Leaving the Navy: A Transition Timeline From 24 Months Out
A month-by-month plan for separating or retiring — when to start TAP, when SkillBridge and VA claims open, and what to do at each stage.
In this guide
Leaving the Navy involves three projects running at once: completing the official separation process, setting up your benefits, and finding what comes next. Each has deadlines that are easy to miss when you are still doing your day job. This timeline puts them in order.
The timeline at a glance
| When | Focus |
|---|---|
| 24–18 months out | Decide what you want next; research careers, schools and locations; start saving. |
| 18–12 months out | Begin TAP counselling; gather records; start certifications and networking. |
| 12–6 months out | Complete TAP classes; apply for SkillBridge; draft your resume; schedule medical appointments. |
| 6–3 months out | File your VA claim in the pre-discharge window; apply for jobs or school; plan your move. |
| Final 90 days | Complete Capstone and checkout; review your DD-214; arrange health cover and finances. |
24 to 18 months out: decide what you are aiming at
- Pick a direction. Employment, education, a trade, a business or federal service each need different preparation.
- Research the civilian version of your job. Find out which certifications and licences employers expect.
- Build savings. A cushion of several months’ expenses takes pressure off your first job decision.
- Check your records. Make sure qualifications, awards and evaluations are complete while it is still easy to fix them.
18 to 12 months out: start the official process
TAP begins with individual counselling and a pre-separation briefing that sets out the benefits and services available to you. By law this has to start no later than 365 days before separation; in practice, earlier is better because class seats and command schedules fill up.
- Book your initial counselling through your command career counsellor or Fleet and Family Support Center.
- Request your Joint Services Transcript and your Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) document — both help you describe your experience in civilian terms.
- Look at funded credentials through Navy COOL while you are still eligible.
- Start talking to people in the field you want to enter. Most jobs still come through contacts.
12 to 6 months out: build the plan
- Complete the TAP curriculum. It covers the transition process itself, VA benefits and employment fundamentals, with optional tracks for employment, education, vocational training and entrepreneurship.
- Apply for SkillBridge if it fits. The DoD SkillBridge program lets eligible service members train or intern with an approved civilian organisation during up to the last 180 days of service. It needs command approval and is not guaranteed, so raise it early.
- Write your resume. See how to translate Navy experience into a civilian resume.
- Get everything medical documented. If something hurts, have it seen and recorded before you leave. Your medical record is the foundation of any future VA claim.
6 to 3 months out: benefits and applications
The VA’s Benefits Delivery at Discharge program lets you file a disability claim between 180 and 90 days before you separate. Filing in that window generally means a decision sooner after you leave.
- File your claim with help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer. Their help is free.
- Apply for jobs in earnest, or confirm school admission and education benefits.
- Arrange your household goods move and decide where you will live.
- Plan your terminal leave with your command.
The final 90 days: close out properly
- Capstone. TAP ends with a Capstone review, to be completed no later than 90 days before separation, confirming you have a workable plan.
- Review your DD-214 line by line before you sign it. Errors are much harder to correct later, and you will need this document for the rest of your life.
- Sort out health cover for you and your family for the period after active-duty coverage ends.
- Keep copies of everything — orders, medical records, evaluations, training certificates — in more than one place.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start TAP?
No later than 365 days before your separation date. Retirees are encouraged to begin about two years out. Starting earlier gives you more choice of class dates and more time to act on what you learn.
Is SkillBridge guaranteed?
No. It requires command approval and depends on mission needs, and each opportunity has its own application. Raise it with your chain of command well in advance.
Do I need to pay someone to file my VA claim?
No. Accredited Veterans Service Officers help with claims free of charge. Be cautious of anyone charging fees for an initial claim.
What is the single most important document?
Your DD-214. Check every entry before you sign, and store certified copies safely.
Sources
Facts last checked against these sources: October 2026.
- DoD Transition Assistance Program — official curriculum, counselling requirements and timeline.
- DoD SkillBridge — eligibility and approved opportunities.
- VA — Pre-discharge claims — the Benefits Delivery at Discharge window.
- Navy COOL — credentialing opportunities for sailors.
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