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Comprehensive Transition Plan

To support each wounded, ill and injured Soldier's return to the force or transition to Veteran status, the Army created a systematic framework called the Comprehensive Transition Plan (CTP).

The CTP is a dynamic, living plan of action that focuses on the Soldier’s future. The CTP uses six domains: career, physical, emotional, social, Family and spiritual to establish goals that map a Soldier’s transition plan. As the owner of the CTP, each Soldier is empowered to take charge of their own transition and is accountable for developing and achieving their goals while complying with all their medical and military responsibilities. The CTP enables each Soldier to complete a successful transition to their desired goal while in the Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) or Community Care Unit (CCU).

There are two tracks Soldiers follow during their transition:

    1) Remain in the Army Track: for all Soldiers who will continue military service, including:

    • Return to Duty (RTD): This includes Active Component Soldiers and Reserve Component Soldiers on Active Guard Reserve (AGR) status who meet retention standards and, upon exiting the WTU/CCU, return to a position in an active duty unit. Soldiers who have been processed through the Physical Disability Evaluation (PDES) system and are found Fit for Duty may also RTD.
    • Release from Active Duty (REFRAD): This includes National Guard (Compo 2) and US Army Reserve (Compo 3) Soldiers attached to the WTU/CCU who meet Army retention standards and are released from active duty to continue duty in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve in their current or alternate Military Occupation Specialties (MOS).
    • MOS Administrative Retention Review (MAR2): This includes National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers attached to the WTU/CCU who meet Army retention standards and are released from active duty to continue duty in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve in their current or alternate MOS.
    • Continuation on Active Duty (COAD) or Continuation on Active Reserve (COAR): Soldiers found not fit for duty may apply to remain in the Army in accordance with AR 635-40 , paragraph 6-7. They must be found unfit, and their medical status cannot be harmful to the Soldier’s health or to the best interest of the Soldier or the Army, and they must be physically capable to perform useful duty in a qualified MOS. Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officers (PEBLOs) must forward all requests submitted to U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency (USAPDA) for decision.

    2) Transition from the Army Track: This includes all Soldiers who are not expected to continue military service in either an active or reserve status, including:

    • Medical Separation: When a Soldier is found to be unfit for duty, they may either medically retire or separate from the Army. This process begins when a Soldier’s primary care manager (PCM), in consultation with the appropriate specialty personnel, is able to make a determination whether further medical treatments are likely to return the Soldier to a fit-for-duty status. This point in time is referred to as the Medical Retention Decision Point (MRDP). This is a medically based event, and only a medical provider can declare that it has been reached. If, at MRDP, the Soldier is deemed not likely to return to a fit status, then they are given a permanent 3 or 4 profile, as medically appropriate. (Refer to Table 7-1 in AR 40-501 for details on permanent profiles.) Following this, the Soldier is referred to the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) process, which determines the Soldier’s fitness level and arranges for a seamless transfer of care and benefits to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    • Non-Medical Separation: This may occur when an ineligible Soldier elects to accept a traditional non-medical retirement after 20 or more years of service, when the Soldier reaches Expiration of Term of Service (ETS), or is subject to administrative, disciplinary or legal separation through Chapter or Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Six Processes of the CTP

    1) In-processing:
    Immediately upon entry into a WTU or a later transfer into a Community Care Unit (CCU), the Soldiers complete in-processing, which includes administrative actions, orientation and risk assessments. At this point, the WTU Cadre outline the CTP process for Soldiers so they understand their roles and responsibilities during their time in the WTU. In-processing allows Soldiers to integrate smoothly into their Warrior Transition Unit/Community Care Unit (WTU/CCU) and helps to initiate the CTP.

    2) Goal Setting:

    The goal setting process guides the Soldier and their Family in the development of short-term goals that support their overarching transition/outcome goal. Goal setting is made up of two phases. Phase I is completed within 21 days and facilitated by an Occupational Therapist (OT) or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). It helps WTU Soldiers create a foundation of functional and occupational goals that are reviewed during the initial scrimmage on day 30. See below for more details.

    Phase II is facilitated after the initial scrimmage between days 31-90 by Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) Master Resilience Trainers/Performance Experts (MRT-PEs). Phase II allows Soldiers to expand their knowledge of the goal setting process, while providing the opportunity to set longer term goals. Sub-goals will also be developed to address priority areas that support the Soldier's career, physical, emotional, social, Family and spiritual domains, and that facilitate successful achievement of their overarching transition/outcome goal.

    During this time, Soldiers create action statements that serve as a roadmap to support healing and transition. Each action statement will be developed using the Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time Bound (SMART) criteria that ensures that Soldiers have a clear understanding of their goals and how to achieve them. For more information on the Comprehensive Transition Plan and SMART Goals, see the WCTP Soldier Leader Guide. Phase II goal setting is part of a 16-hour block of instruction that includes the development of mental skills, confidence building, attention control, energy management and goal setting, and concludes with a capstone exercise.

    Utilizing the skills taught in the CSF2 Performance Enhancement model contributes to stronger goal development, sustainment & achievement, which will aide WTU Soldiers in a successful healing & transition process.

