Separation and Retirement Handoff - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The IPAC separation counselor coordinates the separation or retirement processing per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16. The IPAC outbound counselor coordinates the unit-level handoff to the separation-retirement category processing. The S-1 chief tracks the separation timeline and the DD Form 214 production. The S-1 officer signs by direction on the outbound separation routing. The unit commander signs the separation authority action per MCO 1900.16. The TAP coordinator runs DD Form 2648 pre-separation counseling per MCO 1700.31.

Source documents flow from the separation or retirement orders, the EAS or retirement date in MCTFS, the DD Form 2648 pre-separation checklist, the MCO 1900.16 Appendix C separation checklist, the OMPF Field Folder, the final pay closeout package, the final fitness report, and the transition benefits package per MCO 1700.31. Outputs include the completed DD Form 2648, the completed Appendix C separation checklist, the prepared DD Form 214 in MOL DTMS per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraphs 1200-1205 and Appendix B, the retirement order package per Chapter 2 or 7, the routed OMPF Field Folder to HQMC OMPF per MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 3, the Page 11 documenting the action, and the audit trail.

Per MCO 1900.16 Chapter 1 paragraph 1003 (Types of Separations), the separation type drives the processing path. Per Chapter 6 (Enlisted Administrative Separations), enlisted administrative separations route through Chapter 6 procedures. Per Chapter 7 (Enlisted Retirement and FMCR), enlisted retirement and FMCR transfer route through Chapter 7. Per Chapter 2 (Officer Retirement), officer retirement routes through Chapter 2. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraphs 1200-1205, the DD Form 214 prepares in MOL DTMS.

Trigger events

• Marine 12 months from EAS or retirement triggering pipeline start.
• Marine 90 days from EAS triggering pre-separation counseling per MCO 1700.31.
• Separation orders cut.
• Retirement orders cut.
• DD Form 2648 pre-separation counseling completion.
• DD Form 214 production cycle.
• Transition Assistance Program enrollment.
• IGMC Separation and Retirement FA inspection.

Processing workflow

1. Identify separation or retirement type. Per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 1 paragraph 1003, classify as voluntary administrative, involuntary administrative, retirement, FMCR transfer, or disability per the order type.
2. Coordinate with separation-retirement category processing. The outbound management category routes the Marine through the separation-retirement category sub-pages.
3. Complete DD Form 2648. Per MCO 1700.31 and the Outbound Interview process, complete the pre-separation counseling checklist within the pre-separation window.
4. Run the separation checklist. Per MCO 1900.16 Appendix C (Checklist for Separations), the checklist tracks every required action.
5. Prepare DD Form 214. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraphs 1200-1205 and Appendix B, the DD Form 214 prepares in MOL DTMS. The form covers identity, service summary, characterization, separation reason, and separation authority.
6. Process retirement orders. Per Chapter 2 (Officer Retirement) or Chapter 7 (Enlisted Retirement and FMCR), the retirement order package routes through MMSR.
7. Apply characterization. Per Chapter 1 paragraph 1004, characterization runs Honorable, General (Under Honorable Conditions), Other Than Honorable, Bad Conduct, Dishonorable, or Uncharacterized.
8. Coordinate transition benefits. Per MCO 1700.31, the TAP coordinator covers TAP-eligible programs, VA benefits, and TAMP-eligible benefits at separation.
9. Route OMPF Field Folder. Per MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 3, the folder routes to HQMC OMPF for the master record on separation or retirement.
10. Cut the Page 11. Per Chapter 6, cut a Page 11 documenting the separation or retirement action.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• Marine Corps Total Force System (MCTFS). Holds separation status and final pay state.
• UD-MIPS. Cuts separation transactions per Appendix E.
• MOL Document Tracking and Management System (DTMS). Prepares DD Form 214 per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1200.
• MMSR. Coordinates retirement orders per Chapter 2 or 7.
• HQMC OMPF Master Record. Receives the routed Field Folder on separation.
• TAP System. Holds DD Form 2648 and transition counseling records.

Forms

• DD Form 214 / 214WS / 214C / 215. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraphs 1200-1205 and Appendix B.
• DD Form 2648 Pre-Separation Counseling Checklist. Per MCO 1700.31.
• MCO 1900.16 Appendix C Separation Checklist.
• Retirement Order Package. Per Chapter 2 or 7.
• NAVMC 118 (11) Administrative Remarks. Page 11 per MCO P1070.12K paragraph 4006.

Common pitfalls

• DD Form 2648 not completed before DD Form 214. Per MCO 1700.31, the pre-separation counseling completes before the DD Form 214.
• DD Form 214 prepared outside MOL DTMS. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1200, the form prepares in MOL DTMS.
• Separation checklist (Appendix C) skipped. The checklist tracks every required action.
• Characterization mismatched against the facts. Per Chapter 1 paragraph 1004, characterization follows the facts.
• Retirement order package not routed through MMSR. Per Chapter 2 or 7, MMSR processes retirement orders.
• OMPF Field Folder not routed to HQMC. Per MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 3, the master record receives the folder.
• TAP enrollment skipped. Per MCO 1700.31, separating Marines route through TAP.

Decision points

• Separation type. Per Chapter 1 paragraph 1003, type drives the processing path.
• Characterization. Per Chapter 1 paragraph 1004 and Table 1-1, the convening or separation authority decides.
• Retirement type (regular versus FMCR). Per Chapter 7, the years of service drive the path.
• TAP track. Per MCO 1700.31, the Marine selects the appropriate TAP track (employment, education, entrepreneur).

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 with Chapter 1 (General Instructions on Separations), Chapter 2 (Officer Retirement), Chapter 6 (Enlisted Administrative Separations), Chapter 7 (Enlisted Retirement and FMCR), Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraphs 1200-1205 (DD Form 214), Chapter 1 paragraph 1004 (Characterization), Appendix B (DD Form 214 Instructions), and Appendix C (Separation Checklist). MCO 1700.31 covers Transition Assistance Management Program. MCO 1300.8MCO 1300.8 covers outbound check-out. MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 3 covers OMPF routing. The processing workflow maps to NAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0170-PERA-2105.

Related references

• MCO 1900.16. Separation and retirement framework.
• MCO 1700.31. TAP.
• MCO 1300.8. Outbound check-out.
• MCO P1070.12K Chapter 2. OMPF routing.
• NAVMC 3500.3E. T-R event 0170-PERA-2105.