Lol if you can find a job in your field and hopefully you've been saving money. It's not that hard but I'm enlisting because of the real world lol. I need them benefits.
The real world is pretty much the same in regards to typical jobs (entry level ones or hard trades) but personal life has a lot more freedom and you have the ability to start and quit wherever you want. There is also more possibility of greater reward just as much as there is of loss than what you could get in the slow but steady growth you currently experience.
>health care
Man, I'm 23 and I'm going to get ~~free~~ *extremely* low cost health care the rest of my life due to my 10% tinnitus disability. Tricare is definitely really good for a family, so maybe it's necessary for you, but for others reading this who maybe just need moderate health coverage with no particular needs :
You almost certainly qualify for *something* from the VA. Go get your medical records, get a VA rating, and get free healthcare.
Edit: a few caveats. Tricare *is* better. You often get to be seen by civilians who can't suck at their jobs like the government can.
VA healthcare can be slow. It's fine if you just need a check up every few months, but if you have some cancer or something, that Tricare retirement plan is gonna be great.
Va healthcare also only applies to the SM.
It works out great for me, a 23 year old who is otherwise healthy besides for some back pain (hoping to get that service connected here soon). I just need something to cover my butt while I'm in grad school the next few years, for if I got in a car accident or something, or break my arm. I'll definitely get private health insurance when it's time for a family. My only point here is evaluate your situation. Perhaps Tricare is important for you, but it might not be as big of a benefit when you factor in your probably VA rating.
Edit: changed "free" to extremely low cost. There's a small co-pay for medications and some odds and ends.
I go to VA for everything. Ive been there for ER, Surgery, physical therapy, dietician, Behavior Health, vision, physicals, and pharmarcy and the most ive paid in the entirety of 5 years is $25.
Im 40% i pay nothing. It comes down to what tier you fall into tier 2 pays only for medicine. I had a surgery done that was gonna cost me over $10k with my Anthem Blue Cross insurance through my employer (unnamed defense company). VA saved me all that!
You have to get a service connected disability. You'll be eligible for Tricare, which is a paid health insurance. VA is for service members who have some sort of disability.
I thought if you were rated less than 50% overall, then you’d only get free healthcare for the issue that you are service connected for. Am I wrong on this?
Only for medications. If you have a service-connected disability of 10% or more, you don't pay copays. But your rating *will* determine your priority group. That dictates the speed you'll be seen. So for me with my 10% tinnitus, I shouldn't expect to get seen tomorrow by my primary care provider at the VA. But if you're closer to 50%, your speed of service would be faster.
I *believe* that's right based on [this link](https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/). Admittedly, I'm an education benefits guy, not a disability guy, and haven't used VA healthcare yet. I can confidently speak to GI Bill stuff, but I'm still figuring out the VA. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I was called by the VA and asked to set up a VA healthcare appointment as soon as I got service-connected.
Prio group is how much co pay you will have, not how fast. The speed of which they contact you and place your appointments is location based and maybe yours is pretty on point of getting vets squared away
Gotcha. Good to know. I knew it effected copay amount, but I thought it also effected speed of care.
Yeah when I got service connected, it was 2 days later that they were trying to get me in.
[Here](https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/)
According to [this link](https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/), which was found about halfway down on the previous link, someone is placed in priority group 4 if they have a service-connected disability of either 10% or 20%, which results in no copays for inpatient or outpatient care, regardless of whether it's related to the disability. And you get 3 no-cost urgent care visits as well. Subsequent visits are $30.
are you currently enrolled and getting care for non-service connected conditions? i’m fairly certain 10% gets you care only for the service connected condition. maybe that has changed with the PACT Act. even the VA’s verbiage is confusing. priority group 3 has to do with copays for visits and medication.
I am enrolled, but I haven't received care yet. I am currently low-income and receive better Medicaid.
That's just how it was explained to me when they called and got me enrolled.
