TAP services can be enhanced to help improve the long-term financial outcomes for Servicemembers. If you are not sure how to answer some of these questions, please take your best guess.

49) Are you able to pay for all necessary expenses each month, such as mortgage/rent, debt payments, and groceries?

Yes

No

50) In the last 12 months, which of the following food assistance programs did your household use?

SNAP (food stamps)

WIC (Women, Infant, and Children’s Program)

K-12 School Meal Programs

Food pantry/food bank

Other food assistance program (supplemental food program, Meals on Wheels, or other), specify ____

My household has not used any food assistance programs

51) Does your household have at least 3 months of your typical income set aside in case of an unexpected financial event?

Yes

No

52) Does your household have the insurance coverage you and/or your family would need if an unexpected financial event were to occur (e.g., disability insurance, property insurance, and/or life insurance)?

Yes

No

53) Has your household begun to set aside money for retirement?

Yes

No

54) Is your household more than one month behind on your debt payments (e.g., mortgage or credit card)? 

No, my household is not more than one month behind in debt payments

Yes, my household is over one month behind in debt payments

Not applicable- my household does not have any debt

Prefer not to answer

55) What is your current living situation? Select one answer.

Rent an apartment, house, or room

Own an apartment or house

Live with a friend or relative and not paying rent

Live in a dormitory at school

Live in a medical or assisted living facility, such as a hospital or rehab center

Live in transitional housing (e.g., a halfway house)

Live in a car, on the street, or in a homeless shelter

Somewhere else - Please specify (Required): _________________________________________________*

Prefer not to answer

56) Are you currently concerned that you will lose your housing and be unable to find stable alternative housing? Select one answer.

Yes

No

Prefer not to answer

57) During the past 12 months, how many months were you employed?

Months employed: _____________________

Was not employed at any time during the past 12 months

58) During the past 12 months, how much did you earn from all jobs or businesses before taxes and other deductions?

Yearly salary: _____________________

59) During the past 12 months, what was your gross income? (Your gross income includes income you received from all sources, before taxes, including earnings from a job, benefits received from government programs, and any retirement, pension, investing, or savings income that you receive regular payments from.)

_________________________________________________

60) During the past 12 months, what was your gross household income? (Your household income is the combined before-tax income of people who share their income and live in the same home. Typically, this would be you and your spouse.)

_________________________________________________

61) How many people are supported by your HOUSEHOLD income, including yourself, your significant other (if you have one), and anyone else partially or fully supported by this income whether or not they live with you?

Number of people (Required): _________________________________________________*

Prefer not to answer

62) During the past 12 months, did you receive unemployment compensation?

Yes

No à Skip to Q64

63) How many weeks of unemployment did you receive?*

_________________________________________________

64) The following questions ask how satisfied you feel, on a scale from zero to 10. Zero means you feel no satisfaction at all and 10 means you feel completely satisfied.

	No satisfaction at all (0)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Completely satisfied (10)	Prefer not to answer
Thinking about your own life and personal circumstances, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole?
How satisfied are you with your quality of life?
How satisfied are you with your health?
How satisfied are you with your personal relationships?
How satisfied are you with feeling part of your community?
How satisfied are you with your future security?

65) Thinking back to your transition process, is there anything else that VA could have done then or could be doing now to help you after your service? (1,000 characters)

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

66) In order to contact you for additional follow-on surveys, we want to make sure we have your most up to date email address. What is your primary email address?

 : _________________________________________________*

I do not have an email address.

Thank You!

Thank you for taking our survey. Your response is very important to us.