Military Career

“I Would Have Started My Reserve Pension By Now!”

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: October 1, 2020 19 Comments

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I get that pension comment every month from readers who are in their 60s... or even older. Most of them are doing fine, both financially and in life. They usually served some active duty before the Reserves or National Guard, and a few were even drafted for Vietnam. They decided not to gut it out to 20 years of active duty and they moved to the … [Read more...] about “I Would Have Started My Reserve Pension By Now!”

Reader Interview: Planning For The Military Transition

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: August 22, 2019 2 Comments

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[Today's military transition advice is brought to you by servicemember Annabel Monroe of Monroe Brothers Investments. If you're interested in contributing your interview at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines.] What influenced your decision to join the military, and what's your transition plan to leave active … [Read more...] about Reader Interview: Planning For The Military Transition

Tricky Details Of The Military Blended Retirement System

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 37 Comments

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I really wanted to use the titles "Hidden Secrets Of The BRS!!" or "Shocking Urban Legends Of The BRS Revealed-- #4 Is Jaw-dropping!!" But this is a serious life-changing decision. I've had a ton of reader BRS questions and feedback. The good news is that a group of us military personal-finance bloggers have tracked down the answers with the … [Read more...] about Tricky Details Of The Military Blended Retirement System

How To Turn Your Next PCS Into A 20% Raise

Author: Justin Taylor Last Updated: January 2, 2020 2 Comments

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How to Choose Your Next Duty Station Choosing your next duty station or even creating a list of potential new homes is possibly the most stressful part of being a military member. For me, on the officer side, I know that I will move every 3-4 years like clockwork and that’s at a junior CGO level. This rate will likely increase towards the end of … [Read more...] about How To Turn Your Next PCS Into A 20% Raise

How Much Is Your Military Pay Really Worth?

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: June 11, 2019 9 Comments

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This post is brought to you by Daniel Kopp, an Air Force officer and founder of MilitaryLifePlanning.com. If you're interested in contributing at The-Military-Guide.com, please see our posting guidelines. [Nords note: this post was updated on 4 March 2017 with a direct link to the DoD's PSMC website as well as a sample statement. Scroll down … [Read more...] about How Much Is Your Military Pay Really Worth?

Will The Military Pay Off Your Student Loans

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: July 12, 2018 4 Comments

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Are you considering an enlistment, for military student loan repayment options? When you're facing a mountain of student debt and you don't even have a job lined up after graduation, the military can seem like a pretty attractive option. So should you join the military to pay off your student loans? Maybe. This is a confusing subject-- let me … [Read more...] about Will The Military Pay Off Your Student Loans

Four Ways Physical Fitness Impacts Financial Fitness

Author: Forrest Baumhover Last Updated: December 16, 2018 Leave a Comment

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The other day, I just finished my last spring physical readiness test (PRT) for the Navy. As I finished my second-to-last fitness test, I celebrated to myself—one more PRT, and I’m done! My entire career, I’d thought of the PRT as paying rent—every six months, you pay up. You don’t get credit for doing any more (not in the Navy, at least). … [Read more...] about Four Ways Physical Fitness Impacts Financial Fitness

Military Retirement Journal – 1 Year from Retirement and Counting…

So, today is Monday, May 2. As of yesterday, I officially have one year until my planned retirement ceremony. With that said, I wanted to update you on two significant events since my last retirement journal entry. So, I went in for ringing in my ears, and came out with a broken nose…. Let me explain. As I’ve always advised people, I’m trying … [Read more...] about Military Retirement Journal – 1 Year from Retirement and Counting…

Should I Stop Drilling And Go To The Individual Ready Reserve?

Author: Doug Nordman Last Updated: January 4, 2020 32 Comments

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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?

It’s Official Infantry, Armor Opens To Women: Effective 1 April

Author: Curtez Last Updated: June 27, 2018 Leave a Comment

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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