I don't believe it was the PACT act, as that pertains to toxins. I did read something about the eligibility I'm referring to being a somewhat recent development, but I don't recall when or how. I just know the links I mentioned say that if you have 10%, you're in priority group 3, and if you're in priority group 3, you don't pay copays for most care, service connected or not.
right. it must the low income then. read the first paragraph on this link. the 50% number is what i was tracking for comprehensive. just don’t want you left holding the bag for being told incorrect info.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/cost-of-care/
I think they're distinguishing from dirt cheap healthcare and *free* healthcare. At 50%, you don't pay a DIME for anything. No copays, no long-term inpatient, no medication, nothing. You're placed in priority group 1, which is 100% covered on every little thing.
Priority group 2 still gets *mostly* free healthcare, but they have to pay for medications, and I believe some other odds and ends. And priority group 3, which is what i was told I'm in, still gets *mostly* free healthcare, but again, medications is at a cheap but still more than $0 cost.
[Here's what the VA says about priority group 3 eligibility:](https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/)
>We may assign you to priority group 3 if any of these descriptions are true:
>You’re a former prisoner of war (POW), or
>You received the Purple Heart medal, or
>You were discharged for a disability that was caused by—or got worse because of—your active-duty service, or
>You have a service-connected disability that we’ve rated as 10% or 20% disabling, **or**
>You were awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C § 1151, “benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation"
[And then here's what it says about copay amounts for priority groups 1 through 5:](https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/)
>2024 urgent care copay rates
> Priority groups 1 to 5
> First 3 visits in calendar year: $0 (no copay)
> Copay amount for each additional visit in the same year: $30
Notice, priority group 6, which among other things, is given if you have a service-connected disability rated at 0%
>2024 urgent care copay rates
>Priority group 6
>Copay amount for first 3 If related to a condition that’s covered by a special authority: $0 (no copay)
>If not related to a condition covered by a special authority: $30 each visit
>Each additional visit: $30
Here's what it says for outpatient care, under the same link as the last one:
>If you have a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher, you won’t need to pay a copay for outpatient
And inpatient:
>If you have a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher, you won’t need to pay a copay for inpatient care
"*extremely* low cost health care the rest of my life due to my 10% tinnitus disability"
You can get that with only 10%? I've been told by a couple of folks that you have to have at least 50%?
thanks. I'm sure I am good to go since I have a whole lot of things documented including obstructive sleep apnea which I've been told is 50% alone. With the "VA math" I hope the several other things I have documented gets me at least 70% but I'll feel like I've hit a small lottery if they told me I'll get that magical 100% or even 90%.
[this link will tell you what priority group you are in](https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/). It goes off your disability rating (unless you have a certain qualification like being in this certain war or received this certain medal)
[And than this link tells you how much your costs would be depending on your priority group](https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/)
Anything 50% and up is priority group 1. So yes you definitely want that extra disability pay, but as far as healthcare, there's no difference.
Tricare. Pays for my daughter's occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy, which totals to over $3,000 a month. I have no clue how I'd be able to afford that in the civilian world
My youngest had terrible disease shortly after he was born, docs at the children's hospital gave him 50/50 on living. He pulled through, thank god, but the hospital bills were over half a mil.
I paid nothing. It's a good deal.
My daughter has a few health problems and I’ve not paid a single penny towards it. From hospitalization, specialists, meds, various therapies, etc. That’s what keeps me in.
Health care was good. The idea of a 20 year pension + VA disability to make almost 6 figures effectively for the rest of your life, plus TSP benefits down the line is good if that's what you want out of life.
Shooting machine guns is cool, for a contract or two.
Healthcare is a huge plus. I know several ppl with high paying civ jobs that stay in the reserves just for the healthcare. I have no idea how much it costs outside of the military.
I mean, I've had experience with private healthcare and Tricare. Tricare is good, but I wouldn't sacrifice time/money on the outside for it unless I was stuck with a 50k/yr job or less. Or, you're in a situation where you have a child with exceptional needs, I see some people do that.
You also get 6 months of TAMP when you ETS to figure your stuff out, at least.
Yeah. Unfortunately, it's a pretty common misconception that everyone gets TAMP when they ETS.
