Here’s some good news, regardless of how long a service member has been in or whether they retired from the military, their children can continue to have Tricare until they turn 21. However, if a service member leaves the military before they have enough service for...
The American military has had an impact on popular culture, whether it’s movies, fashion, or your political preference. And for better or worse, the argot of the military has seeped into everyday language, and we commonly use terms derived from it without thinking...
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) offers protections for service members and their families in many different areas ranging from mortgages to life insurance. For example, the SCRA frequently makes certain rights available conditional upon whether your ability...
In 1982, a law was passed called the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA), which gave Massachusetts and other state divorce courts the ability to treat military retirement pay as marital property that can be divided between the spouses. The 10/10...
With the current gender pay gap, women in the U.S. make about 82% of what men make. In the U.S. military, however, this gap does not exist, at least at the basic level. Because basic pay structure is based on pay grade and time in service, service members receive...
To prove your military status, you may be asked to present documentation on multiple occasions. One of these is the judicial system in Massachusetts. For an active-duty servicemember, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act is a must-have (SCRA). This protects service...
All eligible troops are going to be signed up for $500,000 worth of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage starting on March 1, 2023, even those who chose not to buy SGLI coverage in the past unless they opt out. A law passed in October 2022 mandated the...
A jaunt through the internet will yield plenty of news stories about uniformed service members facing financial hardships common to working-class civilians. The annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey by Blue Star Families, an organization that advocates for U.S....
The U.S. defense budget by far the largest of any country in the world is the subject of regular controversy. But while multi-billion dollar weapons development programs that blow past deadlines and through budgets will always be subject to political scrutiny, much of...
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) provides money to cover Massachusetts service members' housing and related costs in the civilian market when government quarters are not provided. If you live in privatized military housing, you will receive BAH. Your BAH rate is...