DD 2648: Pre-Separation / Transition Counseling and CRS
The OCT 2019 TAP eForm, Sections II–XI: counseling, career readiness standards, curriculum, warm handovers, capstone, and commander verification.
Every block on the DD Form 2648
Laid out block for block like the official SERVICE MEMBER PRE-SEPARATION/TRANSITION COUNSELING AND CAREER READINESS STANDARDS EFORM FOR SERVICE MEMBERS SEPARATING, RETIRING, RELEASED FROM ACTIVE DUTY (REFRAD) (OCT 2019 edition), with the instruction for each block. Name, rank, and unit prefill from your service profile.
Section ii – service member personal information
- 1Name
- 2DoD ID Number
- 3Grade
- 4Date of Birth
- 5Service
- 5aComponent
- 6Unit Name
- 6aUnit ID Code
- 7Military Installation
- 8Anticipated Date of Separation
- 8aReason for Separation
E.g., completion of required service, retirement, disability, or involuntary separation. Involuntarily separated members receive the benefits that apply to them.
- 8bType of Separation
- 9Date Form Was Initiated
- 10Member allows this form to be sent to Federal agencies for additional transition assistance post separation
- 10aMember allows this form to be sent to Federal and other agencies who look for critical language skills and/or regional expertise
- 10bMember allows this form to be sent to State agencies for additional transition assistance post separation
- 10cPost-Separation Email
A personal address you'll keep after separation.
- 10dPost-Separation Phone Number
Section iii – initial counseling
- 11Spouse/Caregiver/Legal Guardian/Designee going to be present during pre-separation counseling
Spouses and caregivers are encouraged to attend counseling and TAP classes.
- 12Has the Service member completed a personal self-assessment
- 13Has the Service member completed an initial counseling
- 13aInitial Counseling Completion Date
- 14What are the Service member's post-transition goals
Your main pathway (employment, education, vocational/technical training, entrepreneurship, or undecided) with specifics: field, location, and target date.
- 15Required CRS and sessions by selected pathway and tier
Filled from initial counseling: your tier (1–3) and the CRS deliverables and tracks it requires.
Section iv – pre-separation / transition counseling, needs assessment, review, and verification to meet career readiness standards (CRS), AND TITLE 10 U.S.C. COMPLIANCE
- 16Completed Pre-Separation Counseling*
Mark whether each item was verified at the pre-separation assessment and at the Capstone CRS review. * = required.
- 17Registered on eBenefits*
The printed item still says eBenefits; VA has moved most of it to VA.gov. Bring proof of your VA.gov account.
- 18Completed resume or provided employment verification in support of the Individual Transition Plan (ITP)
- 19Prepared a criterion-based, post separation financial plan
- 20Completed a criterion-based Individual Transition Plan (ITP)*
- 21Completed a Continuum of Military Service Opportunity Counseling (Required Active Component Only)
- 22Verify a completed Gap Analysis or provide verification of employment
- 23Completed a comparison of higher education or vocational technical training institution options
- 24I was counseled and received documentation on all items in Section IV, which includes all items listed on the Pre-Separation / Transition Counseling Addendum Sheet
- 25Pre-Separation / Transition Counseling was completed with 364 days or less remaining before separation
- 25aPre-Separation / Transition Counseling completed 364 days or less justification
Required when block 25 is Yes: why counseling started late (e.g., unanticipated separation, deployment, medical board).
- 26Service Member Signature & Date
- 27Transition Counselor Signature & Date
Section v – mandatory curriculum attendance
- 28DoD Transition Day
Record attendance (date) or an approved exemption, as your counselor enters it.
- 29Veterans Affairs (VA) Services and Benefits
- 30DOL One-Day
Section vi – other curriculum attendance
- 31DOL Employment Track
- 32DoD Education Track
- 33SBA Entrepreneurship Track
- 34DOL Vocational Track
Section vii – warm handover requirements
- 35Evaluated post-transition transportation requirements and developed a plan to meet personal/family needs
- 36Evaluated post-transition housing requirements and developed a plan to meet personal/family needs
- 37Evaluated post-transition peer support requirements and developed a plan to meet these needs
Section viii – warm handover to supporting agencies contact information
- 38Veterans Affairs
Name and contact of the VA representative you were handed to, if any.
- 39Department of Labor
- 40Military One Source
- 41Other Resource
Section ix – capstone review
- 42Service Member Signature & Date
- 43Transition Counselor Signature & Date
Section x – commander or commander’s designee verification
- 44Applicable Career Readiness Standards Met
- 47Commander or Commander's Designee Signature & Date
- 45Viable ITP Completed
- 46Warm Handovers Executed
Section xi – remarks
- 48Remarks
Anything the counselor or commander needs to record: referrals, exemptions, why a CRS wasn't met, follow-up appointments.
How to fill out the DD Form 2648
The eForm that records your mandatory transition counseling and whether you met the Career Readiness Standards (CRS). It replaced the old Pre-Separation Counseling Checklist (and the DD 2648-1 and DD 2958). Your counselor completes it in the TAP system; this draft helps you walk in ready. When: Start no later than 365 days before separation (24 months before retirement is recommended). Initial counseling and pre-separation counseling come first, then the curriculum, then Capstone no later than 90 days before separation.
Step by step
- Section II: confirm your identity, unit, installation, separation date, reason, and type, and decide which agencies may receive the form after you separate.
- Section III: do the self-assessment, then initial counseling. Pick your post-transition goal; it sets your pathway, tier, and required CRS.
- Section IV: complete pre-separation counseling, register on VA.gov/eBenefits, and build your ITP, résumé, and financial plan.
- Sections V–VI: attend DoD Transition Day, VA Benefits, DOL One-Day, and the track that fits your goal (employment, education, entrepreneurship, vocational).
- Section VII–VIII: plan for transportation, housing, and peer support, and get warm handovers to VA, DOL, or Military OneSource if you need them.
- Section IX–X: Capstone review with your counselor, then commander (or designee) verification that you met CRS or were handed off.
What a strong one looks like
- Bring your résumé, a 12-month post-separation budget, and your education or job comparison to Capstone. Those are the CRS deliverables.
- Write your goal specifically: "Employment as a logistics analyst in Charlotte, NC, starting by 20270301" is easier to plan around than "get a job".
- Say yes in block 10 if you want state and federal agencies to reach out. It connects you to veteran employment reps.
Common mistakes
- Starting inside 365 days without a justification (block 25a). Late starts are tracked and reported.
- Treating Capstone as a formality. If CRS aren't met, you need a warm handover, not just a signature.
- A post-separation email you won't check. Use a personal address, not your .mil.