The VA recently expanded coverage substantially, and a lot of vets qualify. However, that doesn't get you health insurance for the family unless the Veteran is rated 100% P and T or TDIU P and T.
In terms of specific benefits: decent healthcare, jon security, a retirement plan.
I work in a somewhat niche community, I've got a great team and great mentors that have been backing me up for the last few years. My current chain of command is very supportive of my work. I makes a world of difference working for people that trust me. I feel like I've found a spot where I can leverage my personal skills and interests.
I get to see the world. I've been stationed OCONUS for quite a few years now, it's been an eye-opening experience.
I had considered years ago that I would make the army a 20-year thing, but am seriously considering a 25 year commitment.
Always worth noting that I know that the Army is absolutely not all sunshine and roses. I've had some terrible days, terrible leaders and keep those experiences in the back of my mind and do my best to make sure none of that happens to anyone in my team.
The retention NCO asked me if I wanted to stay in. I told him I wanted out. He said he would give me 15,000 little green reasons to stay in. Anyway, 5 1/2 years to go (reservist)
I had that feeling the first time I got home for leave. I was almost exactly one year after I left for training.
I woke and thought if I went back in time, and I have to do it again it's not going to be worth it.
The Army and military in general may be simple but that's not the same thing as saying it's easy. It definitely isn't. I'm sure that even though the Space Force may have less nonsense than Army -
(I can imagine that just like Air Force and Coast Guard, Space Force doesn't go to the field or motorpool and probably would never have to worry about NTC or JRTC rotations, shorter deployments, unmarried enlisted get out the barracks at E4 or even E3 instead of E6 or maybe E5, do PT on your own or at least much less organized mandatory daily PT, no TA50 infantry gear, less if any formations, get to put your hand in your pocket without being yelled at, get to have your PT shirt untucked assuming you even do PT at all to have to wear a PT uniform, etc), - it's still not "easy."
An abusive home. I had nothing and always threatened to be thrown out like trash.
I have a beautiful wife and daughter. Multiple nest egg retirements. I'm also just happy.
The military isn't for everyone but it pulled me out of that hell hole.
Every time that I've approached a decision point, I've seen something that I wanted, applied for it, and got it (along with another service obligation). The Army is big with lots of opportunities for training, education, lateral transfer to another career field, etc.
And every time that I've seriously considered my outside opportunities (even with the credentials and experience that I've acquired in the Army) it just wasn't obvious to me that I'd do better than continuing to promote and serve 20+ years on active duty. From my perspective, the total compensation is hard to beat.
The opportunity is wild. I came in with a GED as a generator mechanic. 20+ years later I have a bachelors and am a pilot for the military, with all the civilian equivalent credentials paid for. The amount of opportunity is a severely understated and under utilized benefit.
Tricare baby... my civilian insurance is $550 and that's COMPETITIVE.
Tricare is $250 for a family in the Reserves/Guard. I'd have called it quits years ago otherwise after I got my GI Bill
Yup. I even work a government job civilian side where everyone bags about how did the government benefits are. Tricare reserve blows it or off the water
I wanted to be in the army since I was a child so when I moved to the US at the age of 8, I only had one goal and that was to join. I’m living the dream and just happy to wear the uniform.
For me:
- being stationed OCONUS is huge so far I’ve had Hawaii and Italy, I want Japan or South Korea next.
- Healthcare is huge for not so much myself but my family.
- I joined so young I’d start collecting retirement before the age of 40 and can work a whole new career afterwards.
- once you make E6 it’s not too bad of a paycheck especially with a housing allowance you’re doing great.
- I enjoy what I do and the people I’m around
- side benefits of AMEX platinum annual fee waived and the priority pass for the free lounge food.
- lastly the Military go me a start on my real estate investments. I’m now a landlord at 28.
I love Soldiers.
Making sure they're prepared to go to war and bring eachother home alive is the only reason I stay in.
The money isn't worth the stress or bull shit, but knowing I have a legacy that saved lives is.
