Military Service Pay & Benefits
Military service pay and benefits are often misunderstood by civilians in part because the retirement system and health care coverage are unusual compared to most civilian sector plans, and while some portions of military pay are taxable, some are not. Browse some basic information on military pay and benefits to get an idea of how the system works.
Other People Are Reading
-
Basic Pay
-
Military basic pay is based on rank and time in service, based on 2-year increments. There are also annual overall adjustments for all pay grades to adjust for inflation.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)
-
Members are provided housing, or an allowance to help pay for local rent or mortgage. The amount varies by location, and if the member is with or without dependents. Members generally receive an allowance to help pay for food, though some may be issued a "meal card" to use to eat in a base dining facility.
-
Special Pay and Reenlistment bonus
-
Some duties--combat , hazardous, parachute, flight or sea duties, for example--and some job specialties receive a monthly bonus. Depending on the needs of the service, some job specialties offer a bonus for reenlistment. The amount varies by job and timing of the reenlistment.
Retirement
-
Military retirement pension is generally 50 percent of active duty pay after 20 years of service, and up to 75 percent for 30 years.
Vacation
-
Military members earn 2.5 days of vacation, or "leave," per month, which is 30 days a year.
Medical
-
Important health care for members and their family is basically free, though covering specialized care for families can be complicated.
Education
-
Tuition for most colleges is 100 percent covered by military while in service. The GI Bill provides money for college tuition, expenses and living expenses during active and post military service .
-
