Fort Riley contact

Major John Mario Casiano

john.m.casiano.mil@mail.mil
(785) 307 5837

Public relations contact

Som Kandlur
somkandlur@ksu.edu
(913) 952 0219

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Big Red One Transition Program aids soldier transition to

civilian life
Fort Riley, Kansas; April 28, 2015 By September 2017, approximately 50,000
soldiers will transition from the army to life as civilians. Despite the challenge,
soldiers currently serving their country rarely get the opportunity to plan or prepare
for this transition until its too late. At Fort Riley, the BRO transition program aims to
address this hurdle by encouraging soldiers to prepare for transition from military
life early.
The BRO transition program seeks to enhance the requirement placed on the
federally mandated SFL-TAP program which includes developing an Individual
Transition Plan, a Department of Labor Employment Workshop and briefs on benefits
from the Department of Veteran Affairs and more.
While the congressionally mandated classes allow soldiers to satisfactorily transfer
to civilian life, the BRO transition program is a more localized and personalized plan
where soldiers are introduced to a new network of people, new communities of
employment, and new communities of academia. Further, they are afforded
opportunities to develop relationships with people who have already transitioned
and have had the experiences these soldiers will soon have.
The ideal end outcomes of the program are that soldiers are ready and competitive
as they prepare to transition in to the next phase of their lives, Major John Casiano,
said. In some cases, soldiers may use one of the vast programs to enter straight
into the civil workforce, but if they don't, they are prepared to take the job hunt into
their own hands, confidently.
Soldiers who are part of the BRO transition program will also be given the
opportunity to spend time refining their knowledge of the job market through
instructional sessions on networking, resume building and becoming familiar with
professional organizations in their industry of choice.
The BRO transition program is created with the goal of a smooth transition from
military to civilian life which all army personnel and their families will inevitably
embark on.
More about the Big Red One
Fort Riley, "Home of the Big Red One" (1st Infantry Division), is known for its
excellent training, abundant recreational opportunities, rich history, and
tremendous relations with surrounding communities.
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