Loading...
1014 articles to help with your military transition
Expert guides covering VA disability claims, C&P exam preparation, military-to-civilian career transitions, retirement planning, state veteran benefits, and more. Written for active duty service members, reservists, and retirees navigating life after the military. Browse by category or search for topics specific to your transition.
Exact format civilian recruiters and ATS systems look for. Active vs current vs eligible. SCI, polygraph status, and what counts as classified that you absolutely cannot disclose.
For parents, adult children, siblings, and family members of separating service members. What to do at each stage of the transition timeline, how to bring up VA claims without nagging, and the emotional realities to expect.
You don't need to be the veteran to know how the system works. Walks through disability comp, GI Bill, VA home loan, healthcare, life insurance, and adapted housing.
Why some veterans avoid filing. The classic mistakes (waiting until after separation, not getting nexus statements, skipping C&P prep). What you can do without overstepping, and when to step back.
Three different things that look similar from the outside and need very different responses. What family should know about each, why the wrong framing makes it worse, and what to say instead.
When patterns matter more than incidents. The three baselines families should watch in a transitioning veteran, why they cluster, and what each one means in isolation vs. together.
Free for every veteran
18 transition tools. Zero cost.
VA claims tracker, MOS translator, resume builder, career planner, budget tool — all in one place, all free. Join 140+ members already using MTT.
Hidden drinking is its own signal, separate from the amount. Why it happens with veterans, what's underneath, and how to raise it in a way that doesn't end the conversation in 30 seconds.
There are predictable hard days in a veteran's year. Knowing the calendar in advance lets family show up the right way before the wave hits — instead of reacting after.
Translate your Coast Guard MSRT (Maritime Security Response Team) experience into civilian roles — federal law enforcement, FBI HRT, maritime tactical security, and private contractor jobs. Salary data + certifications.
Translate your Navy IDC experience into civilian PA, advanced EMT, occupational health, and healthcare leadership roles. The IDC scope of practice is closer to PA than RN — here's how to position the transition.
Specifically for STG2 Sonar Technicians: civilian career options, defense contractor jobs, salary data, and the ASW-to-civilian translation. Different from senior STGs — written for the petty officer 2nd class transitioning out at 6 years.
If you have a service-connected rating of 10% or higher, VR&E almost always beats the Post-9/11 GI Bill. FY2026 rates, the 48-month combined cap, and why using VR&E first preserves your GI Bill for later.
VR&E can cover PA, BSN/MSN, NP, DPT, and other healthcare graduate programs for service-connected veterans — but it requires VRC approval. Here's what VA actually pays for, what's gray area, and the 48-month problem with MD/DO school.
Veterans bring leadership, logistics, risk management, and operational discipline that civilian entrepreneurs rarely develop. Here's how to identify and leverage your military experience in business.
Frequent moves, deployment, and young age when entering service create unique credit challenges for military members. Here's a strategy for building strong credit throughout your military career.
Cosmetology licensing doesn't transfer automatically across state lines — but military spouse provisions can speed the process. Here's how to navigate cosmetology license reciprocity after a PCS.
A $300 payday loan can cost you $500 or more. Here's the exact math on payday loan costs, why the APR matters more than the fee, and what military members actually pay.
TSP Lifecycle Funds automatically adjust your asset allocation as you approach your target retirement date. Here's how they work, what they cost, and when to use them or choose differently.
BAH is not subject to federal income tax — but it affects your taxes in other ways. Here's what you need to know about BAH, state taxes, and how housing allowance interacts with deductions.
CRSC allows combat-related disabled military retirees to receive both retirement pay and VA disability compensation. Here's who qualifies, how to apply, and what you'll actually receive.