1996 US Code
Title 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART II - PERSONNEL
CHAPTER 58 - BENEFITS AND SERVICES FOR MEMBERS BEING SEPARATED OR RECENTLY SEPARATED
Sec. 1142 - Preseparation counseling; transmittal of medical records to Department of Veterans Affairs

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§1142. Preseparation counseling; transmittal of medical records to Department of Veterans Affairs

(a) Requirement.—(1) As soon as possible before, but in no event later than 90 days before, the date of the discharge or release from active duty of a member of the armed forces, the Secretary concerned shall provide for individual preseparation counseling of the member. A notation of the provision of such counseling with respect to each matter specified in subsection (b), signed by the member, shall be placed in the service record of each member receiving such counseling.

(2) In carrying out this section, the Secretary concerned may use the services available under section 1144 of this title.

(b) Matters To Be Covered By Counseling.—Counseling under this section shall include the following:

(1) A discussion of the educational assistance benefits to which the member is entitled under the Montgomery GI Bill and other educational assistance programs because of the member's service in the armed forces.

(2) A description (to be developed with the assistance of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) of the compensation and vocational rehabilitation benefits to which the member may be entitled under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, if the member is being medically separated or is being retired under chapter 61 of this title.

(3) An explanation of the procedures for and advantages of affiliating with the Selected Reserve.

(4) Information concerning Government and private-sector programs for job search and job placement assistance, including the public and community service jobs program carried out under section 1143a of this title, and information regarding the placement programs established under sections 1151, 1152, and 1153 of this title.

(5) If the member has a spouse, job placement counseling for the spouse.

(6) Information concerning the availability of relocation assistance services and other benefits and services available to persons leaving military service, as provided under section 1144 of this title.

(7) Information concerning the availability of medical and dental coverage following separation from active duty, including the opportunity to elect into the conversion health policy provided under section 1145 of this title.

(8) Counseling (for the member and dependents) on the effect of career change on individuals and their families.

(9) Financial planning assistance.

(10) The creation of a transition plan for the member to attempt to achieve the educational, training, and employment objectives of the member and, if the member has a spouse, the spouse of the member.

(c) Transmittal of Medical Information to Department of Veterans Affairs.—In the case of a member being medically separated or being retired under chapter 61 of this title, the Secretary concerned shall ensure (subject to the consent of the member) that a copy of the member's service medical record (including any results of a Physical Evaluation Board) is transmitted to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs within 60 days of the separation or retirement.

(Added Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title V, §502(a)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1552; amended Pub. L. 102–190, div. A, title X, §1061(a)(5), Dec. 5, 1991, 105 Stat. 1472; Pub. L. 102–484, div. D, title XLIV, §§4401, 4441(b), 4462(b), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2701, 2730, 2740; Pub. L. 103–35, title II, §201(i)(1), May 31, 1993, 107 Stat. 100; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XIII, §1332(c), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1797.)

Amendments

1993—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 103–160 substituted “programs established under sections 1151, 1152, and 1153 of this title” for “program established under section 1151 of this title to assist members to obtain employment as elementary or secondary school teachers or teachers’ aides”.

Pub. L. 103–35 substituted “job placement assistance, including the public and community service jobs program carried out under section 1143a of this title, and information regarding the placement program established under section 1151 of this title to assist members to obtain employment as elementary or secondary school teachers or teachers’ aides” for “job placement assistance and information regarding the placement program established under section 1151 of this title to assist members obtain employment as elementary or secondary school teachers or teachers’ aides., including the public and community service jobs program carried out under section 1143a of this title”.

1992—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–484, §4401(a), substituted “As soon as possible before, but in no event later than 90 days before, the date of the discharge” for “Upon the discharge”.

Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–484, §4462(b), inserted before period at end “, including the public and community service jobs program carried out under section 1143a of this title”.

Pub. L. 102–484, §4441(b), inserted before period at end “and information regarding the placement program established under section 1151 of this title to assist members obtain employment as elementary or secondary school teachers or teachers’ aides.”

Subsec. (b)(10). Pub. L. 102–484, §4401(b), added par. (10).

1991—Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 102–190 substituted period for semicolon at end.

Application of Preseparation Counseling Requirements to Coast Guard

Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, §543(a), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2769, provided that: “As soon as possible after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 1994], the Secretary of Transportation shall implement the requirements of section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, for the Coast Guard.”

Limitation on Funding To Carry Out Section 543 of Pub. L. 103–337

Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title V, §543(h), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2772, provided that: “Funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, or the Department of Veterans Affairs may not be used to carry out subsection (a) [set out above] or the amendments made by this section [amending sections 1144 and 1151 to 1153 of this title and provisions set out as notes under section 1143 of this title].”

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 1078a, 1144, 1151 of this title.