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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.
Under BRS, DoD matches up to 4% of your TSP contributions. Here's how vesting works, what you keep when you separate, and how to maximize matching before you leave.
OCONUS assignments replace BAH with OHA — a different allowance with different rules, application requirements, and rates. Here's how OHA works and what to expect.
Military disability retirement can be permanent (PDRL) or temporary (TDRL). Here's what each means, how TDRL works, and what determines which list you're placed on.
The most important piece of paper in a veteran's life. What every block on the DD-214 means, why character of discharge controls everything else, and how to get a copy if you need one.
The deadline most service members miss. How to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to a spouse or child, why the timing has to be exact, and what families lose when they wait too long.
DIC, SBP, CHAMPVA, education, home loan, burial, life insurance, social security. The full map of what's available to surviving spouses, children, and parents — and the order to actually pursue them.
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Parents of service members who died from service-connected causes can be eligible for monthly VA payments. Income-based, often overlooked, and harder to access than the spouse version — but real.
When the veteran won't pursue what they've earned, sometimes family steps in. The legal pathways for family-driven claims, what lay statements actually do, and when fiduciary status is appropriate.
VA decision letters are dense, formal, and confusing. Family members who can decode them can spot errors, identify next moves, and help the veteran respond appropriately to whatever the VA decided.
When records are lost, stuck, or never seen — the SF-180 is how families request them. A walkthrough of the form, what to ask for, what to expect, and the workarounds when standard channels fail.
Three paths for veteran benefits help, with very different costs, capabilities, and use cases. Which one to start with, when to upgrade, and the situations where each is the right choice.
Franchising matches military strengths — following systems, leading teams, operational discipline. Here are the top veteran-friendly franchise opportunities and discount programs in 2026.
The SCRA limits interest on pre-service debts to 6% during active duty. Here's exactly how to request the rate reduction, what debts qualify, and what creditors are required to do.
Mental health counselor and clinical social worker licenses are among the most restrictive to transfer across states. Here's what military spouse LPCs and LCSWs need to know.
Rent-to-own stores near military installations charge effective APRs of 100-300%. Here's how the math works and why these contracts are almost never worth it.
Choosing between Roth and Traditional TSP is one of the most consequential financial decisions military members make. Here's the framework for choosing based on your specific situation.
When both spouses are active duty, BAH rules get complicated. Here's how dual military couples receive BAH with and without dependents, and what changes with children.
Your MEB disability percentage and your VA rating serve different purposes and are calculated differently. Here's what each means and why they often produce different numbers.
Other Than Honorable discharge feels like a closed door. It usually isn't. What family should understand about the path forward — VA character-of-discharge determination, discharge upgrade boards, and the deadlines that matter.
Sometimes the veteran can't or won't fight this. Sometimes the family member is the one who has to pick up the application, gather the records, and push it through. A practical guide for the family member doing the work.