Your Military Separation Guide

Your to-do list

• Preseparation counseling - The law requires it, and you have to finish it no fewer than 90 days before your separation date. You should think about starting early. You can begin your preseparation counseling up to 12 months before your separation. You'll get lots of information to help you complete the rest of your required separation tasks and get established in the civilian world, like: continuing medical coverage; relocation assistance; separation pay; reserve affiliation; life insurance; benefits; and unemployment insurance. Get started with a visit or call to your Transition Assistance Program office or Army Career and Alumni Program office.
• Transition Assistance Program - This program guides you toward your military discharge date and gives you the tools you'll need for civilian life. You'll also complete the Transition Goals, Plans, Success - otherwise known as Transition GPS curriculum through your Transition Assistance Program. Visit DoDTAP, the Transition Assistance Program website, to learn more.
• Final medical and dental exams - Both exams are mandatory. Schedule with your installation's medical clinic 90 days before your separation date.
• Transportation Management Office - When you know where you're going, schedule your final military move or storage of your household goods. Depending on your discharge type, you may have six months to a year to complete your move, but scheduling early means you're more likely to get the dates you want.

Your new or continuing benefits

As you separate, you'll want to know what benefits are available to you and how to take advantage of them. Depending on the type of discharge you receive, you could be eligible for education assistance, medical insurance, a final move and more. Here's what you could be taking with you when you leave the military:

• GI Bill® - Pay for college, technical school or vocational school for you or a member of your immediate family. The deal is good for up to 10 or 15 years after your separation (depending on which program you qualify for) or until your entitlement is exhausted. Find out if you qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® or the Montgomery GI Bill® on the Education and Training page of the Department of Veterans Affairs website. You can also visit your installation's education office.
• Medical benefits - You may receive extended medical insurance if: You are involuntarily separating with an honorable, general (under honorable conditions), or medical discharge; you are voluntarily separating under a "stop loss"; or you served beyond your service limit to support a contingency operation. If you are a Guard or reserve member who was called to active duty, you can receive medical insurance for up to six months after your discharge from active duty.
• Life insurance - You will have your Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance for 120 days after your separation date. You can opt to convert to the Veterans' Group Life Insurance within those 120 days or after, as long as you can prove you're in good health. Get details of the insurance plans through the Department of Veterans Affairs Life Insurance page or by calling 800-827-1000.
• Relocation assistance - The government may pick up the tab on one more move after your military separation. The move will take you from your last duty station to your destination of choice. If you live in base housing, you might have two more moves in your future - one to nearby community housing, and then another final move depending on your discharge's timing and geographic limits.
• Department of Veterans Affairs home loan - If you served at least 24 months and were honorably or generally discharged, you may qualify for a home loan through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Not sure you qualify? Check the Home Loans page on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
• Commissary and exchange privileges - Unless you retire from the military, you'll probably lose commissary and exchange privileges when you leave the military. If you're an involuntary separating service member, you may have continued access for two years as part of your transition assistance benefit. If you're transferring to the Guard or reserve, the commissary and exchange privileges go with you.
• Unemployment insurance - Each state has its own unemployment eligibility requirements, but you may qualify depending on your discharge terms. Your closest unemployment office can provide details. You can also find qualifying information from the Department of Labor or view state-by-state details through Career OneStop.

Guard and reserve options

If you are separating before fulfilling your military service obligation, you may be required to serve in the National Guard or reserves. Even without the obligation, you can choose to join - it's a chance to continue developing your skills while earning a part-time paycheck. You can fulfill you obligation through:

• The Selected Reserves - You would serve part time with a reserve unit. You should expect to participate in your unit's drill and annual training periods - usually one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. You would be paid based on rank and earn points toward retirement.
• The Individual Ready Reserve or Inactive National Guard - You would not be required to drill or train with a unit, but may choose to do so. You might be required to muster annually and you would need to be ready to mobilize any time.

Visit your installation's transitional recruiter or career retention counselor to learn more about your transition options.

Military separation is a busy time. Tackle one requirement at a time, and check on the benefits you plan to keep. And for those head-scratching moments, keep Military OneSource in your back pocket - call 800-342-9647 to get your questions answered or to connect with transition assistance.