Terry Howell - The Military Advantage, 2016 Edition: The Military.com Guide to Military and Veterans Benefits

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Copyright 2016 by Military Advantage, Inc.

Grateful acknowledgment is made to each branch of the U.S. Military, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, Internal Revenue Service, TRICARE Military Health System and all the agencies, organizations, and individuals, too numerous to mention, who contributed the programs, resources, and information that support the military community and form the basis of this book. For updates, questions, and suggestions, visit www.military.com/book.

The ideas and opinions in this book are those of the author and do not represent the views of any government agency or other party. While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this book, readers should always verify information.

ISBN 978-1-68247-027-5 (eBook)

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To all who have answered the call to serve, those who have not yet come home, and those who wait for their return.

About Military.com

Military.com was launched in 1999 to revolutionize the way the 30 million Americans with military affinity stay connected and informed. Today, were the largest military and veteran membership organization10 million members strong.

Like this book, Military.com helps connect servicemembers, military families, and veterans to all the benefits of service. We believe that the benefits earned in the service should be easier to access and written in plain English. Were passionate about helping members make the most of military experience throughout life.

Contents

Contents

by Salvatore A. Giunta

I am fortunate to have been able to serve my country in uniform. Like many of us, I joined the military for a variety of reasons that combine a desire to be part of something meaningful with a will to defend my country and earn benefits in the process that can help put my life on a path to success when I transition out of the military.

My time in the Army introduced me to some of the best of my generation and I witnessed tremendous courage, honor, and sacrifice. For that I will be forever grateful.

I am also grateful for the support our troops have been shown by our country, including the many benefits available to active-duty forces and their families as well as to the veterans who served before them.

As a veteran currently using these benefits, I know that they are worth so much but can go unused because people dont how to access them or dont fully understand which benefits they are entitled to.

Fortunately, Military.com has created The Military Advantage 2016 Edition. Fellow veteran and Managing Editor of Benefits Terry Howell and the Military.com team have done the hard work for you. Here youll find the latest information presented in a way that truly cuts through the red tape.

The Military Advantage 2016 Edition is an important step in accessing some of our countrys most meaningful examples of a grateful nationyour benefits.

Above all, thank you for your service.

SAL GIUNTA

First Living Medal of Honor Recipient since the Vietnam War

C hris Michel, Military.com founder and former member of the Naval Reserve, started Military.com with one mission in mind: to connect servicemembers, veterans, and their families to all the benefits earned in service to America. This book is a continuation of that mission, giving servicemembers, veterans, and their families a comprehensive resource to help them learn about and take advantage of their benefits.

After more than ten years at war, the U.S. Armed Forces plan to cut up to 80,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines over the next five years in an effort to meet the demand to reduce the defense budget by more than $487 billion over the next ten years. This planned reduction in forces will mean that as many as 14,000 servicemembers a year will need to prepare to transition back to civilian life.

Although education programs, like the Post-9/11 GI Bill, are designed to help servicemembers transition back into the civilian workforce, the current number of out-of-work OEF/OIF veterans indicates that the existing programs and resources are not going to be enough to meet the future demand. In response, the government and organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Military.com, the Military Officers Association of America, and others have been working together to create new transition resources and make significant improvements to existing support and employment programs for veterans and their families.

The goal of The Military Advantage is to help you prepare for the day you must hang up your uniform for the last time. We have worked closely with the dedicated people at the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, TRICARE, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), the House Veterans Affairs Committee staff, and several private organizations such as USAA, the National Association of Veterans Program Administrators (NAVPA), and the Western Association of Veterans Education Specialists (WAVES) to make certain this book is as accurate and up-to-date as possible. We encourage our readers, in the tradition of servicemembers and veterans helping one another, to provide us with your feedback, insider tips, and stories for future editions.

It is our sincere wish that this book will help you learn to use your benefits and resources to make a smooth transition into civilian life.

Thank you for your service to our nation.

Note: Eligibility for many of the benefits covered in this guide is determined by your duty status. In many cases, recalled Reserve and Guard members who have been activated under federal law (Title 10) enjoy the same benefits as their active-duty counterparts. Servicemembers should contact their personnel office, the VA, or other appropriate state or county veterans offices for assistance in determining benefits eligibility. Contact information appears in relevant sections of the book. Also, many of the benefits covered in this book are subject to change.

For the latest benefits updates and news, changes, and reader suggestions and feedback, please visit www.military.com.

A s a member of the military community, you earn discounts and valuable benefits (besides pay) that have a direct impact on your personal finances. Tax breaks, VA home loans, and a retirement savings plan (Thrift Savings Plan) are just a few of the programs designed to stretch your dollars.