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The return home from combat can often leave servicemembers feeling out of place with the most important people in their lives - their families. "In deployment, Soldiers grow accustomed to a new lifestyle and a new 'family' - those buddies that bond together to defend each other," said Maj. Ken Williams, 14th Military Police Brigade chaplain. "This lifestyle change is prolonged and becomes familiar, i.e., the new normal." The families also change while the Soldier is deployed. "The family is a system," Williams said. "When one family member is absent, the whole system changes. All members of the family adapt to a new 'normal' way of life." When the servicemember returns, the family may feel uncomfortable with each other, and the servicemember may withdraw from the family. The return home from combat can often leave servicemembers feeling out of place with the most important people in their lives - their families. "In deployment, Soldiers grow accustomed to a new lifestyle and a new 'family' - those buddies that bond together to defend each other," said Maj. Ken Williams, 14th Military Police Brigade chaplain. "This lifestyle change is prolonged and becomes familiar, i.e., the new normal." The families also change while the Servicemember is deployed. "The family is a system," Williams said. "When one family member is absent, the whole system changes. All members of the family adapt to a new 'normal' way of life." When the servicemember returns, the family may feel uncomfortable with each other, and the servicemember may withdraw from the family.
Military and Veterans
Find information on basic pay, pensions, and retirement benefits for service members, veterans, and military retirees, including whom to contact with questions and concerns.
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Military and Retiree Pay InformationFind military pay charts, military retirement calculators, and contact information for problems with military and retiree pay. Military Pay Charts and Military Retirement CalculatorsVisit Military Compensation to find military retirement calculators and to get the latest information on
Military and Retiree Pay ProblemsDepartment of Defense (DOD) Active Duty, Reservists, and RetireesIf you’re on active duty or in the Reserve, contact your post or base finance office first for questions about your military pay. For additional help, contact the appropriate Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) office:
Coast Guard Active Duty, Reservists, and Retirees
Pension Benefits for Military RetireesThe military has two retirement systems:
Which plan you fall under depends on when you joined the military and whether you chose to opt-in to the BRS. Enrollment in the BRS Depends on When You Joined the Service
Blended Retirement System (BRS)The Blended Retirement System went into effect on January 1, 2018. It includes:
Calculate your pension under the BRS. Legacy High-3 (High-36) SystemService members in the legacy High-3 system must have begun their service by December 31, 2017. Also called High-36 or “military retired pay,” this is a defined benefit plan.
Calculate your pension under the legacy High-3 System. Military Retirees and Pension Benefit QuestionsIf you ’re a military retiree with questions about your benefits, contact your branch of service:
Pension TaxesYou may not have to pay federal income taxes on your military pension. Use the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) online tool and online publication to find out. Military Retirement and Social Security BenefitsRetirees can get both Social Security benefits and their military pension. Learn how the Social Security Administration (SSA) credits military service for your benefit. VA Disability Compensation BenefitsVeterans who have a service-related injury or illness may be entitled to VA disability compensation. It’s a tax-free monthly benefit. Visit VA.gov to learn:
Survivors of veterans may receive compensation benefits in certain situations. VA Pensions for Veterans and Survivors With a Low IncomeWartime veterans with a low income and their survivors may qualify for a tax-free pension. These monthly payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are based on financial need. Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension EligibilityBoth pensions base eligibility on the veteran’s service time, financial need, and age or status of the veteran or survivor.
How to Calculate VA PensionsThe amount for both pensions is the difference between the recipient’s "countable" income and the annual pension limit set by Congress.
How to Apply for a VA PensionSee how to apply for a veterans pension, including online. See how to apply for a survivors pension. Aid & Attendance (A&A) and Housebound BenefitsIf you receive a VA pension, you may also qualify for Aid & Attendance or Housebound benefits. You can only get one of them. Each has its own qualifications. Veterans Pension Versus Military RetirementSome people confuse military retirement benefits with a VA pension. Here are two ways to tell the difference:
Veterans Pension Versus Disability CompensationIn some cases, veterans can receive disability compensation. It's not the same as the VA pension. Here’s a way to tell the difference:
Last Updated: September 15, 2022 TopHow much is E7 retirement pay with 20 years?What is the retirement pay for an E7 with 20 years? As of 2022 the pay calculation projection an E7 retiring with exactly 20 years of service would receive $27,827 per year. It's important to note the present value of almost $800,000 for a 40 year old receiving this pension indefinitely.
Do you get extra Social Security if you were in the military?Since 1957, if you had military service earnings for active duty (including active duty for training), you may have extra Social Security wage credits added to your earnings record. Since 1988, inactive duty service in the Armed Forces reserves (such as weekend drills) is covered by Social Security.
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