How to outprocess properly

Central Processing Facility and Housing are located in building 2913, adjacent to the Exchange on Panzer Kaserne.
Photo by Becca Castellano

USAG Stuttgart Central Processing Facility

The Central Processing Facility (CPF) assists you with your transition out of Stuttgart. All DoD Civilians, Non-Appropriated Fund employees and Service Members in the rank of Private (E-1) through Colonel (O-6), including those in the Reserve/National Guard components on Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS) orders over 179 days in length assigned, attached, or otherwise performing duty in Stuttgart; must clear the Stuttgart community prior to departing. The Transportation Office team will ONLY begin scheduling after they see the “Stamped” outprocessing questionnaire that the CPF team provided you.

Outprocessing/Pre-Separation Briefings

Online and in-person outprocessing PCS briefings are offered to all uniformed and Civilian Personnel (PCSing, ETSing, retiring, or separating). We advise people who are 30-120 days from departure to begin completion of the mandatory outprocessing/pre-separation briefings. The briefings provide helpful information from relevant services: Transportation, Customs, TRICARE, Vehicle Registration, Housing, VAT/UTAP, the Exceptional Family Member Program, and Legal Office, to name a few. Please refer to the CPF section on the official garrison webpage home.army.mil/stuttgart to access the mandatory online briefing. Contact our office to attend the in-person briefing that is conducted the first Wednesday of each month. When you have completed the briefing, you must submit the ‘Joint outprocessing Questionnaire’ via email with PCS orders to the CPF mailbox: usarmy.stuttgart.id-europe.mbx.cpf-out-processing@army.mil.   

NOTE: You can begin outprocessing without orders by submitting the ‘Joint outprocessing Questionnaire’ but orders are required before issuing Installation Clearance Record (Outprocessing checklist).

If Retiring/ETSing or Separating

All Branches of Uniformed Service must contact the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) on Panzer Kaserne, Bldg. 2915, Room 419 at DSN (314) 596-2191/ civ 09641-70-596-2191. At a minimum of 30 days before separating, a mandatory Separation History and Physical Exam (SHPE) appointment will need to be made on a walk-in basis only at Medical Readiness. No orders or clearing record is required to make an appointment. You must completely outprocess the installation prior to starting your transition to leave. Please note that if you stay in Germany, you will no longer be entitled to any logistical support while on transitional leave.

For information on the Army Service Member’s Retirement Briefing, please contact the Stuttgart Transition Center on Panzer Kaserne, Bldg. 2915 at DSN (314) 596-2698/civ 09641-70-596-2698.

Outprocessing Questionnaire

You can access the outprocessing questionnaire through the CPF section on the official garrison webpage. Fill out the questionnaire completely, digitally sign it, and send it via email to the CPF mail-box: usarmy.stuttgart.id-europe.mbx.cpf-outprocessing@army.mil. If transitioning out of uniformed military services, please provide the dates of your transition leave in the remarks block on the outprocessing Questionnaire. Once the CPF receives the questionnaire, a copy is returned within 24 to 48 business hours stamped with the “CPF-seal” so that you can begin your transportation outprocessing. You do not need the Installation Clearance Record to begin making appointments with transportation, housing, or to schedule flights. Only orders are needed to begin outprocessing with those agencies.

Installation Clearance Record

Service Members: Once the CPF receives your questionnaire, the CPF will include you in a time-saving, electronic pre-clear process.

Then, three weeks before you leave, agencies like Outdoor Recreation, the Library, Central Issuance Facility (CIF) etc., can pre-clear you if there is no reason for you to physically go to those locations. If an agency pre-clears you, that agency will appear with a digital name printed on your Installation Clearance Record showing you have been cleared by that agency. Those agencies without a printed name must be physically cleared prior to your departure date. Please note that pre-clearance is not an option for Service Members who submit their questionnaire less than three weeks before their departure date, and your Installation Clearance Record will include all necessary organizations and agencies with which you are required to clear in-person. After your pre-clear week, the CPF will generate your individualized “Installation Clearance Record” tailored to your situation.

Approximately two weeks prior to your departure, the CPF will email your Installation Clearance Record directly to the email address you provided on your questionnaire; please be sure to provide an email address to which you will have access through your departure date. Whether you have gone through pre-clear or not, you must obtain a signature from each agency on your Installation Clearance Record. Marking these as “not applicable” or signing off yourself will result in a “Failure to Clear” and be reported to your unit. If you are requesting to receive your Installation Clearance Record more than 10 workings days prior to departing, please provide the CPF a memo from your commander confirming your scheduled leave or temporary duty dates that fall within the last two weeks prior to your departure. Your Installation Clearance Record expires 30 days from issuance. Therefore, if you are delayed by more than two weeks after your original date of departure, please call/email the CPF to update your new departure date.

Civilians: Once the CPF receives your questionnaire and PCS orders, a stamped Questionnaire and Installation Clearance Record will be sent to you within 48 business hours. Your supervisor has the authority to initial for the agencies you did not utilize. Once you have cleared every agency, you and your supervisor must sign and date the form confirming completion.

NOTE:  Installation Clearance Record is issued within 60 days of departure.

Final out for ALL

The “Final Out” appointment to turn in your completed Installation Clearance Record to the CPF is set two working days prior to your departure.  If you receive an amendment or cancellation of orders, please let the CPF know your new departure date. Once your paperwork is complete, please turn in your completed Installation Clearance Record to your unit S1/J1 or HR rep. CPF office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Closed on US federal holidays and the last Thursday afternoon of the month, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.