Servicemember to Veteran Transition

Servicemember to Veteran Transition

Servicemember to Veteran Transition

Updated January 8, 2026 (IG10069)

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