Six Tips to Ease Your Transition from the Military
May 19, 2025
A significant part of your life has been dedicated to faithful service to our nation. As you transition from the military, you’ll be faced with some unique circumstances. Here are six tips that could help make your transition to civilian life easier.
One thing to think about is to account for expenses that you’re likely to have in civilian life that you didn’t have while serving.
For example, tax-free allowances for housing and living expenses that had been added to your military base pay won’t be there once you separate from service. And other free or low-cost benefits such as life insurance and health insurance are likely to end as well. So you’ll have to factor those costs into your budget.
If you should die after leaving the military, how will you provide financial support for your family? You may need or want life insurance protection, but what if you can’t medically qualify for a life insurance policy offered by a commercial insurer after leaving the military? You can convert your SGLI coverage to Veterans Group Life Insurance within one year and 120 days from discharge.
And, if you submit your application within 240 days of discharge, you do not have to answer medical questions or submit evidence of good health.
You also may convert to a permanent whole life insurance policy without underwriting through a participating commercial insurer. Check with the Department of Veterans Affairs for a list of participating carriers.
While Veterans Group Life Insurance is a good option, especially if you may not qualify for insurance through a commercial carrier, Veterans Group Life premiums increase every 5 years, beginning at age 30, and the only option for permanent insurance is whole life.
If you think you can medically qualify for commercial life insurance, you may find term coverage comparable to Veterans Group Life that locks in the premium for as many as 20 years.
Also, insurance companies typically offer more options for permanent life insurance in addition to whole life insurance.
Another issue to think about is health care.
Military-sponsored health insurance ends after you separate from service. You may be eligible for TRICARE, but only if you retire.
Once you become a civilian, the government mandates that you have minimum essential health coverage or be subject to a possible penalty.
You may qualify to participate in the Continued Health Care Benefit Program or the Transitional Assistance Management Program for a limited period of time. Or, you may be able to obtain health-care coverage through your employer.
Another alternative may be buying coverage through the government’s health insurance marketplace. Not only can you shop for health-care coverage for you and your family, you may qualify for premium tax credits and savings on out-of-pocket costs based on your household size and income.
If you’re like most people, you’ll probably look for employment after leaving the military. Whether you decide to work, go to school, or both, don’t underestimate the importance of the skills and training you acquired while serving your country.
The Verification of Military Experience and Training document, DD form 2586, provides potential employers and school admissions offices with verification of your previous skills and training and shows how they relate to the civilian world.
And, if you’re unable to find a job right away, you may qualify for unemployment compensation. But keep in mind that unemployment benefits vary from state to state, so you’ll need to contact your local unemployment office for more information.
Careful financial planning is the key to successfully transitioning from the military. The earlier you look at your anticipated financial picture in civilian life, the more time you’ll have to prepare.
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