TRANSITION READINESS GUIDANCE UPDATE
Date Signed: 8/5/2014 | MARADMINS Number: 384/14
MARADMINS : 384/14
UNCLASSIFIED/
R 041924Z Aug 14
MARADMIN 384/14
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/TRANSITION READINESS GUIDANCE UPDATE//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/PUBLIC LAW 112-56/YMD:20111121//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/SECDEF/YMD:20140410//
REF/C/MSGID:MSG/CMC WASHINGTON DC/YMD:20140114//
REF/D/MSGID:MSG/CMC WASHINGTON  DC/YMD:20130903//
NARR/TITLE II OF REF A IS THE VOW TO HIRE HEROES ACT OF 2011 (VOW ACT) WHICH DIRECTS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRA (TAP). REF B IS DTM 12-007, IMPLEMENTATION OF MANDATORY TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION FOR ELIGIBLE SERVICE MEMBERS. REF C IS MCBUL 1700, IMPLEMENTATION OF MANDATORY TRANSITION READINESS PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS. REF D IS MARADMIN 514/13, IMPLEMENTATION OF MANDATORY TRANSITION READINESS CAPSTONE.//
POC/N. JENNINGS/CIV/UNIT:MFR/-/TEL:703-784-9550//
POC/N. BRADEN/MAJ/UNIT:RA-RCT/-/TEL:703-784-0510//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THIS MARADMIN PROVIDES UPDATES AND AMPLIFYING GUIDANCE ON VOW ACT COMPLIANCE REPORTING, MANDATORY TRANSITION READINESS PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS, AND RESERVE COMPONENT (RC) EXECUTION. THE CONTENTS OF THIS MARADMIN WILL BE INCORPORATED IN A FORTHCOMING MARINE CORPS ORDER GOVERNING THE TRANSITION READINESS PROGRAM.
2. BACKGROUND. REF A DIRECTED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TAP. REF B INSTITUTED MANDATORY TRANSITION ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF PRE-SEPARATION COUNSELING, ATTENDANCE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) BENEFITS BRIEFING AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOP (DOLEW), COMPLETION OF CAPSTONE AND  THE DD FORM 2958, SERVICE MEMBERS CAREER READINESS STANDARDS/ INDIVIDUAL TRANSITION PLAN CHECKLIST.REFS C AND D DETAILED EXECUTION OF THESE REQUIREMENTS AND TRANSITION READINESS PARTICIPATION.
3. ACTION
 A. AS OF 1 JULY 2014 ALL MARINE CORPS VOW ACT COMPLIANCE REPORTING ENTERED INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) TAP OPERATORS SITE SHALL BE GENERATED FROM THE COMPLETED/SIGNED DD FORM 2958.
 B. PER REF C AND AS OF 1 JULY 2014 COMMANDING OFFICERS SHALL DESIGNATE A UNIT TRANSITION COORDINATOR (UTC), FORMERLY IDENTIFIED IN THE REFERENCE AS A UNIT TRANSITION COUNSELOR, TO SUPPORT TRANSITION PROCESSES AND FACILITATE REF C CAPSTONE PROCEDURES. UTC IS A COLLATERAL DUTY. THE DESIGNATED UTC CAN RECEIVE CAPSTONE PROCESS ORIENTATION/TRAINING FROM LOCAL/INSTALLATION OR OTHER SUPPORTING SERVICE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT(P AND PD) STAFF. REMOTE SITE/INDEPENDENT DUTY/RESERVE TRAINING CENTER (RTC) UTC MAY CALL THE MF-MFR POC NUMBER FOR PROCESS ORIENTATION.
 C. COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO MODIFY UNIT CHECK-IN SHEETS/PROCEDURES TO INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION P AND PD STAFF/BRANCHES WHERE AVAILABLE. THIS RECOMMENDED ADVANCE ACTION IS PART OF A FORTHCOMING MARINE FOR LIFE CYCLE INITIATIVE TO OPTIMIZE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND INTEGRATE TRANSITION READINESS/PREPARATION THROUGHOUT A MARINES CAREER.
 D. PER REF B ALL TRANSITIONING MARINES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR FIRST 180 CONTINUOUS DAYS OR MORE ON ACTIVE DUTY SHALL PERFORM MANDATORY PRE-SEPARATION COUNSELING, VA BENEFITS BRIEFINGS, THE DOLEW (UNLESS LIMITED OR EXEMPTED PER REF B), AND CAPSTONE. THIS REQUIREMENT INCLUDES RC MARINES SERVING 180 CONTINUOUS DAYS OR MORE ON ACTIVE DUTY.
