Enlisted Administrative Separations - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The unit commander initiates enlisted administrative separations per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 6 Section 3 Part A paragraph 6302 (Initiation of Separation Processing). The S-1 officer signs by direction on notification documentation per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part A paragraph 6303 (Notification Procedures). The S-1 chief tracks the separation packet through the chain. The separation authority signs final action per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part B paragraph 6309 (Separation Authority Final Action). The legal advisor reviews per JAGINST 5800.7GJAGINST 5800.7G sufficiency review.

Source documents flow from the basis documentation (NJP, court-martial action, adverse FITREP, weight control program entry, medical disqualification, voluntary request), the chain-of-command notification per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part A, the administrative separation board record per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part C, the legal advisor sufficiency review, and the separation authority final action. Separation actions land in MCTFS as a separation transaction. Outputs include the signed separation authority action, the DD Form 214 per Chapter 1 Section 2, the Page 11 entries per MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 6, and the closed OMPF.

Per MCO 1900.16 Chapter 6 paragraph 6001 (General), Chapter 6 governs enlisted administrative separations. Per Chapter 6 Section 1 paragraphs 6101-6110, policy and guidance set the framework including processing time goals (6102), counseling and rehabilitation (6105), limitations on separation action (6106), characterization of service (6107), recoupment of enlistment/reenlistment bonuses (6108), electronic signatures (6109), and health assessments prior to separation (6110). Per Chapter 6 Section 2 paragraphs 6201-6215, involuntary separation bases include change in service obligation (6202), convenience of the government (6203), defective enlistment and induction (6204), entry-level performance and conduct (6205), unsatisfactory performance (6206), alcohol abuse rehabilitation failure (6209), misconduct (6210), new entrant drug and alcohol testing (6211), security (6212), unsatisfactory reserve participation (6213), best interest of the service (6214), and weight control/body composition failure (6215).

Trigger events

• Pattern of misconduct or single serious offense per paragraph 6210 (Misconduct).
• Substantiated drug abuse or alcohol abuse rehabilitation failure per paragraph 6209.
• Adverse FITREP or sustained unsatisfactory performance per paragraph 6206.
• Weight control or body composition program failure per paragraph 6215.
• Voluntary separation request per Chapter 6 Section 4 paragraph 6401 (Guidelines).
• Court-martial conviction without punitive discharge but with administrative basis.
• Defective enlistment basis surfaces per paragraph 6204.
• Best interest of the service action per paragraph 6214 or paragraph 6421 (Secretarial Authority).

Processing workflow

1. Identify the separation basis. Per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 6 Section 2 paragraphs 6201-6215 for involuntary action, or Chapter 6 Section 4 paragraphs 6401-6421 for voluntary action.
2. Apply policy and guidance. Per Chapter 6 Section 1 paragraphs 6101-6110, validate processing time goals (6102), counseling and rehabilitation (6105), and limitations on separation action (6106).
3. Initiate notification. Per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part A paragraph 6303 (Notification Procedures), the commander notifies the Marine in writing of the basis, the supporting evidence, and the rights to consult counsel, submit statements, request a board, and request witnesses.
4. Process the administrative separation board. Per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part C paragraphs 6314-6321, the board convenes when the Marine has six or more years of service or the least favorable characterization recommended is Other Than Honorable. The board records findings, recommendations, and characterization per paragraph 6319.
5. Route through legal. Per JAGINST 5800.7GJAGINST 5800.7G and Chapter 6 Section 3 Part B paragraph 6308 (Separation Authority Review), legal reviews sufficiency before separation authority action.
6. Route to separation authority for final action. Per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part B paragraph 6307 (Separation Authorities) and paragraph 6309 (Separation Authority Final Action), the separation authority decides retention, separation, or suspension per paragraph 6310.
7. Process MCTFS separation transaction. Per Appendix E (Automated Processing under MCTFS) and MCTFSPRIUMMCTFSPRIUM, cut the separation transaction.
8. Prepare the DD Form 214. Per Chapter 1 Section 2 paragraphs 1200-1205, prepare the DD Form 214 with the SPD code, RE code, and narrative reason driven by the separation basis.
9. Document Page 11 entries. Per MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 6, document the separation action, including any rehabilitation counseling, adverse action notice, and characterization rationale.
10. Close the OMPF Field Folder. Per MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 3, close for transfer to OMPF.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• MCTFS. Holds the separation status and transaction record.
• UD-MIPS. Cuts the separation transaction per Appendix E.
• MOL DTMS. Prepares the DD Form 214.
• OMPF. Final record of the separation action.
• Administrative Separation Board. Per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part C.

