Sec. 6. Surveys on member experiences with Transition Assistance Program counseling and services and in transition to civilian life
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Each Secretary concerned shall conduct surveys of members of the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of such Secretary at the conclusion of the receipt by such members of counseling, information, and services under the Transition Assistance Program in order to assess the experiences of such members, and their spouses (if applicable), in the receipt of such counseling, information, and services. The surveys under paragraph
(1)shall be designed to obtain information on the Transition Assistance Program as follows: Member assessments of the quality of instruction. Member satisfaction with the scope and quality of courses and services, including courses under paragraphs (2), (3), and
(4)of subsection
(h)of section 1142 of title 10, United States Code (as amended by section 2 of this Act). Member assessments of the adequacy of courses and services to meet member transition needs. Obstacles or barriers confronted by members in accessing counseling and services. Whether members participated in the curriculum of the Transition Assistance Program on an in-person basis or an online, other electronic, or other basis. Such other matters as the administering Secretaries shall specify for purposes of this subsection. Each Secretary concerned shall commence the conduct of surveys pursuant to paragraph
(1)by not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Labor, conduct a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of surveying veterans who have been retired, discharged, or released from the Armed Forces for at least one year, and not longer than four years, at the time of a survey in order to assess the experiences of such veterans in the transition from military life to civilian life. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may conduct the survey under the pilot program through a contract with a qualified non-governmental organization selected by the Secretary for purposes of the pilot program. The survey under the pilot program shall be designed to obtain the information on the following: Current employment status, and employment history since retirement or separation. Receipt, whether currently or in the past, of unemployment benefits. Educational attainment after military service. Participation of or membership in a veterans' service organization or other support or other group oriented towards veterans. Satisfaction with transition, including satisfaction with counseling and assistance received in connection with transition (whether pursuant to the Transition Assistance Program or a program under any other provision of law). Whether veterans participated in the curriculum of the Transition Assistance Program on an in-person basis or an online, other electronic, or other basis. Challenges faced during transition. If married at the time of transition— participation of spouse in the counseling and assistance described in subparagraph (E); and satisfaction of spouse with the counseling and assistance described in subparagraph (E), if any, participated in by the spouse. Whether veterans felt sufficiently prepared for a career, education, or other advancement after military service as a result of participation in the Transition Assistance Program. Recommendations for improvements to the counseling and assistance furnished in connection with transition, or for other mechanisms to ease and facilitate transition. Such other matters as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the other Secretaries referred to in paragraph (1), considers appropriate. The results of the survey under the pilot program shall be broken out by number of years post-separation of the veterans covered by the survey. Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the pilot program. The report shall set forth the following: The results of the survey conducted under the pilot program. An assessment by the Secretary of the feasibility and advisability of continuing surveys such as the survey under the pilot program on a permanent basis, as frequently as once every two years or such other frequency as the Secretary considers appropriate. In carrying out this section, the administering Secretaries, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretaries concerned shall take all necessary and appropriate actions to protect the personal privacy of individual members of the Armed Forces and veterans as required by law. In this section: The term Transition Assistance Program means the program of counseling, information, and services under section 1142 of title 10, United States Code (as amended by section 2 of this Act). The term Secretary concerned has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(9) of title 10, United States Code. The term administering Secretaries has the meaning given that term for purposes of section 1142 of title 10, United States Code (as so amended).