When service members transition to a new duty station during their military career or when they separate from military service, continuity of mental health services is crucial.
To support readiness and overall health of the nation’s warfighters, the Department of War reissued DOW Instruction 6490.10, "Continuity of Mental Health Care for Transferring and Separating Service Members," in July 2026.
The policy updates existing requirements to support continuity of mental health services during changes in military service. Notably, the reissuance introduces a requirement for a mental health assessment within 180 days of separation to identify additional mental health assessment or treatment needs.
To fulfill those needs, the policy strengthens a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to support a coordinated care transition between mental health providers during separation from military service.
Key components include:
“These components of the policy work in tandem to facilitate operational readiness,” said Navy Capt. (Dr.) Elle Marie Schollnberger, a psychiatrist and director of mental health for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Services Policy and Oversight.
“This policy improves warfighter readiness and the effectiveness of the force by identifying needs and supporting the continuity of mental healthcare when service members transfer to a new duty station,” she said. “For service members transitioning to civilian life, this policy enables them to receive the necessary mental health support they need during this important transition.”
To bolster oversight of the policy, an annual report on the outcomes of service members who are transferring or separating is submitted to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Health Affairs.
A plan for individual mental health needs
Identifying mental health needs early, in any circumstance, can promote successful long-term outcomes. For service members, needs can differ between instances of duty transfer and instances of separation from the military. The policy makes a distinction between these life changes and addresses the unique circumstances of both by detailing specific, separate instructions for primary care managers, mental health providers, civilian healthcare providers, and hospitals and clinics.
For service members transferring to a new command, an ongoing treatment plan will be delivered to the gaining provider. The instruction also establishes procedures for providers when a service member is identified as being at risk of suicide within 365 days prior to separation from the military.
At its core, the policy provides guidance to promote shared responsibility for continuing mental health needs during and after separation. The policy also creates a larger support network for warfighters through cultivating cohesion between the losing mental health provider and their gaining mental health team.
Understanding the inTransition program
Through automatic enrollment in the inTransition program, the policy promotes support for service members in navigating career changes.
“The inTransition program supports a service member’s efforts to achieve and maintain wellness and enables continuity of needed mental health services,” said Schollnberger.
The program is free and confidential and offers specialized coaching and assistance for active duty service members, National Guard and Reserve members, veterans, and retirees who need access to mental healthcare when:
“inTransition helps facilitate connections to follow-on mental healthcare and resources for service members and veterans during any time of transition,”said Alicia Creason, a Ph.D. clinical psychologist and manager for the program.
Coaches from inTransition are skilled counselors who understand military culture and maintain strict privacy and confidentiality. These dedicated professionals connect participants with new providers, monitor the transition, and motivate participants to remain in treatment.
A warfighter’s journey to their next chapter should involve their mental wellness because it’s “essential for overall readiness and resilience during transitions,” Creason said. inTransition helps “them along the way and to be their very best.”
Coaching includes connecting participants to a new provider, monitoring their transition, locating local community resources and support groups, and tools to use to continue to make healthy life choices. If needed, coaches can also assist in finding crisis intervention services.
“A key to a successful transition is preparation. Having a plan and support system already in place and reaching out for resources that might be needed — whether financial, occupational, mental health-related or for other reasons — before the transition can really make the difference,” Creason said.
Policy facilitates comprehensive, seamless mental healthcare
Ultimately, the policy emphasizes DOW’s dedication to force readiness through access to high-quality mental healthcare services in any phase of their military journey.