    3) Transition Review: The transition review process provides the commander and interdisciplinary team (including social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists and AW2 Advocates, among others) an opportunity to review the Soldier's goals and progress with a focus on identifying and resolving issues that may impede goal attainment. Soldiers take ownership of their plan to maximize the resources available in the WTU. The different elements of review (self-assessment, CTP scrimmage and focused transition review) must all work in concert to facilitate a successful transition.
    • Soldier Self-Assessment: A self-assessment is completed within the Soldier’s first seven days at a WTU and then as directed by the commander, either weekly or monthly. It is used for discussions between the Soldier's squad leader (SL) and nurse case manager (NCM). Development of the assessment and its validation by the SL and NCM are key elements for understanding the Soldier's situation and sets the foundation for the CTP review process.
    • CTP Scrimmage: The CTP scrimmage is a formal meeting between the Soldier, their Family, the Triad of Care and the Soldier's interdisciplinary team. The CTP scrimmage uses the six domains of the CTP to highlight a future-oriented plan and is designed to engage Soldiers in finalizing identified goals and measures of success for their time in the WTU and their transition. The Soldier’s first scrimmage is held within 30 days of assignment/attachment, again at 90 days, and then at quarterly intervals (180 days, 270 days or 360 days).
    • Focused Transition Review (FTR): This meeting, led by the WTU company commander and similar to a CTP scrimmage, provides guidance on issues and action plans on or before the Medical Retention Determination Point (MRDP). During the FTR Soldiers are provided tactics for successfully achieving their goals. The company commander also ensures that the interdisciplinary team is held accountable for providing the appropriate expertise, resources and support to the Soldier and their Family. The FTR counts as a scrimmage, with the WTU commander present, and is only required once at MRDP.
    4) Rehabilitation: The rehabilitation phase begins as early as possible, including during in-patient status immediately following injury and provides appropriate clinical and non-clinical interventions such as vocational rehabilitation, education and adaptive reconditioning to support the Soldier's transition goals. Additionally, Soldiers actively work to accomplish self-identified transition goals as outlined in their CTP. During this phase, Soldiers complete periodic self-assessments that address the following areas of a holistic recovery:
    • Spiritual: beliefs, principles, values
    • Career: education, employment, work plan
    • Emotional: behavioral health, well-being
    • Family: family, financial, housing
    • Physical: activities of daily living, health care, medication, pain, physical fitness, weight control
    • Social: relationships

    The rehabilitation progress and outcomes provide the PCM with information to determine the Soldier’s MRDP. If MRDP is reached, the company commander will facilitate an FTR with battalion oversight to assess progress, status of the transition plan and proficiency of the interdisciplinary team’s efforts.

    5) Reintegration: The reintegration process is to specifically prepare each Soldier and their Family for a successful transition back to the force or to civilian life as a Veteran. The process begins as soon as a Soldier is ready to begin reintegration tasks, but no later than the MRDP, and continues throughout the Soldier’s tenure in the WTU. The transition readiness checklist is executed 180 days before the anticipated discharge or at MDRP with the initiation of the MEB/PEB process, whichever comes first. The reintegration process culminates with the Soldier's completed transition from the WTU.
    6) Post-Transition: The period after a Soldier exits the WTU/CCU is considered post-transition. The Soldier will out-process through the WCT Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), and the squad leader and the nurse case manager will ensure that the Soldier and Family have the pertinent information for referrals to appropriate resources. At that time, the Soldier's gaining unit, Veteran's Affairs or the U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) will oversee their care.

Policy and Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the US Army design a CTP for each Soldier assigned to a WTU?
What role does my Family have in my CTP?
What can my Family do to better understand my requirements relevant to the CTP?
How much time do I have to develop my CTP after being assigned or attached to the WTU?
What role does the Warrior Care and Transition have in managing my CTP?

Does the US Army design a CTP for each Soldier assigned to a WTU?

Each Soldier customizes their recovery by setting and reaching their personal goals to complete a successful transition. The CTP employs a standardized framework that allows Soldiers to develop goals using the six domains - career, physical, emotional, social, Family, and spiritual.

What role does the Soldier's Family have in the CTP?

Family plays a key role in helping complete the self-assessment and assists in accomplishing the goals the Soldier sets. Family members are encouraged to attend all CTP scrimmages and play an active part in developing transition goals, short-term goals and action statements.

What can Family do to better understand requirements relevant to the CTP?

Family members may address questions and concerns to WTU leadership and the interdisciplinary team (such as social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists and AW2 Advocates) in order to obtain information on CTP processes or to gain clarification on procedures.

How much time does a Soldier have to develop a CTP after being assigned or attached to a WTU?

Soldiers begin the CTP process very soon after assignment or attachment to a WTU, but not later than 30 days.

What role does the Warrior Care and Transition Program have in managing CTPs?

The Warrior Care and Transition Program (WCTP) is responsible for the integration of Warrior Care and Transition processes across the Army, and for enhancing care and improving the transition of wounded, ill and injured Soldiers as they return to the force or transition into civilian life as productive Veterans. The WCTP develops policy and guidance to standardize and optimize the use of the CTP.

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Comprehensive Transition Plan (CTP)

The Triad of Care and interdisciplinary team of clinical and non-clinical professionals work closely with each Soldier and Family throughout recovery and transition.