 E. PER REFS C AND D CAPSTONE WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER (CO) OR DESIGNEE, SUCH AS THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NO LATER THAN 90 DAYS BEFORE A MARINES END OF ACTIVE SERVICE (EAS) OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITHIN REMAINING ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE FOR ELIGIBLE RC MARINES.
 F. PER REF C THE DD FORM 2958 SHALL BE COMPLETED BY MARINES AND THE P AND PD STAFF PRIOR TO THE CO CERTIFYING ACHIEVEMENT OF APPLICABLE CAREER READINESS STANDARDS AND COMPLETION OF MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS, SECTION IV.  THE CO OF A RC MARINE IS AUTHORIZED TO COMPLETE SECTION IV, WITH SUPPORTING ATTENDANCE/COMPLETION DOCUMENTATION,IN LIEU OF THE P AND PD STAFF WHEN TRANSITION MATERIAL IS NOT DELIVERED VIA A SUPPORTING INSTALLATION TRANSITION READINESS SEMINAR (TRS).
 G. COMMANDING OFFICERS WILL CONTINUE TO REPORT THE TRAINING EVENT CODE TA (TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP/TAMP)) VIA THE MOL TRAINING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM UNTIL A SYSTEMS INTERFACE IS DEVELOPED BETWEEN THE DOD DEFENSE MANPOWER DATA CENTER AND MCTFS.
 H. PER REF C THE ORIGINAL COMPLETED DD FORM 2958 IS RETAINED  BY THE MARINE, A COPY OF THE DD FORM 2958 IS FILED IN THE  COMMANDS OFFICIAL FILES, AND THE UTC/CAREER PLANNER PROVIDES  A COPY OF THE CHECKLIST TO P AND PD STAFF FOR THEIR ENTRY INTO THE DOD TAP OPERATORS SITE AND COPY RETENTION FOR THREE YEARS. REMOTE SITE/INDEPENDENT DUTY/RTC LOCATIONS SHOULD CALL THE MF-MFR POC NUMBER TO COORDINATE DD FORM 2958 COPY FORWARDING TO THE NEAREST MARINE CORPS INSTALLATION P AND PD FOR TAP OPERATORS  SITE ENTRY.
 I. PER REF C PRE-SEPARATION COUNSELING SHALL BE EXECUTED USING DD FORM 2648 FOR ACTIVE COMPONENT AND ACTIVE RESERVE MARINES AND DD FORM 2648-1 FOR RC MARINES.  REF A MANDATORY TRANSITION ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS SUPERSEDE DD FORM 2648-1 SECTION II, 9.B. DECLINATION OF TRANSITION COUNSELING.
 J. INSTALLATION PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION CENTERS OR SEPARATION ADMINISTRATORS SHALL VIEW/VERIFY COPIES OF THE COMPLETED DD FORM 2648/2648-1 AND THE DD FORM 2958 PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE MARINES SEPARATION OUT-PROCESSING.  SEPARATING MARINES WITH DISCREPANCIES  OR INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION WILL BE RETURNED TO THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
3. EXEMPTIONS. PER REF B THE DOLEW IS THE ONLY REQUIREMENT FOR WHICH AN EXEMPTION CAN BE AUTHORIZED. P AND PD STAFF WILL DOCUMENT ON THE DD FORM 2958 ELIGIBLE MARINES WHO QUALIFY FOR AN EXEMPTION AND ELECT NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DOLEW. THE CO OF A RC MARINE IS AUTHORIZED TO ANNOTATE AN EXEMPTION ON THE DD FORM 2958, WITH SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, IN LIEU OF INSTALLATION P AND PD STAFF WHEN TRANSITION MATERIAL IS NOT DELIVERED VIA A SUPPORTING INSTALLATION TRS. DOLEW EXEMPTIONS ARE:
 A. RETIRING AFTER 20 OR MORE YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE MILITARY SERVICES.
 B. MARINES WHO MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
 (1) ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF EMPLOYMENT,
 (2) ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTED ACCEPTANCE INTO AN ACCREDITED CAREER TECHNICAL TRAINING, UNDERGRADUATE, OR GRADUATE DEGREE,
 (3) MARINES WITH SPECIALIZED SKILLS WHO, DUE TO UNAVOIDABLE CIRCUMSTANCES, ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT A UNIT SCHEDULED TO BE  DEPLOYED WITHIN 60 DAYS.  THE FIRST OFFICER IN THE MARINES  CHAIN OF COMMAND WITH COURT MARTIAL AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO  CHAPTER 47 OF THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE MUST  CERTIFY ON THE DD FORM 2958 ANY SUCH REQUEST FOR THIS EXEMPTION  FROM THE DOLEW. A MAKE-UP PLAN MUST ACCOMPANY THE CERTIFICATION.
