DD-214 Lessons Learned
Hey everyone,
I separated this past Friday and got my DD 214 today, Monday. I have so much knowledge about the separation process that I no longer have a need for. I'm sharing it here and hope that it's useful to somebody.
Here are the rough steps.
- Admin opens a separation case in Salesforce.
- They need two things from you - DD 2586 VMET/JST and your completed NPPSC 1900/1 Separations Questionnaire.
- The only heavy lifting here is getting the medical and dental endorsements on the questionnaire.
- Note: ask your admin for your case number. This can come in handy later.
- Note: NPPSC forms can only be opened in Adobe.
- Submit separation package via the NPPSC 1900/2 Separation Checklist. You'll need
- The two things from step 1 - DD 2586 VMET/JST and Separations Questionnaire. Admin will get the questionnaire signed by the CO.
- DD 2648 Pre-Separation/Transition Counseling Checklist. You do this with your CCC before TGPS. You can pull this off milConnect.
- Separation orders.
- Terminal leave chit if you're taking it.
- Note: There will be other items on this checklist but what I listed are the key things. And technically, though no one will tell you this, they're the only required items.
- Wait ugh.
- Your package gets sent to either TSC Norfolk or PSD San Diego. I think it's random. Mine got sent to the opposite coast.
- Eventually, a worksheet (draft of your DD 214) will get generated by TSC Norfolk/PSD San Diego. This will show up in NSIPS.
- Verify your worksheet.
- NSIPS -> ESR (on the left tab) -> Retirements and Separations -> DD 214.
- If it's accurate, mark it as accurate, save, and route. If not, mark it as inaccurate, note the discrepancies, attach any supporting docs, save, and route.
- Wait ugh part 2.
- If you navigate to your DD 214 in NSIPS, you'll see little status updates. I think they were like "Queued for Transmission", "Approved", "Completed". Or something like that.
- TSC Norfolk/PSD San Diego sends the final version of the DD 214 to BOL.
- Sign it.
- BOL -> NPC Document Services -> To-do (tab at the top).
- If you're on terminal leave, admin can sign it for you.
- Get it.
- My admin DoD SAFE'd it to me. I think if you sign it from NPC Document Services, you can get it then as well.
There are three ways to get status updates.
- MNP has a case status tab. Pretty useless in my opinion.
- Admin can check your case in Salesforce. Equipped with the knowledge from this post, you should be able to dig deeper than "it's pending".
- MNCC. Their phone number is 901-874-6622. Open 24/7. If admin isn't cooperative, MNCC can provide the same information. I called them like everyday. Give them the case number from step 1.
I think that's it. It's sad that so much of the separation process is a black box. I hope this helps. Happy to answer any questions.
Edit: I forgot to add one more thing. If you’re getting desperate, you can get in contact with your representative. I reached out to mine, filled out a privacy release form, and they said they’d reach out to PERS and get back to me in a month at most. I got my DD 214 shortly after I sent the privacy release form, so I told them I was good.