Our mission is to provide quality transition services to all Fort Cavazos Soldiers transitioning from the military - Expiration Term of Service (ETS), Retirement and Administrative Separations (Chapter).

Every Soldier that transitions from the Army, regardless of type of separation, must meet the following basic requirements:

 

  • Complete the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

  • Complete a Physical Examination (Phase 1 and 2)

  • Have Separation Orders

  • Complete DD Form 2656 - Data For Payment of Retired Personnel (Retirement Only)

  • Have Final Stamp on Clearing Papers

  • Have a DD Form 214

  • VA Claim is Optional

The DD 214 Separation Briefing for ETS and Administrative Separations (Chapter) is conducted Monday - Friday at 0715 hours on the 3d floor of the Copeland Center, Room B-309 except for Federal Holidays and III Armored Corps Training Holidays.  There will not be a DD 214 Briefing on Federal Holidays or III Armored Corps Training Holidays

  • Updated DD Form 93

  • Updated SGLV

  • Orders

  • Approved Absence Request, if authorized leave.  Absence request must end on the separation date.  ETS and UQR/REFRAD are not authorized PTDY (TAA).

  • Reserve Contract if taking National Guard or Reserve Obligation

  • Clearing Papers with Green Stamp.

Retirees will have a one-on-one appointment scheduled with their separation technician.  Retirees should schedule their final out appointment with their technician after they receive their installation clearing papers.

For specific information and any required documents for your specific type of separation click the appropriate box below:

  • Soldiers who are ETSing should submit a Transition Worksheet 90 days prior to start of leave or separation date

  • Soldiers will receive orders 30 to 60 days from start of leave or separation date if they turn in worksheet 90 days prior

  • If a Soldier is being retained past the contractual ETS date, the unit Career Counselor must change the ETS date. The Transition Center cannot change the ETS date

  • How many days of leave can a Soldier take? As many days as the commander approves

  • Soldiers ETSing are not authorized Permissive TDY (also known as Transition Administrative Absence)

General Information:

  • Commander initiates Chapter actions

  • Cdr/1SG will schedule TAP & physical exam before Chapter approval

  • Submit approved chapter to the Transition Center for orders processing

  • Fill out Transition Worksheet

  • Transition Center will determine separation date. Normally 14 working days from the time the chapter packet is turned in

  • Goal is to finalize order within 5 to 7 business days

  • Start clearing with MFR “Clear without Orders”, signed by commander

  • Soldier’s pay suspended prior to separation date

  • Units must provide an NCO escort for the following chapters:

  • Chapter 9 (Drug or Alcohol Failure)

  • Chapter 10 (In Lieu of Court Martial)

  • Chapter 13 (Unsatisfactory Performance)

  • Chapter 14 (Pattern or Serious Misconduct)

  • Soldier must attend DD Form 214 brief on separation date even if they are not cleared

  • The Soldier will be barred from Fort Cavazos if separating with a Chapter 10, Chapter 14 and/or Under Other Than Honorable discharge

  • If the Soldier acknowledges that they are being chaptered then goes AWOL, contact the Transition Center at 254-287-3513

Chapter Packet Format

The Chapter packet must contain the following documents:

  • “I direct” memo (If memo states “recommend” the Transition Center cannot accept chapter)

  • Bn/Co/Trp Commander recommendation memorandums

  • Acknowledgement memo signed by the Soldier stating that they understand that they are being chaptered

  • Waiver document(s)

  • Article 15s

  • DA Form 4187s

  • Supporting documents

  • DA Form 268 (Flag)

  • Soldier Talent Profile (STP)

Officer Specific Information

  • Commander initiates chapter action

  • The chapter is processed through S1/G1/SJA to HRC for approval

  • Once the Transition Center receives RFO, the Transition Center will finalize the order and complete the DD Form 214

  • Notification memo to Officer must be signed by O6 Commander not paralegal

  • Need DA Form 78-R (Recommendation for Promotion to 1LT/CW2) if not recommended for promotion

  • Officers discharged as a result of an elimination, misconduct, moral or professional dereliction, or in the interest of national security will be barred from Fort Cavazos

  • Retirement Request - submitted 9 – 24 months from requested retirement date and signed by COL recommending approval. Submitted using IPPS-A Administrative Records Correction - Personnel Actions Request (PAR) routed through the complete chain of command.

  • DA Form 4187, SHARP Statement, Approved Absence Request and Soldier Talent Profile (STP) are required and must be attached to the PAR request in IPPS-A

  • Late packets (within the 9 month period) require a letter of lateness signed by the first LTC/O-5 or above in the chain of command

  • Soldier must schedule a one-on-one appointment with their Transition Center Technician to obtain the DD Form 214

  • Retirement Ceremony coordinated w/Retirement Services @ 287-5210

Sample Forms:

  • Retirement Request signed by the Officer and submitted 9 – 24 months from requested retirement date.  Submitted using IPPS-A Administrative Records Correction - Personnel Actions Request (PAR) routed through the complete chain of command.

  • Recommendation Memorandum must be signed by COL or above.  SHARP Memorandum, Education Memorandum, Waivers, if needed, and 2X Non-select Memorandum (if notified as 2XNS) must be included as part of the request.  All memorandums must be physically or digitally signed by all parties.  Absence request must end of the retirement date. SHARP Memorandum, Absence Request and Soldier Talent Profile (STP) are required

  • Late packets (within the 9 month period) require a letter of lateness signed by the officer

  • Schedule one-on-one appointment with Transition Center Technician to obtain the DD Form 214

  • Retirement Ceremony coordinated w/Retirement Services @ 287-5210

Sample Forms:

REFRAD/UQR packets are processed using IPPS-A Administrative Records Personnel Actions Request and routed through the complete chain of command.

Required Documents:

  • Voluntary REFRAD Request or UQR Request.

  • COL or above recommend approval memorandum

  • Reserve Component Counseling

  • SHARP Statement

  • Waiver if needed

  • Absence Request must end on separation date.  PTDY (TAA) is not authorized.

  • Education Memorandum

All memorandums must be physically or digitally signed by all parties.

Late packets (within the 6-month period require a letter lateness signed by the officer.

On average, after submission to the Transition Center, it takes 8-12 weeks to receive an approval/disapproval from HRC.

Sample Forms: