Here's a summary of a conversation with a National Guard servicemember who's contemplating moving from a drill billet to the Individual Ready Reserve. We talk through all aspects of the decision, how to deal with the IRR, and how the Guard/Reserve military pension is calculated. At the end of the post, I've included several "Related links" to … [Read more...] about Should I Stop Drilling And Go To The Individual Ready Reserve?
Archives for March 2016
It’s Official Infantry, Armor Opens To Women: Effective 1 April
Effective 1 April 2016, military occupational specialties 11X, 13F, 19D, 19K, will become gender integrated. This unprecedented act will allow women to enlist into Infantry, Armor and Artillery MOSs and serve alongside their male counterparts. Infantry and armor positions will open to women April 1 in the next step of the Army's gender integration … [Read more...] about It’s Official Infantry, Armor Opens To Women: Effective 1 April
13 Credit Card Companies That Provide CASH Refunds to Service Members Under The SCRA
Did you know many credit card companies are going above and beyond their legal obligations under the Service Members Civil Relief Act? Many companies are retroactively lowering interest rates for balances placed AFTER your enlistment! Under the SCRA, 6 percent is the maximum interest rate that can, however, in 2018 many institutions are … [Read more...] about 13 Credit Card Companies That Provide CASH Refunds to Service Members Under The SCRA
Book Review: “Smarter Faster Better” by Charles Duhigg
I've been home from travel for almost four months, and I'm finally catching up on my reading. I still have a pile of books that I picked up from FinCon15 (six months ago!), and I'm steadily working my way through them. I'll probably finish just before FinCon16. But then (shameless name dropping) Charles Duhigg e-mailed me. Yeah, the … [Read more...] about Book Review: “Smarter Faster Better” by Charles Duhigg
How NOT to do it: Applying for VA disability years after military separation
[This post is brought to you by "Crew Dog" of OneSickVet.com. If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines.] In a previous post on One Sick Vet, the blogger "Die Fledermaus" showed us a good example of how to prepare for a VA disability claim while still on active duty: going to the … [Read more...] about How NOT to do it: Applying for VA disability years after military separation
Why You Should Strongly Consider Not Participating in the Survivor Benefit Plan
My first book, Military In Transition's Guide to the Survivor Benefit Plan, is available on Amazon. Previously, I wrote about the Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). That article’s primary purpose was to take the ambiguous information that resides on the DFAS website & consolidate it into an organized manner which you can clearly … [Read more...] about Why You Should Strongly Consider Not Participating in the Survivor Benefit Plan
How To Find Portable Careers For Military Spouses
My spouse and I joined the military in the late 1970s. We've been military spouses since 1986, and I was a member of several fine Wives Clubs in the 1980s-90s. Thankfully, the military's gender policies have improved quite a bit over the last 40 years. The male military spouse situation has also improved a bit during this millennium, thanks to the … [Read more...] about How To Find Portable Careers For Military Spouses
Why Estate Planning Matters to You in the Military (Even if You Think it Doesn’t)
This article was published a couple of months ago online, but I’ve made some changes specifically to point out how estate planning should matter to you throughout your military career. I was recently at a financial planning conference, when I listened to a presentation by Natalie Choate, a prominent estate planning attorney from the Boston area. … [Read more...] about Why Estate Planning Matters to You in the Military (Even if You Think it Doesn’t)
Retirement Lifestyles: “Can I Get Back Into The Military?”
A reader question has hit my IN box several times this year: "My spouse retired from the military after 20 years of active duty and is receiving their pension. They're in their 40s and they miss it so much. Is there a way for them to get back in? I know they'd be happier serving than just receiving a deposit every month." This conversation goes a … [Read more...] about Retirement Lifestyles: “Can I Get Back Into The Military?”
Comparing E7 Retirement Pay: Active-Duty Versus Reserve
This post has been updated using current pay charts, to determine E7 Retirement Pay... E7 Retirement Pay Consider two 18-year-olds who join the military on the same day. The first stays on active duty for 20 full years to retire as an E-7. They'll base their pension on 2.5% x 20 years = 50% of their High-Three retirement system. Under the … [Read more...] about Comparing E7 Retirement Pay: Active-Duty Versus Reserve