 (4) WOUNDED, ILL, AND INJURED RECOVERING MARINES IMMINENTLY TRANSITIONING FROM ACTIVE DUTY, WHO ARE ENROLLED IN THE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE OR A SIMILAR TRANSITION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT, FURTHER EDUCATION, OR TECHNICAL TRAINING POST-SEPARATION.
 C. RC MEMBERS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED IN THE DOLEW MAY REQUEST AN EXEMPTION.  AN EXEMPTION REQUEST MUST BE SUPPORTED BY DOCUMENTATION OF DOLEW ATTENDANCE ON A PREVIOUS DD FORM 2958, P AND PD TRS DOLEW ROSTER, OR DOLEW DOCUMENTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH DEMOBILIZATION.
4. TRANSITION READINESS MATERIAL DELIVERY.  THE TRS AND TRANSITION READINESS MATERIALS/BRIEFINGS ARE OFFERED ABOARD ALL MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS.  TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, KNOWN AS TRANSITION GPS, ARE AVAILABLE ABOARD ALL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, JOINT RESERVE BASES AND NATIONAL GUARD TRANSITION CENTERS, AND DELIVER ALL MANDATORY ELEMENTS OF TRANSITION READINESS TO ATTENDING SERVICEMEMBERS.
 A. INSTALLATION DELIVERY. THIS PREFERRED METHOD OF DELIVERY IS REQUIRED WHEN A SERVICING INSTALLATION EXISTS WITHIN A REASONABLE COMMUTING DISTANCE OF A MARINES DUTY ASSIGNMENT OR RC MARINES RESIDENCE/RTC. REASONABLE COMMUTING DISTANCE FOR THIS PURPOSE IS DEFINED AS 100 MILES OR 3 HOURS OF DRIVING DISTANCE.  SPOUSES OF ELIGIBLE MARINES MAY ALSO ATTEND THE MARINE CORPS TRS.
 B. VIRTUAL DELIVERY. A VIRTUAL TRS CURRICULUM IS AVAILABLE VIA JOINT KNOWLEDGE ONLINE AT HTTP:(SLASH)(SLASH)JKO.JFCOM.MIL/. THIS DELIVERY METHOD IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT THOSE ELIGIBLE MARINES WHO ARE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO ACCOMPLISH INSTALLATION BASED DELIVERY. ELIGIBLE MARINES (ACTIVE DUTY AND RC) ARE THOSE IN REMOTE/ISOLATED LOCATIONS EXCEEDING THE AFOREMENTIONED COMMUTING DISTANCE, INDEPENDENT DUTY, ADMINISTRATIVE SEPARATIONS, UNANTICIPATED/RAPID, AND/OR SHORT NOTICE SEPARATIONS (SUCH AS THOSE IN THE HANDS OF CIVILIAN/FOREIGN AUTHORITIES OR PRISONERS), BAD CONDUCT/OTHER THAN HONORABLE/DISHONORABLE DISCHARGES, OR SPOUSES OF ELIGIBLE MARINES WHO ELECT NOT TO ATTEND TRS ABOARD AN INSTALLATION. COMMANDING OFFICERS SHALL MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF VIRTUAL DELIVERY ELIGIBILITY BASED ON THE QUALIFYING CRITERIA ABOVE.
 C. RESERVE COMPONENT. RC MARINES SERVING 180 CONTINUOUS DAYS OR MORE ON ACTIVE DUTY, AS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF MOBILIZATION OR ACTIVE DUTY FOR OPERATIONAL SUPPORT (ADOS) ORDERS, SHALL BEGIN THE PRE-SEPARATION COUNSELING PROCESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THEIR REMAINING ACTIVE DUTY PERIOD OF SERVICE. RC MARINES MAY ALSO ACCOMPLISH TRANSITION MATERIAL DELIVERY OF THE VA BENEFITS BRIEFING, THE DOLEW (UNLESS EXEMPTED), AND CAPSTONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THEIR REMAINING ACTIVE DUTY PERIOD OF SERVICE. THE GAINING FORCE COMMAND OR ADOS SPONSOR, AS IDENTIFIED IN THE APPLICABLE ORDERS, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THOSE RC PERSONNEL COMPLETE MANDATORY TRANSITION ASSISTANCE COMPONENTS PRIOR TO RELEASE FROM ACTIVE DUTY OR RETURN TO THEIR RTC.
5. THIS MARADMIN IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE.
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R. A. C. SANBORN, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//