DD Form 214 Preparation - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The IPAC outbound counselor runs DD Form 214 production per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1200 (DTMS in MOL) and paragraph 1201 (DD Form 214 General). The S-1 chief validates the worksheet against MCTFS source data and Appendix B block-by-block instructions. The S-1 officer signs the DD Form 214 by direction. The Marine signs receipt at separation.

Source documents flow from the MCTFS service record, the separation order or retirement order, the SPD code from Appendix A, the RE code from Appendix I, the narrative reason from Chapter 1 paragraph 1205, the characterization decision from Chapter 1 paragraph 1004 and Table 1-1, the awards roster, the deployments and combat service history, the PME completions, and the final pay closeout from the disbursing office. The DD Form 214 lands in MCTFS, in OMPF per MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 3, and in the Marine's hand at separation. Outputs include the signed DD Form 214, the certified copies for the Marine, VA, and OMPF, and any DD Form 215 corrections post-separation.

Per MCO 1900.16 Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1200, the DD Form 214 series prepares through the Document Tracking and Management System (DTMS) in MOL. Per paragraph 1201 (General), the DD Form 214 is the authoritative record of separation. Per paragraph 1202 (Occasions, Preparation, Delivery, Distribution), every separation from active duty triggers a DD Form 214. Per paragraph 1203 (Control, Accountability, Safeguarding), the unit controls the DD Form 214 series and 215. Per paragraph 1204 (Sponsorship), the DD 214 carries sponsorship signatures per the order rules. Per paragraph 1205 (SPD, Narrative Reason, Explanation), the SPD code drives narrative reason and explanation.

Trigger events

• Marine reaches separation per Chapter 1 paragraph 1006 (Time and Place of Separation).
• Retirement effective date per Chapter 2, 7, or 8.
• Disability separation or retirement per Chapter 8 Sections 4 or 6.
• Punitive discharge executed per Chapter 1 paragraph 1105 (Discharge Adjudged by Court-Martial).
• Reserve component qualifying release from active duty per Chapter 3.
• Post-separation correction to a previously issued DD Form 214 (DD Form 215).
• Replacement of lost DD Form 214 (DD Form 215 issuance).

Processing workflow

1. Verify the separation action triggers a DD Form 214. Per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1202, every release from active duty triggers the form. Reservists releasing from active duty for more than 30 consecutive days also trigger.
2. Open the DTMS workflow in MOL. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1200, the DTMS in MOL is the prescribed system.
3. Pull DD Form 214WS source data from MCTFS. The worksheet (214WS) populates from MCTFS. The Marine reviews the worksheet for accuracy.
4. Apply characterization of service. Per Chapter 1 paragraph 1004 and Table 1-1, set Block 24 (Character of Service) to Honorable, General (Under Honorable Conditions), Other Than Honorable, Bad Conduct, Dishonorable, or Uncharacterized.
5. Apply SPD code, narrative reason, and explanation. Per Chapter 1 paragraph 1205 and Appendix A (SPD Codes), set Block 26 (Separation Code) and Block 28 (Narrative Reason for Separation).
6. Apply RE code. Per Appendix I (Reenlistment Codes), set Block 27 (Reentry Code) per the SPD-to-RE mapping.
7. Run block-by-block validation. Per Appendix B (Detailed Instructions), validate every block. Pull deployments and combat service for Block 13. Pull awards for Block 18.
8. Route through the chain for sponsorship. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1204, the DD Form 214 routes through the chain for sponsorship signatures.
9. Print, sign, and deliver to the Marine at separation. The S-1 officer signs Block 21 (Signature of Officer Authorized to Sign). The Marine signs Block 20 (Member Requests Copy 6 Be Sent To) and acknowledges receipt.
10. Distribute copies and stage in OMPF. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1202, distribute per the copy table. Stage Copy 4 in the OMPF per MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 3.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• MOL Document Tracking and Management System (DTMS). Prescribed system per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1200.
• MCTFS. Source for service record data populating the DD Form 214WS.
• OMPF. Final repository for the signed DD Form 214.
• DD Form 215 issuance system. Routes through MMSR-2 for post-separation corrections.

Forms

• DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). Signed and issued at separation.
• DD Form 214WS (Worksheet). Pre-separation review with the Marine.
• DD Form 214C (Continuation Sheet). Continuation when blocks overflow.
• DD Form 215 (Correction to DD Form 214). Post-separation correction.
• Separation Order or Retirement Order. Source authority for the DD Form 214.

Common pitfalls

• DD Form 214WS not reviewed with the Marine before signing. The Marine signs without correcting errors. Walk the worksheet with the Marine ahead of the final form per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1201.
• SPD code, RE code, and narrative reason mismatch. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1205 and Appendix A, the SPD code drives the narrative reason. The mapping must align.
• Block 13 (decorations, medals, badges) understated. Per Appendix B, pull the full awards roster. Missed awards trigger DD 215 actions later.
• Block 18 (remarks) missing combat service or HDP locations. Per Appendix B, the remarks block captures combat service and HDP designations affecting VA benefits.
• Copy distribution incomplete. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1202, the copy table sets distribution. A missed copy leaves the OMPF, the VA, or the Marine without the record.

Decision points

• Honorable versus General characterization. Per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 1 paragraph 1004 and Table 1-1, the convening or separation authority decides. The DD Form 214 Block 24 reflects the decision.
• SPD code selection on dual-basis separations. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1205 and Appendix A, the SPD code reflects the primary basis. The narrative reason explains.
• DD Form 215 versus reissue. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraph 1201, post-separation corrections route through MMSR-2 as DD Form 215. The original DD Form 214 stays in the OMPF.

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraphs 1200-1205 covering DTMS in MOL, DD Form 214 general rules, occasions and preparation and delivery and distribution, control and accountability and safeguarding, sponsorship, and SPD codes and narrative reason. Appendix A sets the SPD codes. Appendix B provides the block-by-block instructions for DD Forms 214WS, 214, 214C, and 215. Appendix I sets the RE codes. Chapter 1 paragraph 1004 and Table 1-1 set characterization. MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 3 covers OMPF closeout. S-1 responsibilities sit at MCO 5000.14DMCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosure 4. The processing workflow maps to NAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0170-PERA-2002.

Related references

• MCO 1900.16 Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraphs 1200-1205. Authoritative DD Form 214 preparation rules.
• MCO 1900.16 Appendix A. SPD codes.
• MCO 1900.16 Appendix B. Block-by-block instructions.
• MCO 1900.16 Appendix I. Reenlistment codes.
• MCO P1070.12K Chapter 2. OMPF closeout.
• MCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosure 4. S-1 separation responsibilities.
• NAVMC 3500.3E. T-R event 0170-PERA-2002.