MANAGING YOUR TRANSITION TIMELINE (MYTT)
TRANSITIONACTIVITIES CANOCCUR AS EARLY AS
24 MONTHS FORTHOSE RETIRING, AND
NO LATER THAN 365
DAYS FOR THOSESEPARATING/TRANSITIONING

18 - 24 MONTHS

American Job Centers
Assistance from your TAP counselor / Online TAP Schedule
Basic Skills Improvement Opportunities
Career Path DECIDE
Credentialing/Apprenticeship: (COOL/USMAP/MILGEARS)Disability Compensation
DOL Unemployment Compensation for Veterans
FedsHireVets
Financial Education, Counseling and Training
Job Counseling and Employment Placement
Office of Personnel Management Veteran Services
Sen$e mobile application
Thrift Savings Plan
Veteran Employment Services Office12-18 MONTHS If separating/transitioning, Make an appt. with your local
schedule/attend Initial CounselingTransition Assistance Program (TAP)
Pre-separation Counseling (canCounselor for your individualized initial
occur before 365 days, but no later
counselingthan 365 days) Attend initial counseling and complete Explore SkillBridge or career skills
your personal self-assessment/opportunities
Individual Transition Plan (ITP) Schedule/attend Pre-separation
counseling (can occur before 365 days,
but no later than 365 days prior toseparation or retirement)

 Review finances to ensure you arefinancially ready for civilian life.
Schedule a meeting with a personal
financial counselor Identify a mentor

 Learn about the VA Home Loan
Guaranty Program Create a LinkedIn account, and start tobuild your network
 Explore career options and SECO Secure your Joint Service Transcript(JST) or CCAF Transcript andVerification of Military Experience andTraining (VMET) Register for/attend TAP workshops
and additional tracks (employment,vocational, entrepreneurship, highereducation)

 Create a master resume Consider taking CLEP exams

Veteran-owned Businesses (SBA)
Veterans.gov (DOL)
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

EDUCATION RESOURCES:

Education Benefits (e.g. Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Community College of the Air Force Transcript
Professional Education Counseling
Troops to Teachers (available 3-years post sep.)
Tuition Assistance

HEALTH AND WELLBEING RESOURCES:
eBenefits/MyHealtheVet Accounts
inTransition Program
Mental Health Resources
Peer Support Services
Recovery Care Program

6-12 MONTHS
 Begin and refine your job search Use your master resume to begin
drafting targeted resumes

4-6 MONTHS Complete your Baseline Wellbeing
Assessment and Separation Health
Assessment

Your statement of benefits will list the programs,
services, and other benefits you qualify for and must begiven to you no later than 30 days prior to yourseparation date. If qualified, these benefits are available
to you as early as your day of separation:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

VA: Disability compensation, home loan eligibility, Post
9/11 GI Bill eligibility, other, etc.

Community Support Resources
Joint Services Transcript
Military OneSource
National Resource DirectoryNon-military Counseling
VA Home Loans
Veterans Military Exchange Online Shopping Benefit

3 MONTHS Review your Pre-Separation Checklist (DD2648)
 Research your health insurance options;register for TRICARE (if you are retiring) Obtain copies of your medical records
 Arrange for household goods(HHG) transportation counseling if  Review and update your will, other legal
documents, and voter registration
you plan to relocate upon
separation
 Consider whether to take terminal leave or 
sell back your leave balance Schedule your physical and dental
checkups Determine if you are eligible for separation pay or early retirement
 Decide if you want to “opt-out” of
VA health benefits or not Submit a pre-discharge disability claim under the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) or If retiring, meet with your Service
Decision Ready Claim (DRC) programs
Retirement Office(if applicable)
 Sign up for a free year of the Connect with an American Job Center (AJC) LinkedIn Premium Subscription
near you Start attending career fairs
 Schedule/complete Capstone with a TAP
Counselor and Commander or their designee

Statement of Benefits

Suicide Prevention Information
VA Health Care/Dental Care
VA Life Insurance (FGLI, FSGLI, etc.)
VA Mental Health Access
VA Solid Start
VA VET CentersWarrior CareIf filing a claim for VA disability compensation,submit an application between 90-180 days
prior to separation or retirement.
Research life insurance options for self andfamily
Contact your medical treatment facility to getcopies of your health and dental records
Complete VA Healthcare registration
Set up a one-on-one session with a
VA Benefits Advisor
Obtain a Veterans’ Preference letter fromeBenefits
Apply for VA Education and Career Counselingbenefit (if applicable)

DoD: Pay and retirement, healthcare (TRICARE), Space A
travel, commissary, exchange, MWR, recreational andspace A lodging, installation access, and other benefits
outlined in the transition guide.

90 DAYS OR LESS If seeking employment, begin
applying and interviewing forpositions
 Finalize relocation appointments andreview your benefits, if applicable Begin to prepare your Disability
claim with your local VSO (ifapplicable and not completed
previously) If retiring and married, make aSurvivor Benefit Plan election
decision with your spouse If retiring, complete DD Form 2656
with a retirement services office orcounselor Contact Military OneSource to learn
about no-cost resources available toyou for your first year post-transition

 Ensure you have multiple certified copies of yourDD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from ActiveDuty) in a fireproof place

DAY OF SEPARATION + 365

CAREER/FINANCIAL RESOURCES: Ensure your VA benefits contact information is updatedwith your current phone number, email, and address Continue to network and stay involved on LinkedIn andother social media sites Register for the VA burial pre-need program Apply for VA Dental Insurance (if applicable)
 Apply for Veterans ID card, Veteran’s Health
Identification Card, or print Proof of Service card fromeBenefits
 Utilize Military OneSource (up to 365 days posttransition)
 If you’re married, inform your spouse about thebenefits offered by Spouse Education and Career
Opportunities (SECO)

Updated: June 29, 2020