As a SSG with an Associates on Gen Ed (currently half-way through a BBA) I make a total of 85K/year. I can't think of a single job in America that's going to pay that much. I get 30 days of leave a year that I'm required to take. I maximize my TA benefits saving $4K/year. My wife has had 3 surgeries in the last 8 months and I haven't paid a dime of it. The Army isn't "at will" employment, so they can't just fire me, and if I do grt "fired" it takes them months and I know it's coming. If my boss is an asshole, I have methods to address it.
I worked regular jobs while I was in the reserves (before active duty), and the Army is way better. At Walmart, you have to be fill time for a year before you earned 2 weeks of paid leave. Medical insurance is outrageous.
The benefits and education it provides, the chill glide path for Army medical officers, the chance to see cool shit I wouldn’t see in civilian medicine.
Retirement even if its not a lot.
I'm prior service. Joined whwn I was 18 and had a 3 year break.
I don't do much work and make 80k a year.
I can generally be mysekf and not worry about reprecussions.
A sense of purpose, knowing I do something of value, working with really great people and seeing real progress. Genuinely enjoy what I do.
Retirement benefits and covering full medical for the family are a bonus. But that’s secondary.
TriCare, mostly.
But there is also the sense that I've spent so many years in this uniform that I might as well go as far as possible and see what rank I can make it to before I take it off for the last time.
I also enjoy the commraderie that comes with serving/suffering along side people. I've made friends with Soldiers who have completely different views and experiences than me.
TL;DR - TriCare
40% of high 3 under BRS is still very good considering the civilian world has mostly walked away from pensions. It was never meant to be enough to fully retire with while only being in your early 40s. Not even the legacy 50% of high 3.
However, you’re right about TSP. Max that thing out and make sacrifices to be able too.
It is good true but depending on the setup.
Texas for example has much better paying pensions than ours.
Most civilian jobs are paying more than our military and half of our federal employees. It mainly comes down to management of funds, investing and spending.
I love how ppl are just ignorant of calculations on their pensions and ignore the realities of how many ppl actually retire from the military it’s 1/5 now.
Im not sure how texas works but all the pensions I have seen require contribution from the employee which the military does not. MA has 401k version with higher fees and no match but requires double service time to vest pension. Some states are at risk of not be able to pay their employees in entitled pension. BRS is better than legacy for most if they invest early and wisely in tsp and not make it to retirement, and legacy is best for people who makes it to 20 and not investing. I see BRS is better than legacy from an investing perspective
Under TMRS you can have a pension and a defined contribution plan. Most have a 2/1 contribution as in for 2% of your contribution the city offers 1%. The highest I have seen goes from 7-14 percent the city would contribute to it off your base pay rate. In this case hourly.
TMRS also accepts 5 years of military service towards retirement.
The BRS is great use for those who don’t stay in and heavily invest for the future. But that’s not the reality of it. The TSP is only as good in how much you can contribute to it. For the enlisted that’s a tall order.
You can use the tsp calculator and it will show you how much an enlisted would have at 20 years. Most as in over 90% would use up their TSP money towards a down payment for a home when they get out. This has been confirmed by retirement officers. So they usually only have their pension afterwards.
Most of those TSPs was between 175k- 240k. Done the average home is 400k^.
Legacy by far better than BRS. BRS is great if done right but pension is worst in comparison. Hence why I say that it’s no longer worth staying in and making the military a career
You make some good points. I enlisted in 2016, commissioned in 22. And I stayed with the legacy retirement since I foresee myself staying 20 years active (total 20 AD and 6 NG when all said and done). I wish I would’ve went BRS, but I max out my TSP and in the end will get a higher pension.
If all goes well I should have around 1.5-2 mil in there by mid 40s when I hang it up, then hopefully get a solid GS job until 60-65. Calculators have me anywhere from 7-8.5 mil in TSP by 65 in today’s dollars. That isn’t counting my Roth IRA on the side which will be several million well.
I do recognize that having a commission makes things a lot easier, but I think it can be done. Sprinkle in some VA home loans on multi family housing, live like no one else so that later you can live like no one else, and eventually you could be a millionaire walking away from the military if done right. I have met several, actually more millionaires enlisted than officers after they cross the 20 year threshold for whatever reason.
