Comprehensive, plain-English guide with step-by-step instructions
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Money & Banking
Credit cards under MLA/SCRA, savings programs, and credit protections.
Credit Card Annual Fee Relief (MLA / SCRA)
High value
Issuers may waive annual fees and cap rates for covered borrowers. Policies vary by bank.
Savings Deposit Program (SDP)
10% APY (capped)
Deployed in a combat zone and receiving HFP/IDP? Deposit up to $10,000 at 10% annual interest.
How it works
Eligible after 30 consecutive days in a qualifying area (or 1 day in each of 3 consecutive months).
Interest accrues monthly and is paid quarterly on balances up to $10,000.
Withdraw after leaving the combat zone; emergency withdrawals possible with command approval.
How to use
Start the deposit via finance or myPay; fund from pay/allotment.
Target a full $10,000 balance if cash‑flow permits to maximize guaranteed return.
Plan withdrawals and taxes on interest (interest is taxable).
Career Starter / Kickoff Loans
Low APR
Special personal loans for commissioning officers/cadets with deferred payments and low rates.
Typical features
Navy Federal: up to $36k at low APR for academy cadets; up to $25k at low APR for ROTC/OCS/OTS; deferral options.
USAA: career starter loans with low fixed APR and deferred start; amounts and eligibility vary by program.
How to use responsibly
Borrow only what you need; avoid investing borrowed funds without understanding risk.
Set autopay and keep emergency cash for PCS/initial expenses.
Free Credit Monitoring & Active Duty Alerts
Identity protection
Active‑duty and Guard members can enroll in free bureau monitoring and place renewable Active Duty Alerts.
Actions
Enroll in free electronic credit monitoring with all three bureaus.
Place an Active Duty Alert before deployment to add extra verification for new credit.
Freeze your credit when not applying for new accounts.
Education
GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, Tuition Assistance, and credentialing.
Post‑9/11 GI Bill
Core benefit
What you get
Tuition and fees up to the statutory cap (or full in‑state at publics).
Monthly Housing Allowance (BAH E‑5 w/ dependents for school ZIP; pro‑rated by enrollment).
Books and supplies stipend (annual cap) and one‑time rural relocation payment (if eligible).
Yellow Ribbon covers amounts above the cap at participating schools.
How to use
Apply for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and submit to your school certifying official.
Confirm VA certification each term; monitor MHA proration for online vs in‑person credits.
Consider transfer to dependents if eligible and service commitment is acceptable.
Rules on transferability and caps change. Confirm with VA and your school’s SCO before committing.
Tuition Assistance (TA) + Top‑Up
Pay‑as‑you‑go
What you get
Service TA typically covers up to $250 per semester hour, with annual caps (often $4,500).
TA Top‑Up lets you apply GI Bill to remaining tuition not covered by TA.
Use CLEP/DSST exams (via DANTES) to test out of classes where allowed.
How to use
Request TA through your service portal before course start.
Coordinate with education office to avoid double‑paying or jeopardizing GI Bill months.
Credentialing Assistance / COOL
Career‑ready
Overview
Army CA provides up to $4,000 per FY for approved licenses/certs; other services have COOL resources.
Use for CompTIA, PMP, AWS, Lean Six Sigma, trades, etc., if approved.
Steps
Search your service’s COOL catalog; verify alignment to your MOS/AFSC/Rating when required.
Apply in advance; upload quotes/invoices; complete within funding windows.
MyCAA (Spouse Scholarship)
Spouse support
What it provides
Tuition assistance for eligible spouses pursuing licenses, certificates, or associate degrees leading to portable careers.
How to use
Create account, verify sponsor rank/status eligibility, select approved program/provider, and submit Education & Training Plan for approval.
Health Care
TRICARE medical, dental, and vision options by status.
TRICARE Medical Plans
Medical
Plan types
Prime: managed care with PCM; minimal out‑of‑pocket for active duty families.
Select: PPO‑style flexibility with cost shares.
Reserve Select / Retired Reserve: premium‑based options for eligible Guard/Reserve.
Young Adult: for dependents up to age 26.
TRICARE For Life: wraparound to Medicare for eligible retirees.
Actions
Enroll/update in milConnect after life events (PCS, marriage, birth).
Know referral rules (Prime) and network cost shares (Select).
