Retirement Processing

Three Retirement Paths

The commander interacts with retirement in three distinct paths.

The Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) under DODI 1332.18 governs the medical paths. The voluntary path is the standard 20+ year retirement.

Voluntary Retirement Path

A Marine eligible for 20+ year retirement submits a retirement request through the chain via Naval Letter or local form. The request goes to S-1, to the CO for endorsement, and onward through chain to MMSR (Manpower Management Separation and Retirement).

CO's role on a voluntary retirement

1. Receive the package. S-1 prepares with the Marine.
2. Verify eligibility. Years of service, grade, conduct, qualifications.
3. Recommend. Approve, defer for timing, or recommend deny in limited cases.
4. Endorse and route. Endorsement letter via Naval Letter format.
5. Support transition. TAP enrollment, unit transition coordinator assignment.
6. Sign retirement orders endorsement when issued. Confirming the Marine's status at retirement date.

Timing windows

The Marine drives the request timing. The unit's role is endorsement velocity and pre-retirement support.

When to recommend a deferral

A CO might recommend deferral on a voluntary retirement when:

• The Marine has incomplete obligations (deployment, training event, school)
• The Marine's billet is mission-critical and replacement is in transition
• The Marine has pending NJP, court-martial, or AdSep action (consult SJA. This overlaps adverse processing.)
• The Marine's transition planning is incomplete

Deferral is a recommendation, not a denial. The Marine retains the right to retire when eligible per statute.

Medical Retirement Through IDES

The Integrated Disability Evaluation System combines DoD and VA processes. A Marine referred to IDES goes through:

1. Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) at MTF level - determines whether condition meets retention standards
2. Informal Physical Evaluation Board (IPEB) - determines fitness for duty and disability rating
3. Formal Physical Evaluation Board (FPEB) if requested - in-person hearing
4. PEBLO (PEB Liaison Officer) coordination throughout
5. Service Secretary review for high-impact cases

CO's role in IDES

The CO does not adjudicate fitness for duty. The PEB does. The CO:

• Supports the Marine through the process
• Documents duty performance during the IDES period
• Coordinates with PEBLO for command input where requested
• Adjusts duty assignment to accommodate medical limitations
• Maintains the Marine's pay, benefits, and dignity during the process
• Plans for billet succession as the IDES timeline becomes clearer

Possible IDES outcomes

The CO's signature endorses the administrative routing. The substantive fitness and rating decisions are PEB.

Wounded, Ill, and Injured (WII) Marines

Some IDES cases involve WII Marines covered under the Wounded Warrior Regiment (WWR) framework. The CO coordinates with:

• Recovery Care Coordinator (RCC) assigned to the Marine
• WWR battalion for any Marine transferred to WWR
• Unit medical and the Marine's primary care provider
• Family of the Marine where appropriate
• Wounded Warrior Leader's Guide for the support framework

For WII Marines remaining in the unit during IDES, the duty assignment respects medical limitations while maintaining the Marine's contribution and dignity.

Pre-Retirement Administrative Requirements

A Marine approaching retirement completes a series of administrative requirements. The CO confirms completion.

The CO's role is verification, not execution. The Marine and S-1 execute. The CO signs the endorsement confirming completion.

Retirement Ceremony

The retirement ceremony is a unit obligation, not a personal favor. Marines retiring after 20+ years have earned formal recognition.

Standard elements

• Retirement orders read
• American flag presented (often via veteran organizations)
• Retirement letters from CMC, SECNAV, President
• Awards presented (final awards typically arrive at or near retirement)
• Family recognition
• Unit photograph and gift if local SOP
• Speeches as appropriate
• Pass and review or equivalent

CO's role

• Approve the ceremony date and resources
• Speak at the ceremony or designate
• Coordinate with the Marine on family and guest preferences
• Ensure awards are routed for timely arrival

A retirement ceremony missed because of "operational tempo" reads as a unit values failure. Plan around it.

Common Failures

1. Endorsement delay. Marine's package sits at the CO desk for weeks. Pre-retirement planning timeline compresses.
2. Treating retirement as separation. Different procedural set under MCO 1900.16. Different paperwork.
3. Missing OSTC overlap on a retirement request from a Marine with covered-offense exposure. MARADMIN 633/24 violation.
4. Skipping the ceremony. Unit values failure.
5. Letting awards process slip past retirement date. Awards delivered post-retirement are diminished.
6. PEBLO coordination ignored. The PEBLO is the procedural expert. The unit's failure to engage delays the Marine's IDES.
7. WII Marine duty assignment ignores medical limitations. Liability and dignity issue.

Decision Framework on a Retirement Request

When the request lands:

1. Is the Marine eligible (years of service, grade)?
2. Is there any pending adverse action requiring SJA coordination?
3. Is there any OSTC overlap requiring legal hold review?
4. Has the Marine begun TAP / TRP workshops?
5. Has the unit identified billet succession?
6. What awards are in process and when do they need to land?
7. What is the proposed retirement date and does it conflict with unit operations?

If all answers are clean, endorse and route within 30 days.

What Comes Next for the Marine

After unit endorsement:

1. MMSR processes the retirement and issues orders.
2. Marine begins pre-retirement leave window.
3. Marine completes TAP and administrative checkout.
4. Retirement ceremony.
5. Final pay and benefits administration.
6. Marine becomes a retiree, retains benefits per status.

The unit's involvement effectively ends at the ceremony. The administrative tail continues through MMSR and Disbursing.

Related Pages

• Personnel Decisions Overview (this topic, order 1)
• Administrative Separation Authority (this topic, order 2) - the separation pathway distinct from retirement
• Reductions in Grade (this topic, order 4)
• Promotion Withholds and Removals (this topic, order 5)
• A Leader's Guide to Supporting WII Marines (forthcoming dedicated page)
• OSTC Covered Offenses (Turnover topic) - overlap rules