MILITARY RETIREE CHECKLIST

INTRODUCTION: A simple, easy to use checklist to annotate your military career information, family data, insurance policies,
financial data, and other information. When completed, members of your family will have what they needed to help settle your estate
upon your death and also meet your personal desires. A copy of this checklist should be placed together with your Will and other
important documents in a safe deposit box for safekeeping. We also recommend that you provide each member of your family a copy;
but that will be a personal choice.
1. PERSONAL DATA.
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Name:
SSN:

Retired Rank/Grade:

Date of Retirement:

Branch of Service:

Last Duty Station:

Date of Birth:

Place of Birth:

2. FAMILY DATA.
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Spouse's Name:

SSN:

Maiden Name:

Date of Birth:

Place of Birth:

Date of Marriage:

Place of Marriage:

Child Name/Date of Birth/SSN:

Child Name/Date of Birth/SSN:

Child Name/Date of Birth/SSN:

3. BENEFIT PLAN AND INSURANCE POLICIES.

COVERAGE INFORMATION
LIFE INSURANCE (Company, policy#, Coverage, Beneficiary, Agent name and Phone Numbers)
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

4. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS.
INVESTMENT (Type, Company Name, Amount, Agent Name and Phone Number)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
BANK ACCOUNTS (Bank Name, Type of Account, Account Number, Phone Number)
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
CREDITORS (Name, Address, Phone Number, Credit Card type, Balance Due)
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________

MORTGAGE AND HOMEOWNER (Mortgage/Insurance Company Name and Phone Number, Account #)
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
5. NAMES AND LOCATIONS OF IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS .
*Upon discharge, register DD214 with local county recorder office.
TYPE OF DOCUMENT

WHERE LOCATED

DD Form 214 (Discharge Record) _______________________________________

Retirement Orders_______________________________________

Medical and Dental Records_______________________________________

Most Current Retired Pay Statement_______________________________________

VA Disability Paperwork _______________________________________

Marriage Certificate (s) _______________________________________

Divorce Decree (s)________________________________________

Birth Certificates _______________________________________

Adoption Papers

Death Certificates (previous marriages) ________________________________________

Safe Deposit Box ________________________________________

Living Will________________________________________

Last Will and Testaments _______________________________________

Vehicle Titles and Registrations

Passports ________________________________________

Insurance Policies________________________________________

Investment Papers_________________________________________

Tax Returns_________________________________________

Real Estate Deeds________________________________________________

________________________________________

________________________________________

6. PERSONAL DESIRES.
Who should be notified of your death? (Name, Relationship, Address and Phone Number)
________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you want to be buried or cremated? ______________________________________________
Name of cemetery where you want to be buried: _______________________________________________
Do you want to be buried in your uniform? YES NO
Do you want a memorial service? YES NO

If yes, where?_____________________________________

Have you purchased a burial plot? YES NO

If yes, where? ____________________________________

Do you have a preference of funeral home? YES NO If yes, which one?

________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you want a military honor guard? YES NO ____________________________________
Veterans Administration (if receiving Disability Compensation): 800-827-1000

8. IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS.

Retired Pay (Cleveland DFAS): 800-321-1080
DEERS Office: 800-538-9552
Branch ID Section: ________________________
ID Card Facility at the nearest military facility to your house: ___________________
Branch Casualty Assistance Office: _______________________
Casualty Assistance Office at the nearest military facility: _____________________
Branch Retiree Activities Office: __________________________
Retiree Activities Office at the nearest military facility: _______________________
Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI): 800-419-1473 _______________________
Social Security Administration: 800-772-1213 _______________________
Medicare: 800-633-4227

Military Personnel Records Center: TELEPHONE#

State Veterans Affair Office: _______________________
American Red Cross Office: _________________________

_______________________________
RETIREES SIGNATURE

__________________________
DATE SIGNED

CONTINUATION (If insufficient spaces on other pages)

________________________________________________________________________________
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MEDICAL RETIREMENT MANDATORY ON-HAND DOCUMENTS

DD Form 2648 Pre-Separation Counseling Checklist for Active Component. DD Form 2648-1 Pre-Separation Checklist for
Reserve Component. Obtain necessary from from TAPS/ACAP Counselor at ACS (717) 245-3684. This document is
required by law. If you do not have it with you or you haven't turned it in to the Transition Center prior to final out
appointment, you will not be seen and you will be sent to the ACS Building to obtain the form then return to the Transition
Center.
Dental records with annotation by dental clinic or primary dentist that all dental services have or have not been completed.

Medical records: If you are not serviced by the clinic here at Carlisle Barracks, you must ensure that your medical records are
turned into the transition center prior to or on your final appointment. You must ensure that your retirement physical is
present in medical records.
Clearance papers: obtained at unit.
Retirement or separation award if applicable.
DA Form 31(S) for transition leave and/or permissive TDY if applicable

The below items are required for Retirement or Separation:

ORB if officer or ERB if Enlisted

DD 93 and SGLI Forms
DA Form 31(S) for transition leave and permissive TDY if applicable
Retirement and Transition orders
Contact number and email address for records custodian
201 File Officer and Enlisted
DD Form 2648 Pre-Separation Counseling Checklist for Regular Army, or DA Form 2648-1 for Reserve
DA Form 2339, Enlisted retirement application with DA Form 4187 requesting retirement
Officer's Retirement application

1. Three Years to Six Months Prior to Retirement

Up to three years before you retire, start to determine what benefits you will be eligible for.. You
should also try to pay down any debt you have and take advantage of certain services, like career
evaluation, that the government offers for the military. If you plan on going into a civilian career,
you should also begin working on your resume and exploring job opportunities. If you are moving
upon retirement, you will need to save for relocation expenses, as well.

Six to Five Months Remaining

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Plan an appointment with the Retirement Services Office. A Retirement Services Officer can help
with additional retirement planning. Developing a Individual Transition Plan is also recommended,
along with final medical exams. Job opportunities should be narrowed down and you can begin
sending out applications.
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Five to Four Months Remaining

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Determine your financial plan for your transitional period. If you do not have employment
arranged already, start networking with contacts in the private sector or attending job fairs. Your
finances will need to be carefully managed if you do not have immediate employment.

Four to Three Months Remaining

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Contact the VA for any disability or health benefits you might require as a result of your service.
Obtain your verification form of Military Experience and Training, which will help in a job search.
You should also file a TDY (temporary duty) request, which will aid you during the transition.

The Last 90 Days

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Start to wrap up any additional paperwork you need to complete, such as submitting retirement
forms, civilian insurance, benefit claims, legal assistance or retirement investment plans. Make
travel arrangements and continue looking for employment by sending out resumes, if necessary.