Separation (United States military)

In the US armed forces, separation means that a person is leaving active duty but not necessarily the service entirely. Separation typically occurs when someone reaches the date of their Expiration of Term of Service (ETS) and are released from active duty, but still must complete their military reserve obligations. Upon separation, they receive Form DD214, which verifies their military service.^[1]

It is important to keep a copy of DD-214 since it must be shown to receive Veterans Administration (VA) benefits.^[2] A veteran or next of kin may request a copy of the DD214 form by going to National Personal Records Center's website.

When service members completes their full military obligation, they are discharged and receive a formal certificate of discharge, usually an honorable discharge.

References

^ "DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty". www.ngams.org. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
^ "The Military Separation Guide for Active Duty Personnel". VetsFirst. Retrieved December 3, 2019.

United States Armed Forces

Legend: A = Army; MC = Marine Corps; N = Navy; AF = Air Force; SF = Space Force; CG = Coast Guard

Leadership

Organization

Military departments	Department of Defense Secretary Department of the Army Secretary Department of the Navy Secretary Department of the Air Force Secretary Department of Homeland Security Secretary
Service branches and heads	Chief of Staff of the United States Army Commandant of the Marine Corps Chief of Naval Operations Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Chief of Space Operations Commandant of the Coast Guard
Reserve components	Reserves: A MC N AF CG National Guard: A AF
Civilian auxiliaries	Military Auxiliary Radio System Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary Merchant Marine Civil Air Patrol Coast Guard Auxiliary
Unified combatant command	Africa Central European Indo-Pacific Northern Southern Space Cyber Special Operations Strategic Transportation

Structure

United States Code
- Title 10
- Title 14
- Title 32
- Title 50
The Pentagon
Installations
Units:
- A
- MC
- N
- AF
- SF
- CG
Logistics
Media
Unit mottoes

Operations
and history

History	A MC N AF SF CG
Timeline	Colonial World War II
By ancestry	African Americans Asian Americans Buddhist Americans Jewish Americans Muslim Americans Sikh Americans Hispanic Americans Civil War Air Force Coast Guard Marine Corps Navy Academy
History centers	Army Center of Military History Marine Corps History Division Naval History and Heritage Command Air Force Historical Research Agency
War artists	Army Art Program Air Force Art Program

Personnel

Training	Service academies: A (prep) MC/N (prep) AF/SF (prep) CG Merchant Marine ROTC A MC/N AF/SF Officer candidate/training school: A MC N AF/SF Warrant officer: A MEPS ASVAB The Basic School (MC) Enlisted recruit training: A MC N AF/SF CG Other education
Uniforms	Uniforms: A MC N AF SF Awards & decorations: Inter-service A MC/N AF/SF CG Foreign International Devices Badges: Identification A MC N AF SF CG
Ranks	Officer: A MC N AF SF CG Warrant officers Enlisted: A MC N AF SF CG
Other	Oath: Enlistment Officer Creeds & Codes: Code of Conduct NCO A MC N AF CG Service numbers: A MC N AF CG Military Occupational Specialty/Rating/Air Force Specialty Code Pay Uniform Code of Military Justice Judge Advocate General's Corps Military Health System/Tricare Separation Veterans Affairs Conscription Chiefs of Chaplains: A MC N AF CG

Equipment

Land	Individual weapons Crew-served weapons Vehicles (active)
Sea	All watercraft Ships: A N active future AF CG MSC Weapons: N Reactors
Air	Aircraft World War I active Aircraft designation Helicopter arms
Other	WWII equipment Nuclear football Electronics (designations) Flags: A MC N AF SF CG Ensign Jack Guidons Food WMDs: Nuclear Biological Chemical

Category
- A
- MC
- N
- AF
- SF
- CG
Navboxes
- A
- MC
- N
- AF
- SF
- CG

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