Transition center
Plan the separation before it plans you
A phase-by-phase timeline covering records, benefits, employment, education, finances, housing, and family.
Information provided on this website is for general educational purposes and should not be considered individualized legal, medical, financial, tax, or benefits representation.
Transition timeline
12+ Months Before Separation
- Start a transition binder
- Review medical records
- Research target career fields
- Begin education planning
6–12 Months
- Explore SkillBridge options
- Draft civilian and federal resumes
- Build a transition budget
- Start networking
180 Days
- Schedule required transition briefings
- Request records copies
- Begin housing research
90 Days
- Apply to roles
- Confirm terminal leave plan
- Plan the move (PPM/DITY considerations)
30 Days
- Finalize out-processing
- Confirm benefits enrollment steps
- Confirm household logistics
Final Week
- Collect final documents
- Verify DD-214 accuracy
- Confirm pay and leave settlement
First 30 Days After Separation
- Organize records
- Begin any benefit applications
- Establish routines and healthcare access
First 90 Days
- Employment ramp-up
- Education enrollment
- Financial checkpoint
First Year
- Career progression plan
- Certification milestones
- Housing and investing plan
Checklist categories
Medical recordsBenefitsEmploymentEducationFinancesHousingFamilyBusinessNetworkingCertifications
Transition programs
DoD SkillBridge
Industry training or internship during final months of service.
- Audience:
- Transitioning service members
- Benefits:
- Civilian work experience while still on active duty
- Eligibility:
- Command approval and program-specific criteria
Hiring Our Heroes
Employment programs and fellowships for the military community.
- Audience:
- Service members, veterans, spouses
- Benefits:
- Fellowships, hiring events, networking
- Eligibility:
- Program-specific
Boots to Business
Entrepreneurship training delivered through the SBA.
- Audience:
- Service members, veterans, spouses
- Benefits:
- Business fundamentals training
- Eligibility:
- Program-specific
Onward to Opportunity
Career skills training and certification preparation.
- Audience:
- Service members, veterans, spouses
- Benefits:
- Training and certification support
- Eligibility:
- Program-specific
Veteran mentorship programs
Pairing veterans with mentors in target industries.
- Audience:
- Veterans
- Benefits:
- Guidance and network access
- Eligibility:
- Program-specific
Federal employment resources
Civil service hiring pathways and veteran preference.
- Audience:
- Veterans
- Benefits:
- Federal hiring guidance
- Eligibility:
- Program-specific