Military Pay

Military service member applying for a side job on the computer

Side Jobs for Active Duty Military

To an outsider, life in the military might seem like an endless barrage of direction and work, a constant grind with little affordable time for hobbies, personal pursuits, or passions. The truth is, while the ...
Stack of cash with dog tags and American flag

How a Government Shutdown Affects Military Pay & Benefits

The threat of another government shutdown is becoming almost as commonplace a news story as the threat of another hurricane. The problem is both can end in disasters if you don’t take steps to prepare. ...
Dog tags stacked on money and the American Flag

Overseas Tour Extension Incentive Program (OTEIP)

Military service often includes opportunities to serve or be stationed overseas, and that can mean one-time or recurring bonuses or stipends in addition to your military paycheck. One of the incentive pay programs for military ...
Tank rolling on paper money

Hardship Duty Pay

There are lots of great benefits that come with working in the military. Among them are guaranteed basic pay, tax-free allowances and paid vacation, just to name a few. But if you're called on to ...
Flags from each branch of military

Which Military Branch Has the Best Benefits?

If you’re considering a career in the military, deciding which branch to join is maybe the most exciting question you’ll face. Besides the choice between the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or ...
Military service member looking through financial charts on desk

14 Financial Planning Tips for the Military

Financial planning might seem like a luxury for the wealthy, but anyone can benefit from making plans for their money, especially those who are struggling to get by. As a servicemember or veteran, you have ...

Military Reserve Pay Chart

Reserve pay is one of the many benefits of being in the military reserves. If you're a National Guard or a Reserve Soldier who's performing drilling and other training duties, you can receive compensation in ...
Jar of coins that someone has saved up

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) for Service Members

It's not often that you can get free money, but with the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) you can bring in free cash with no extra labor or effort on your part. For service members, having ...
Retired military veteran checking his pay on a calculator

Retired Military Pay

If you weren’t thinking about retirement or other benefits when you enlisted in the military, that’s okay. You are still protected by one of the top three benefits of military service, along with medical and ...
Spouse filing taxes while partner is deployed

Filing Taxes When a Military Member Is Deployed

You’re away from your family. Your living quarters aren’t exactly luxurious. You might not be getting the supplies, or even the information, you need. Safety is an issue. Peace of mind can be hard to ...
Military rep handing out a bonus check

Selective Retention Bonus (SRB)

The selective retention bonus is the U.S. military’s take on an old Army recruiting poster. The twist is that Uncle Sam not only wants you but wants to keep you. Badly in many cases. The ...
Bank teller filling out information for a military customer

Best Banks and Credit Unions for the Military

The unique circumstances of military life for both members and their families require financial institutions that understand these circumstances. Military banks and credit unions are set up specifically to meet the unique financial needs of ...
Opening an envelope with a paycheck for military special pay

Special and Incentive Pay

Everyone in the military gets basic pay that is determined by their rank and length of service. But there are plenty of opportunities to make extra money. Military members of all ranks and positions can ...
Journal that says "Cost of Living Adjustment" on the cover

COLA Military Retirement Pay

Opting for a military career opens the door to a treasure trove of job perks, ranging from education benefits and health care to guaranteed housing loans and the regular income from military pay. But for ...
mypay military woman at computer

What Is myPay?

MyPay is a website for the military community that centralizes the information and transactions involving an individual user’s military pay. The site provides an automated system available to most active and retired members of the ...
Military Bonuses

Military Bonuses

Not surprisingly, Uncle Sam has been having a tough time of late convincing young men and women to answer the call to serve their country. With the unemployment rate hovering around a four-decade low in ...
Young man signing up for the military and receiving a bonus

Military Signing Bonus

Uncle Sam Wants YOU! People of a certain age will remember those recruiting posters from the last century. Uncle Sam, representing the U.S. Armed Forces and wearing a top hat and bow tie, points a ...
Calendar with military payday dates circled

USAA Military Pay Schedule

If you’re in the military, you’re almost certainly living on a budget, so you’ve got payday etched in your brain. For servicemembers, payday usually falls on the 1st or 15th of the month – provided ...