Dental & Vision
Dental/Vision
Coverage
TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) for eligible family members; active duty dental is provided separately.
FEDVIP dental/vision available to retirees and eligible family members.
Housing & Moving
VA home loans and PCS entitlements.
VA Home Loan
No PMI / $0 down (with entitlement)
Key features
No down payment with sufficient entitlement; competitive rates; no PMI.
Funding fee may be exempt with qualifying service‑connected disability; refunds possible if rating arrives retroactively after closing.
IRRRL ("VA streamline") can reduce rate or move ARM to fixed on existing VA loans.
How to use
Obtain your COE online or through a VA‑approved lender.
Shop lenders; verify funding fee category and any exemption before closing.
For refunds (new disability award post‑closing with retroactive effective date), file with your lender/VA.
PCS Allowances & Entitlements
Move smart
What to claim
DLA (Dislocation Allowance) for setup costs.
TLE/TLA for temporary lodging (CONUS/OCONUS rules differ).
HHG shipment with weight limits; PPM/DITY reimbursements if you move yourself.
BAH/BAS for housing and subsistence; COLA in certain locations.
Execution
Enter orders in DPS; book pack/pickup early.
Keep receipts for lodging, fuel, and weight tickets (PPM).
Check POV shipment/storage rules overseas.
Pay & Taxes
Allowances and tax exclusions you should not miss.
Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE)
Powerful
What it does
Excludes pay earned in a designated combat zone from federal income tax (limits apply for officers).
Triggers automatic filing/payment extensions and may increase room for Roth/TSP contributions.
Steps
Confirm your location is a current IRS‑recognized combat zone.
Verify LES coding and keep orders; use Publication 3 for rules and deadlines.
Allowances & Special Pays
Recurring
Common items
BAH (housing), BAS (subsistence), FSA (family separation), COLA (certain locales).
HFP/IDP for qualifying locations; other incentive/special pays by career field.
Retirement & Investing
BRS pension, TSP matching, and vesting rules.
Blended Retirement System (BRS)
Foundation
Snapshot
Pension = 2.0% × years served × high‑36 basic pay (after 20 YOS for active components; reserves adjusted by points).
Continuation Pay bonus typically at 8–12 YOS in exchange for service commitment.
TSP interaction
Automatic 1% contribution (vests after 2 years) + up to 4% matching on your 5% contributions.
Choose Traditional vs Roth based on tax situation; Lifecycle (L) funds for target‑date diversification.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
Low cost
Keys
Ultra-low expense index funds (G, F, C, S, I) + target-date L Funds.
BRS match: 1% automatic + up to 4% match when you contribute 5% each pay period.
Roth can be powerful in CZTE months (tax-free in & out if qualified); Traditional defers tax otherwise.
Two unrestricted Interfund Transfers (IFTs) per month; additional IFTs to G Fund only.
Reconfirm deductions after PCS/promotion—some payroll systems don’t auto-carry settings.
Matching & Vesting (BRS)
Automatic 1% of basic pay goes to TSP even if you contribute 0% (starts after 60 days of service).
Matching: dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% you contribute, plus 50¢ per dollar on the next 2% ⇒ contribute 5% to get the full 4% match (total govt 5% with the 1% automatic).
Vesting: Your contributions and the match vest immediately; the 1% automatic typically vests after 2 years of service (service-specific rules).
Per-pay-period rule: Matching is calculated each paycheck. If you hit the yearly limit early, you can miss matching on later pay periods.
Investment Funds (G / F / C / S / I + Lifecycle)
G Fund – Government Securities: Special-issue Treasuries, principal guaranteed by U.S. government, no market price volatility; yield tracks short-to-intermediate Treasuries.
F Fund – U.S. Bond Index: Broad, investment-grade U.S. bonds; adds income/diversification; price sensitive to interest-rate moves.
C Fund – U.S. Large Cap: S&P 500-like index; core growth of large U.S. companies.
S Fund – U.S. Extended Market: Mid/small-cap completion of the U.S. market (everything not in C). Higher volatility, higher expected return.
I Fund – International Developed: Large/mid-cap developed markets (generally excludes emerging/small caps); non-U.S. diversification.
L (Lifecycle) Funds: Target-date mixes of G/F/C/S/I that auto-rebalance and glide more conservative as the target date approaches.
