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Comparison of Benefits For Service Members
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Should you join the military? Its an important decision. Which branch? Should you enlist in Active Duty or would the Reserve be the best fit for you? Should you make a career of the military? What about benefits? These are just a few of the questions you might ask when trying to decide if the military is right for you.

It's a life changing decision so the more knowledge you have the better able you are to make an informed decision. The United States Army offers both Full Time and Part Time opportunities, Active Duty (full time), and the Army Reserve (part time). Below is a chart that compares benefits for Active Duty, Reserve, and Retired Army. Knowing what benefits you will be entitled to will help decide where you belong.

-
Active
Reserve
Retired
-
Drill
Active
-
Retirement & Savings
Retirement
X
X
X
X
Thrift Savings Plan (Uniformed Services Plan or UNISERV)
X
X
X
-
Uniformed Services Savings Deposit Program
X
-
X
-
Health Care
TRICARE
X
-
X
X
Dental
X
X
X
X
Special Dependent Needs
X
-
X
-
Continued Health Care Benefit Program
X
-
X
-
Long Term Care - Group Insurance Program
X
X
X
X
Housing
Military Family Housing
Housing Privatization
Unaccompanied Housing Quarters
(Basic Allowance for Housing - BAH)
Overseas Housing Allowance (OAH)
X
-
X
-
Paid Time-Off
Annual Leave
X
-
X
-
Convalescent Leave
X
-
X
-
Educational Leave of Absence
X
-
X
-
Graduation Leave
X
-
X
-
Public Holidays
X
-
X
-
Sick-in Quarters
X
-
X
-
Discount Shopping
Commissaries
X
limited
X
X
Exchanges-Army, Air Force, Navy
X
X
X
X
Family Support Services
Deployment & Mobilization Support
X
X
X
-
Family Advocacy Programs
X
limited
X
-
Parenting Programs
X
limited
X
-
Personal Financial Management Program
X
limited
X
-
Relocation Assistance Program
X
-
X
X
Spouse Employment Assistance Program
X
-
X
-
Spouse Tuition Aid Program
X
-
X
-
Transition Assistance Program
X
-
X
X
Child & Youth Programs
Child Development System
X
limited
X
-
Exceptional Family Member Program
X
-
X
-
Youth Programs
X
-
X
-
Education Assistance
Montgomery GI Bill
X
X
X
X
Tuition Assistance
X
X
X
-
Cancellation of Federal Student Loans for 1 yr service in Imminent Danger Area (12 1/2% for 1 year service up to 50% of loan)
X
w/1 yr in ID Parea
-
X
w/1 yr in ID Parea
-
Life Insurance
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
X
X
X
-
Veterans' Group Life Insurance
-
-
-
X
Survivor Benefit Plan
X
X
X
X
Home Loan Guarantees
VA Guaranteed Home Loan Program
X
X
X
X
Miscellaneous
DOD Education Activities
X
-
X
limited
space A
Legal Assistance
X
limited
X
limited
Privileges at Military Facilities (Moral, Welfare, and Recreation)
X
X
X
X
Space Available Travel
X
X
X
X
Space Required Travel
X
X
-
-
Disability
Veterans Disability Compensation
X
X
X
X
Veterans Disability Pension
X
X
X
X
DOD Disability Retirement Pay
X
X
X
X
DOD Disability Severance Pay
X
X
X
-
Death & Burial Benefits
Burial Benefits
X
X
X
X
Burial Cost
X
X
X
limited
Commisary
X
X
X
X
Exchange Privileges and Access to MWR
X
X
X
X
Continued Government Housing or Housing Allowance
X
-
X
-
Death Gratuity Payment
X
X
X
Dependency & Indemnity Compensation
X
X
X
if service connected
Funeral Honors
X
X
X
X
Survivor & Dependent Education
X
X
X
X
Tax Benefits
X
-
X
-
Unused Leave
X
-
X
-

Click Here for more information on Active or Reserve enlistment.


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