Transition Readiness Program Changes in Compliance with Department of Defense Instruction 1332.35

1.  PURPOSE.  To provide advance notice of policy update to reference (a) to reflect changes to reference (b) and requirements of reference (c).
2.  The next revision to reference (a) will incorporate the below requirements mandated by Department of Defense TAP policy or reference (c).  Immediate implementation of these changes ensures compliance with references (b) and (c).
3.  Marines who are retiring or separating due to a disability are not required to fulfill 180 days or more of continuous active duty to qualify for pre-separation counseling.
A.  For purposes of calculating the days of active duty of a Marine to determine the 180 day consecutive requirement for pre-separation counseling, the following days do not apply:  (1) the days when the Marine performs full-time training duty or annual training duty;  and (2) the days a Marine attends, while on active military service, a school designated as a service school by law or by the USMC.
B.  Transition Readiness Seminar may be made available to ineligible (less than 180 consecutive days on active duty) Reserve Component Marines during the Marine For Life Cycle as resources and capacity allow.
C.  Reference (b) requires military departments to provide reasonable accommodations to enable wounded, ill, or injured recovering Marines to successfully complete transition requirements;  provide eligible Marines, returning from overseas or assigned to remote or isolated and geographically dispersed locations, priority of service for TRS and a higher level of support or referral to a supporting agency throughout the transition process;  and all Marines participate in all mandatory components of the TRS.  In cases where a Marine receives a punitive or "Under Other Than Honorable Conditions" discharge, Commanders have the discretion to determine participation in the remaining non-mandatory TRS curricula (Accessing Higher Education, Boots to Business, and Career Technical Training).
4.  Installation Commanders are encouraged to permit access to transition assistance-related events and activities in the United States and abroad at no cost to the U.S. Government or to the Marine, to the following:  (1) civilian employers, (2) educational institutions who have a current DoD MOU, and (3) Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs).  Access must be for the purpose of offering job opportunities, mentoring, internships, or apprenticeships leading to employment.  VSO access must be for the purpose of assisting Marines with the pre and post military disability claims process and transition resources and services.  Reference (d) provides Department of the Navy guidance on installation access for transition related services.  Qualifying VSOs are those who are recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  A complete list of the organizations recognized by VA is available through the Office of the General Counsel Accreditation search website application at:  http:(slash)(slash)www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation/index.asp.
5.  During the Personal Readiness Seminar, Active Component Marines are encouraged to initiate the Individual Development Plan (IDP) no later than 90 days after arrival at the first permanent duty station or home station for Reserve Component Marines during their initial drilling weekends.  Commanders must ensure IDPs are developed, updated, and maintained at key action points throughout the Marine For Life Cycle.  Action Point checklists and supporting information can be found under the "Few Good Links" resources tab on Marine On line.
6.  Capstone Reviews are conducted by a Transition staff member for eligible Marines in paygrade of O-5 or below;  and the first Commander with Uniform Code of Military Justice authority in the chain of command, or his or her designee, for eligible Marines in the paygrade of O-6.
7.  This MARADMIN is applicable to the Marine Corps Active and Reserve Component.
8.  This MARADMIN will be cancelled once published into reference (a).
9.  Release authorized by MajGen B. W. Whitman, Director, Marine and Family Programs Division.