Traditional vs. Roth (and Combat Zone)
Traditional TSP: Pre-tax now, taxed later; can reduce current taxable income.
Roth TSP: After-tax now, qualified withdrawals tax-free later (subject to 5-year rule and age/qualifications).
CZTE tip: In combat zone months, consider prioritizing Roth contributions (tax-free in + tax-free growth + tax-free out if qualified).
You can split contributions between Traditional and Roth to fit your tax plan.
Step-by-Step Setup
Always 5%+: Lock in the full match first; increase later toward the annual limit.
Use L Funds for set-and-forget diversification, or DIY with a written target mix and periodic rebalance.
Know the mechanics: Contribution Allocation = new deposits; IFT = existing balance.
Loans: General-purpose or Residential; interest rate equals the G Fund rate at origination; repaid via payroll. Missed payments (PCS/separation) can trigger a taxable distribution—coordinate early.
Hardship withdrawals: For specific needs; may incur taxes/penalties and permanently remove funds from compounding.
After separation: Leave in TSP, roll to IRA/401(k), or take periodic/single withdrawals. Mind Roth 5-year clock, age-based rules, and future RMDs.
Common Pitfalls
Hitting the annual limit too early (front-loading) and missing match on later pay periods.
Updating only Contribution Allocation and expecting your current balance to change (you also need an IFT).
Forgetting to re-set your payroll deduction after PCS or system changes.
6% cap on pre‑service debts during active duty (request required; provide orders).
Early termination rights for housing and certain vehicle leases; protections against default judgments and some foreclosures/evictions.
Military Lending Act (MLA)
Federal law
Highlights
Caps Military APR at 36% and includes many fees in the cap.
Applies to many consumer credit products opened while on active duty for covered borrowers (includes many spouses/dependents).
Creditors must check covered‑borrower status (DMDC) at or near account opening.
USERRA
Employment
What it protects
Reemployment and benefits protections after military service in most civilian jobs.
Travel & Leisure
Free or discounted access to travel and recreation.
TSA PreCheck for Military
Free
How it works
Use your DoD ID as your Known Traveler Number to access TSA PreCheck for official and personal travel when eligible.
DOD civilians may opt‑in via milConnect; spouses/dependents generally must enroll separately (some discounts may apply).
National Park Military/Veteran Pass
No entrance fee
Access
Free annual or lifetime passes for current service members, veterans, and Gold Star Families to 2,000+ federal recreation sites.
American Forces Travel (AFT)
Discount portal
What you get
Exclusive pricing on hotels, flights, rental cars, cruises, events for eligible users.
Book online; verify eligibility when prompted.
Space‑A Travel (AMC)
Standby
Basics
Standby travel on military aircraft by category priority (Cat I–VI); no reservations.
Follow your local AMC Passenger Terminal for schedules, sign‑ups, and roll calls.
Insurance & Survivor Benefits
Life insurance during service and after, plus survivor annuities.
SGLI / FSGLI / TSGLI
During service
Coverage
SGLI up to $500,000 with low premiums; TSGLI rider included.
FSGLI covers spouses (premium paid by member) and dependent children at no cost.
TSGLI provides one‑time payments for qualifying traumatic injuries.
VGLI
After separation
Overview
Convert SGLI to renewable term coverage after leaving service; time limits apply for guaranteed acceptance.
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
Retirement election
What it provides
Lifetime monthly annuity to designated beneficiaries based on a percent of retired pay; premiums deducted from retired pay.
Base Access & Shopping
Commissary, Exchanges, and online privileges.
Commissary (DeCA)
Grocery savings
Eligibility
Active duty, Guard/Reserve, retirees, and many veterans with qualifying VHIC indicators; eligible family members with proper IDs.
Exchanges
Tax‑free retail
Access
On‑base shopping for eligible patrons; Veterans online shopping benefit via VetVerify across AAFES/NEX/MCX/CGX.
Family Support
Child care assistance, special‑needs support, and transition.
MCCYN Child Care Fee Assistance
Reduce costs
Overview
DoD pays a portion of community child care costs when on‑base care is unavailable; programs like MCCYN‑PLUS expand providers.
EFMP
Special needs
What it offers
Enrollment and family support services for dependents with special medical/educational needs; help with assignments and resources.
