Terminal Leave Processing - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The commander authorizes terminal leave up to the extent of accrued leave per MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 24.a. The S-1 chief validates accrued leave balance and terminal leave duration. The IPAC outbound counselor runs the separation pipeline. The S-1 officer signs by direction on routine terminal leave orders and routes cases requiring CMC approval through MMEA, MMOA, or RA.

Source documents flow from the separation, retirement, or transfer order, the Marine's MCTFS leave balance, the pre-separation counseling record, and the lump-sum sell-back election. Terminal leave actions land in MOL as the leave order and in MCTFS as the leave transaction. Outputs include the terminal leave order, the chargeable leave count, the location-notification agreement, and the DD Form 214 mailing arrangement.

Per MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 24.a, authorized terminal leave runs continuously to include normally authorized liberty periods such as weekends and holidays. Leave above 90 days requires prior authorization from CMC (MMEA/MMOA, or RA). Marines serving overseas separating upon return to CONUS are permitted to request up to 60 days prior to overseas tour completion. Greater than 60 days overseas requires prior CMC approval.

Trigger events

• Marine separating from active duty requests terminal leave to use accrued leave.
• Marine retiring or transferring to FMCR requests terminal leave.
• Marine separating overseas requests terminal leave prior to overseas tour completion.
• Marine secures federal employment requiring terminal leave per paragraph 24.c.
• Terminal leave request exceeds 90 days requiring CMC routing.
• Marine elects not to return to separation site requiring DD Form 214 mailing.
• Reserve officer terminal leave request including constructive travel time.

Processing workflow

1. Validate the separation date. Pull the separation, retirement, or transfer order with effective date. Cross-check EDIPI and outbound posture. The S-1 clerk runs receipt.
2. Pull accrued leave balance. Generate current accrued leave from MCTFS. Terminal leave does not exceed accrued leave per MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 24.a.
3. Determine the terminal leave duration request. The Marine specifies the requested terminal leave period.
4. Validate against approval thresholds. Per MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 24.a, leave greater than 90 days requires prior CMC approval. Overseas separating to CONUS is permitted to request up to 60 days without CMC approval. Greater than 60 days overseas requires CMC approval.
5. Coordinate with IPAC outbound counselor. Per MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 24.b, all possible pre-separation counseling and administrative processing should be accomplished prior to departure on terminal leave.
6. Process pre-separation counseling. Run DD Form 2648 per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 before terminal leave departure.
7. Cut terminal leave order. Enter in MOL with continuous chargeable period including weekends and holidays per paragraph 24.a.
8. Document location-notification agreement. Per MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 24.b, the Marine must agree to notify the commander having custody of the service records by telephone, FAX, or telegram on the effective date of separation.
9. Process DD Form 214 mailing arrangement. When the Marine does not return to the separation site, arrange DD Form 214 mailing to the Marine's location on the effective date.
10. Charge leave for last day. Per MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 24.b, Marines absent on leave at the time of separation (not returning to separation site) will be charged leave for the last day of active duty.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• MCTFS. Master leave balance and pay state through separation.
• MOL. Holds the terminal leave order.
• UD-MIPS. Cuts the terminal leave transaction.
• OMPF Field Folder. Holds the terminal leave order and DD Form 214 routing.

Forms

• NAVMC 10274 Application for Leave or Liberty. Terminal leave request format.
• Terminal Leave Order. Generated in MOL.
• DD Form 2648 Pre-Separation Counseling Checklist. Required before terminal leave departure per MCO 1900.16.
• DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge. Cut at separation, mailed where Marine does not return to separation site.

Common pitfalls

• Terminal leave authorized exceeding accrued leave balance. Per MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 24.a, terminal leave does not exceed accrued leave. The S-1 chief validates against MCTFS.
• Terminal leave greater than 90 days authorized without CMC approval. Per paragraph 24.a, prior CMC (MMEA/MMOA or RA) approval is required.
• Overseas terminal leave greater than 60 days authorized without CMC approval. Per paragraph 24.a, the overseas threshold is 60 days without CMC approval.
• Pre-separation counseling skipped before terminal leave departure. Per paragraph 24.b, counseling and admin processing should be accomplished before departure.
• Location-notification agreement omitted. Per paragraph 24.b, the Marine must agree to notify the commander of location on the effective date of separation. Capture in writing.
• Last day of active duty not charged when Marine does not return. Per paragraph 24.b, the last day is chargeable. The IPAC pay clerk processes.

Decision points

• Standard versus CMC-approved terminal leave duration. Leave at or under 90 days falls within commander authority. Greater than 90 days routes to CMC per MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 24.a.
• Overseas separation timing. The Marine separating from overseas to CONUS takes up to 60 days prior to overseas tour completion. Greater than 60 days requires CMC approval per paragraph 24.a.
• Return to separation site versus DD Form 214 mailing. Per paragraph 24.b, the Marine is permitted to elect not to return. Document the election and arrange DD Form 214 mailing.
• Federal employment terminal leave. Per MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 24.c and the underlying statutory authority, terminal leave for federal employment is authorized. The commander documents the basis.

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Marine Corps Leave and Liberty Manual Chapter 2 Section 24 (Leave Awaiting Separation, Discharge, Transfer to the FMCR or Retirement). Paragraph 24.a sets authorization, the 90-day threshold, the 60-day overseas threshold, and continuous chargeable rule. Paragraph 24.b sets administrative procedures, location notification, and last-day charge. Paragraph 24.c covers federal employment. DODFMR Vol 7ADODFMR Vol 7A Chapter 35 governs the lump-sum sell-back option at separation with the 60-day lifetime cap at paragraph 2.1.1.2. Separation routing follows MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16. S-1 responsibilities sit at MCO 5000.14DMCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosure 4. The processing workflow maps to NAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0111-GENA-2013.

Related references

• MCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 Section 24. Authoritative terminal leave rules.
• DODFMR Vol 7A Chapter 35. Lump-sum sell-back option (60-day cap at paragraph 2.1.1.2).
• MCO 1900.16 Marine Corps Separation and Retirement Manual. Underlying separation procedures.
• MCO 5000.14D Marine Corps Administrative Procedures. S-1 separation responsibilities.
• MCTFSPRIUM. Terminal leave transaction format.
• MCO P1070.12K Individual Records Administration Manual. Records routing at separation.
• NAVMC 3500.3E Manpower and Administration T-R Manual. Event 0111-GENA-2013.