TAP-OS is a free military transition planning platform — VA claims, financial tools, a personalized checklist, and research-backed guidance — built by a veteran navigating his own transition.
The reality of separation
Scattered VA resources. Complex disability claims. Financial uncertainty. A mandatory TAP class that barely scratches the surface of what you actually need to know.
Identity loss. Fear of making the wrong call when the stakes are highest. Feeling like the mission is over — and not being sure what replaces it.
You served this country. You deserve more than a 3-day class and a DD-214 handed across a desk.
Empathy
TAP-OS was founded by a retiring Navy officer building this platform through his own transition — not after it. Every tool reflects a real question someone is asking right now, in real time.
Authority
The 2022 GSA/VA study Navigating the Transition to Civilian Life identified four distinct transition personas — The Lifer, The Goal-Oriented, The Purpose Seeker, and The True Separator. TAP-OS is built around what each of them actually needs.
Read the research →How it works
Complete a 3-minute onboarding profile — branch, rank, separation date, and what you're working toward.
A checklist, timeline, and tools built around your separation date — not a generic government template.
VA claims, financial planning, career tools, and family support — all in one place, updated as you progress.
Based on the 2022 GSA/VA study
Federal researchers identified four distinct types of transitioning service members. Your persona shapes everything — what you need, what you fear, and what will actually help.
The Lifer
“I am trying to let go of the military even though it means everything to me.”
The Goal-Oriented
“I view the military as a way to reach my future goals.”
Not sure which fits? Read the GSA/VA research and find out
What's inside
A 103-item personalized checklist with due-date offsets from your separation date. Check off tasks, track progress, and never wonder what comes next.
Combined rating calculator, full condition database, and buddy statement tools. Know your rating before you file — not after.
BAH/BAS end-of-life calculator, SBP decision tool, and COLA trap awareness. Understand exactly how your total compensation changes on separation day.
DoD TAP requirement tracking, Capstone prep, and DD-2648 guidance. Stay compliant and confident in your ITP.
Spouse-specific checklist items and a partner dashboard view. Because the transition belongs to the whole family.
VA, DOL, GI Bill, SkillBridge, and peer-reviewed research — vetted, organized, and linked to the task where you need it most.
A VA rating that's 30 points too low because the right conditions weren't documented before separation — and the VA effective date rules mean you can't go back. Financial runway that runs out during the job search because nobody modeled what BAH and BAS end-of-life actually look like. A spouse who wasn't included in the planning until the orders were cut. These aren't worst-case scenarios — they're common outcomes of a transition approached reactively. The good news is they're preventable.
What success looks like
VA claims
90%+ rating, filed before separation
Not scrambling to refile years later with incomplete records.
Career
Offer in hand before terminal leave ends
With financial runway that doesn't require taking the first offer that shows up.
Family
A partner in the plan, not an afterthought
Your spouse knew the plan, contributed to it, and crossed the finish line with you.
Ownership
Veteran-owned and operated
Research
Built on peer-reviewed research and federal VA/GSA data
Access
Free for every transitioning service member — always
