If you're separating in the next 12 months.

The non-negotiables — start here

1. Attend TAP (Transition Assistance Program). Required by law no later than 365 days before separation. Get on it as early as you can — 12-18 months out is ideal so you have time to act on what you learn.
2. File the BDD claim. The Benefits Delivery at Discharge program lets you file VA disability between 90 and 180 days before separation. Don't skip this. A claim filed before separation typically processes 4-6 months faster than one filed after.
3. Get every condition documented in your service medical record. If it's not in your STR, it's harder (not impossible) to prove later. Sleep apnea, tinnitus, joint problems, mental health — get them on paper before you out-process.
4. Schedule your separation physical seriously. Report every issue. Don't tough it out. The exam is the foundation of every disability claim you'll file.
5. Save your DD-214 in 5 places. Cloud, email, paper safe, family member, USB. You'll need it forever.
6. Apply for VA healthcare. Combat veterans get 5 years of free care after separation regardless of disability rating. Don't wait — apply on VA.gov before your last day.
7. Apply for the GI Bill (or transfer it). If you have 6+ years and want to give it to a spouse or dependent, you must do this while still on active duty. See our GI Bill guide.
8. Convert your SGLI to VGLI within 240 days. SGLI ends within 120 days of separation. VGLI is veterans' group life insurance — no medical exam required if you convert within 240 days.
9. Get your civilian credentials translated. COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line) maps your MOS to civilian licenses and certifications.

Money matters

• SBP (Survivor Benefit Plan) — irrevocable election. Lifetime spouse annuity for retirees. Decide carefully; you have 30 days post-retirement to opt out.
• TSP — your Roth/Traditional Thrift Savings Plan stays with you. You can roll it over or leave it. Don't cash out — taxes + penalties wreck retirement compound interest.
• Disability Severance Pay vs. Retirement Pay — if you're medically separated, ask a JAG or NVF/Wounded Warrior Project advocate about offsets and how PACT-Act presumptive ratings could change things.
• Unused leave — sell back or take terminal leave. Each option has tax implications. Talk to S-1.

Healthcare

• VA enrollment — free for combat vets in PG 6 for 5 years; otherwise based on income/disability rating.
• TRICARE — continues for retirees. Active duty separating without retirement: TRICARE ends within months. Look at TRICARE Reserve Select if Guard/Reserve.
• CHCBP — Continued Healthcare Benefit Program. 18-36 months of TRICARE-like coverage post-separation. Buy within 60 days of separation.
• VA Toxic Exposure Screening — free, every 5 years. Tied to PACT Act presumptions.

Career, education, housing

• SkillBridge — last 6 months on active duty interning at a civilian employer (paid by DoD). Apply 6-12 months before your DEROS.
• Hiring Our Heroes / DoD Skillbridge directory — vetted partners.
• VA Home Loan — start the COE process 3-6 months out. Especially powerful with no down payment, no PMI.
• VR&E (Chapter 31) — vocational rehab if you have a service-connected disability. Often more generous than the GI Bill for vets pivoting careers due to injury.
• Vet preference — federal civil service hiring. Do not skip the SF-15 or VOW certification.

Mental health — the part TAP downplays

Transition is one of the hardest psychological periods of military life. The structure, identity, and relationships you've had for years all change at once. Pre-emptive mental health care is not weakness; it's risk management.

Combat veterans qualify for free VA mental health care for 5 years post-separation, no rating required. Vet Centers are walk-in, no appointment, family included.

If you're getting an OTH or bad-paper discharge

You may still qualify for many benefits — and you may be able to upgrade your discharge. See our discharge upgrade guide.

Get help

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