Every service member eventually separates — whether after one enlistment or a full 20-year career — and the process of actually getting out is its own project, with its own timeline, paperwork, and financial decisions. Here's what actually happens between deciding to leave and becoming a civilian.
The Timeline: Start Further Out Than You Think
| Time Before Separation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| 12 months | Start researching civilian career paths, certifications, or education plans; look into SkillBridge eligibility |
| 9-12 months | Begin TAP (Transition Assistance Program) — mandatory, covers resumes, VA benefits, and job-search or education tracks |
| 180-90 days | File a Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) VA disability claim if applicable |
| 90 days | Finalize out-processing checklist items at your installation's transition office |
| Final weeks | Terminal leave begins; out-processing complete; final pay and leave payout processed |
TAP: The Mandatory Transition Assistance Program
TAP is required for nearly every separating or retiring service member and generally needs to start at least 90 days before your separation date — earlier is better. It covers resume writing tailored to civilian hiring managers, a VA benefits briefing, financial planning for the transition, and a track focused on either job-search, education, or entrepreneurship depending on your post-service plans.
Terminal Leave: What It Actually Means
Terminal leave is accrued leave you use consecutively at the very end of your service, running right up to your official separation date. The key thing people misunderstand: you're still on active duty during terminal leave — still drawing full pay, still covered by TRICARE, still technically a service member — even if you've already left your last duty station and moved on to your next city. Many people use this window to start a civilian job, attend final interviews, or handle a PCS move while still collecting military pay.
Leave payout math: You can sell back up to 60 days of unused leave over your career, paid at your current base pay rate at the time of sale. Any additional accrued leave beyond what you take as terminal leave or sell back is generally forfeited — plan your final year with use-or-lose leave in mind rather than losing it.
Out-Processing Checklist
- Medical/dental final exam — document every condition, even minor ones, for your VA claim
- DD-214 review — verify accuracy of dates, characterization of service, and awards before it's finalized
- ID card and installation access — determine what access you retain as a veteran vs. what ends immediately
- TRICARE transition — coverage generally ends shortly after separation; look into TRICARE options or civilian coverage gap
- Final pay and travel entitlements — settle any pay discrepancies and PCS/travel claims before you lose easy access to military pay systems
Getting the DD-214 Right
The DD-214 is the single most important document you'll carry out of the military — it's what unlocks the GI Bill, VA home loans, hiring preferences, and VA disability claims. Review it carefully before it's finalized: incorrect dates, missing awards, or wrong characterization of service can cause real headaches with benefits later, and corrections after the fact go through a formal (slow) process.