Forms

• Notification of Administrative Separation Action. Per paragraph 6303.
• Administrative Separation Board Record. Per paragraph 6320.
• Legal Sufficiency Review. Per JAGINST 5800.7G.
• Separation Authority Final Action. Per paragraph 6309.
• NAVMC 118 (11) Administrative Remarks. Page 11 documenting the action.
• DD Form 214. Per Chapter 1 Section 2.
• Appendix L Outline, Checklist, and Forms. Per Chapter 6 Section 3.

Common pitfalls

• Notification packet missing the rights advisement. Per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 6 Section 3 Part A paragraph 6303, the Marine receives written rights including consult counsel, submit statements, request a board, and request witnesses.
• Administrative separation board skipped when required. Per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part C paragraph 6314 (Convening Authorities), the board is mandatory at six or more years of service or when Other Than Honorable is the least favorable recommendation.
• Legal sufficiency review skipped. Per JAGINST 5800.7GJAGINST 5800.7G and Chapter 6 Section 3 Part B paragraph 6308, the legal review precedes separation authority action.
• Recoupment of enlistment/reenlistment bonus not processed. Per Chapter 6 Section 1 paragraph 6108 (Recoupment), bonus recoupment runs per the basis and SPD.
• Rehabilitation counseling not documented in advance of separation. Per Chapter 6 Section 1 paragraph 6105 (Counseling and Rehabilitation), the chain documents counseling before initiating separation on performance and conduct bases.

Decision points

• Characterization of service. Per MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 6 Section 1 paragraph 6107 (Characterization of Service) and Table 6-1 (Guide for Characterization), the separation authority decides per the basis and the record.
• Notification versus board procedures. Per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part A paragraph 6303 and Part C paragraph 6314, the procedure depends on years of service and least favorable characterization.
• Suspension of separation. Per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part B paragraph 6310 (Suspension of Separation), the separation authority suspends the separation per the criteria.
• Concurrent disciplinary or disability proceedings. Per Chapter 6 Section 3 Part B paragraph 6313 (Separation Pending Concurrent Proceedings), the separation runs alongside or pauses per the order rules.

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 1900.16MCO 1900.16 Chapter 6 (Enlisted Administrative Separations) paragraphs 6001-6421. Section 1 sets policy and guidance (paragraphs 6101-6110). Section 2 sets involuntary bases (paragraphs 6201-6215). Section 3 sets administrative procedures with Part A initiating command action (paragraphs 6301-6305), Part B separation authority action (paragraphs 6306-6313), and Part C the administrative separation board (paragraphs 6314-6321). Section 4 sets voluntary bases (paragraphs 6401-6421). Appendix L provides the involuntary administrative discharge outline, checklist, and forms. DODI 1332.14DODI 1332.14 sets DoD-level enlisted policy. JAGINST 5800.7GJAGINST 5800.7G sets sufficiency review. MCO 5800.16MCO 5800.16 Volume 11 covers Marine Corps administrative separations and investigations. MCO P1070.12KMCO P1070.12K Chapter 6 covers Page 11 documentation. 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 6 paragraphs 6001-6421. Authoritative enlisted administrative separation rules.
• MCO 1900.16 Appendix L. Involuntary administrative discharge outline.
• DODI 1332.14. DoD-level enlisted policy.
• JAGINST 5800.7G. Sufficiency review.
• MCO 5800.16 Volume 11. Marine Corps admin separations and investigations.
• MCO P1070.12K paragraph 4006. Page 11 documentation.
• MCO 5000.14D MCAP enclosure 4. S-1 separation responsibilities.
• NAVMC 3500.3E. T-R event 0170-PERA-2002.