Transition Assistance (TAP) & SkillBridge
Next step
Use these
TAP: required courses, resume help, VA benefits briefings; start 12 months before separation (24 for retirement).
SkillBridge: up to ~180 days for approved internships/apprenticeships with command approval.
Guard & Reserve
What differs when you’re not full‑time.
Key Differences
Part‑time force
Highlights
Medical via TRS/TRR premiums when eligible; dental via TDP.
Education via GI Bill Selected Reserve (separate from Post‑9/11 GI Bill).
VA home loan eligibility after qualifying service; ensure points and activations are documented.
Retirement based on points with age reductions for qualifying active service.
Jargon Glossary
Abbreviations and military finance terms used on this site.
BAH
Basic Allowance for Housing — Monthly stipend to help cover housing costs for eligible service members.
BAS
Basic Allowance for Subsistence — Monthly allowance for food/subsistence for service members.
BRS
Blended Retirement System — Modern military pension system combining defined benefit and TSP matching.
COE
Certificate of Eligibility — Document from VA proving entitlement for benefits (e.g., VA Loan, GI Bill).
CZTE
Combat Zone Tax Exclusion — Federal tax exclusion for pay earned in designated combat zones.
DLA
Dislocation Allowance — Lump sum to help with moving costs during PCS.
DSST/CLEP
Standardized Exams — Tests for earning college credit by exam (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests / College Level Examination Program).
EFMP
Exceptional Family Member Program — Support for dependents with special medical/educational needs.
FSA
Family Separation Allowance — Pay for service members separated from dependents due to duty.
FSGLI
Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance — Life insurance for spouses and children of service members.
GI Bill
Education Benefit — VA program providing tuition, housing, and other support for education.
HHG
Household Goods — Personal property moved during PCS.
HFP/IDP
Hostile Fire Pay / Imminent Danger Pay — Extra pay for duty in hazardous areas.
IRRRL
Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan — VA streamline refinance for existing VA loans.
LES
Leave and Earnings Statement — Monthly pay statement for service members.
L Funds
Lifecycle Funds — TSP target-date funds that auto-rebalance as retirement approaches.
MLA
Military Lending Act — Law capping interest rates and fees for service members on certain loans.
MLA/SCRA
Military Lending Act / Servicemembers Civil Relief Act — Federal laws providing financial protections for service members.
MHA
Monthly Housing Allowance — GI Bill housing stipend based on school ZIP code.
MOS/AFSC/Rating
Military Occupational Specialty / Air Force Specialty Code / Rating — Job classification codes for service members.
MCCYN
Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood — DoD program for child care fee assistance.
OHA
Overseas Housing Allowance — Housing allowance for service members stationed overseas.
PCS
Permanent Change of Station — Relocation orders for service members.
PPM/DITY
Personally Procured Move / Do-It-Yourself Move — Option to move household goods yourself for reimbursement.
Prime/Select
TRICARE Plan Types — Prime (managed care), Select (PPO-style flexibility).
SBP
Survivor Benefit Plan — Retirement annuity for survivors of retired service members.
SGLI
Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance — Life insurance for service members.
SCRA
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act — Law providing financial and legal protections for service members.
TA
Tuition Assistance — Service-funded tuition support for active duty and eligible Guard/Reserve.
TDP
TRICARE Dental Program — Dental insurance for eligible service members and families.
TLA/TLE
Temporary Lodging Allowance / Temporary Lodging Expense — Reimbursement for lodging during PCS.
TSP
Thrift Savings Plan — Federal government retirement savings plan with low-cost investment options.
TRICARE
Military Health Care — DoD health insurance program for service members, retirees, and families.
TSGLI
Traumatic Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance — One-time payment for qualifying traumatic injuries.
USERRA
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act — Law protecting civilian job rights after military service.
VA
Department of Veterans Affairs — Federal agency providing benefits and services to veterans.
VGLI
Veterans’ Group Life Insurance — Life insurance for veterans after separation from service.
VHIC
Veteran Health Identification Card — ID card for eligible veterans for base access and benefits.
Yellow Ribbon
Yellow Ribbon Program — GI Bill supplement for tuition above the VA cap at participating schools.
YOS
Years of Service — Used in retirement and pension calculations.
Disclaimer: Policies and amounts change. Confirm details with official sources (VA, DoD, DFAS, TRICARE, DTMO, IRS) and your local offices before acting.