Servicemember to Veteran Transition
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Servicemember to Veteran Transition December 20, 2024
Congressional Research Service IG10069 · VERSION 1 · NEW https://crsreports.congress.gov
Author Information
Sidath Viranga Panangala Specialist in Veterans Policy
Kristy N. Kamarck
Specialist in Military Personnel
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
Summary
Information as of December 20, 2024. Prepared by Kristy N. Kamarck, Specialist in Military Personnel; Sidath Viranga Panangala, Specialist
in Veterans Policy; and Jamie Bush, Visual Information Specialist. For more information, see CRS Report, R44757, Defense Primer: A Guide
for New Members (https://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44757), and the CRS Issue Areas page on veterans (https://www.crs.gov/iap/veterans).
Individuals who serve on active duty in one of the six U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force,
and Coast Guard) experience a range of career pathways. From the point of entry as an officer or enlistee, servicemembers
become eligible for certain benefits under the Department of Defense (DOD) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS,
for the Coast Guard) and also eligibility for certain benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). While some
servicemembers may leave active service after their initial commitment (typically four to six years), others will remain 20
years or longer and become eligible for a lifetime retirement annuity from their military department based on longevity of
service. Some may sustain injuries that confer earlier eligibility for disability retirement from their military department
and/or disability compensation from the VA.
Injured in Line of Duty
Those who are injured in the line of duty at
any point after entering service may take a
detour from their career pathway for
rehabilitation and recovery. Some of them
will be declared _t for duty and will resume
service, and some will be medically
separated or retired.
Who Is Considered a Veteran?
All who serve a minimum period of active duty are considered "veterans." Those who are eligible for retired pay from
DOD are also considered military retirees—all military retirees are veterans, but not all veterans are military retirees.
20 Years
Eligible for Retirement
Active duty servicemembers become
eligible for longevity retirement after
completing a minimum of 20 years
of service, though some stay longer
and continue to accrue credit
toward retired pay.
Typical Timeline of Service
Enlistment/Commissioning
Eligibility begins for DOD or DHS pay and
benefits, including basic pay, housing
allowance, subsistence allowance, health
care, and other support services.
Individuals are also eligible for certain VA
benefits while serving.
Eligible to Separate After
Initial Commitment
Medical Separation Eligible to Receive
Disability Retirement
Eligible to Retire
After 20 Years of
Service
Those with service-connected
disabilities rated less than 30% are
not eligible for disability retirement,
but they may be discharged with
disability severance pay.
Those with a permanent, stable
disability rated at 30% or more
may be eligible for a disability
retirement.
Eligible retirees begin receiving
monthly retired pay from the
military retirement fund after
leaving service.
The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is required for all servicemembers separating or
retiring from active service and provides an introduction to benefits and services that the
member may be eligible to receive from DOD/DHS, VA, and other federal agencies.
(See CRS Report R48114)
Selected VA Benefits Selected DOD or DHS Benefits
VA Benefits VA Benefits DOD or DHS Benefits
Separate Retire from Military
▪ Compensation for Service-Connected Disabilities or Death
▪ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Service-Connected Deaths
▪ Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability or Death or For Service
▪ Hospital, Nursing Home, Domiciliary, and Medical Care
▪ Life Insurance
▪ Benefits for Homeless Veterans
▪ Specially Adapted Housing for Disabled Veterans
▪ Burial Benefits
▪ Educational Assistance Programs
▪ Housing and Small Business Loans
▪ Employment and Training of Veterans
▪ Retired Pay
▪ Health Care Services (TRICARE)
▪ Survivor Benefits Plan
▪ Commissary and Exchange*
▪ Space-A Travel*
*Certain veterans who are not retirees are also
eligible for these Benefits
Entry into Active Service
Servicemember to
Veteran Transition