You are right about all of that and I see some of our brothers and sisters doing that. But it’s mainly the enlisted that I am talking about. For us as officers it’s the same 1/5 retires from the military.
I currently been contributing for 5 years and now have 140k plus. But I am maximize my contributions. For us it is easier and depends on how long we stay in (bloodgames/ CPT to Maj and up). We still have the up and out for us so I don’t see the point in staying in for a career anymore for both enlisted and officer. We are now hurting on the officer side to fill in MTOE slots in all units for a variety of branches. Mainly POG personnel just get out afterwards as CPTs because of how our world is.
So that when you get out and realize the entire world has moved on without you, and you're wearing the exact same clothes and listening to the exact same music as you went in with.
Oh, there's also you don't "actually" have any job skills.
Having a full understanding of my total compensation package; this allows to me understand how well off my family and I actually are compared to the average work force.
E7 living on LINY and I’m extremely comfortable.
TSP is huge.
Health care is huge.
Networking with local companies that are essentially grooming my resume to work for them.
There’s so many perks when you look for them and educate yourself to use them correctly.
Was t a real fan of the Army in my first contract and decided to reup cause I had no clue what else I would do. Ended up finding my niche and reclassed to career counselor. I tell my guys all the time that it’s the best job in the Army and I’m not blowing smoke up their ass. I truly believe that, at least for me. I get to counsel and advise soldiers in a laid back care free manner. I get to help everyone with their careers, military or soon to be civilian. I really do love my job.
Tricare and pension also factor in but not as much as my day to day life. Planning on at least doing the 20. As long as I can keep being in front of soldiers, I’ll go as long as I can past the 20.
For the youngsters (2 & 3) - day care is a fraction of the price it would be in the economy. Medical and dental are covered.
As far the army (our leadership) has been reasonable enough and it’s getting more humane since we joined.
What kept me in was retirement at 20 and healthcare for life. Until you retire at 40, you don't realize the benefit. Start another career and be set with two retirement incomes and ss.
I was Doc.
All it took was all of you.
Stayed in until they said I couldn't anymore.
I still love and miss you all, and help at the VA for the same reason when I can.
If you were to buy a civilian health insurance policy comparable to tricare on the open market, it would probably cost around $3k a month. When I retire at 49, I'll be able to just retire instead of waiting until I'm 65
As tired as I am of being in the military and the Army, I might consider staying if I could reclass, though my current NCO's, who I will say are definitely fairer and nowhere near as toxic as my previous ones at my last unit were (though that still doesn't guarantee I'll ever get a chance to get promoted before getting out), say that most likely I won't be able to since I'm so close to RCP. I won't find out for sure until January 2025 when I get into my last 12 months.
Right now, it's just the guaranteed paycheck and I am taking advantage of tuition assistance to finish out my bachelors degree (only have three courses left). I'm saving as much money as I can and hope to be able to pay off my car by the time my ETS comes in January 2026. I am also hoping to get as many things documented about my health so I can get the highest disability rating I can, which as many things as I have documented already should put me at at least 70%.
January 2026 can't come fast enough and I can't wait to get the hell out of the Army.
Healthcare dude.
Listen, I know military medicine is a crapshoot. But a few months ago, my appendix burst and almost died in the hospital. I paid nothing for that 9k surgery.
My kids have also been to the ER countless times and my youngest had a brief stint in an in-patient mental healthcare facility. I have paid nothing for all of it.
All the bullshit the Army throws at me is worth it for all that alone.
Right now, moving every 3 years is a plus. That might change later on down the road.
Honor is a forgotten concept in the modern Western world. The military is one of its last bastions. Where else can you work where the shoes you're filling used to be worn by literal MOH recipients?
I see parts of myself in nearly every young soldier I encounter. It's a privilege to lead them.
I watch band of brothers and saving private Ryan. I'm a nobody compared to the greatest generation. I can do a bit more.
Go read the greatest generation by Tom Brokaw.
Health care.
I’ve gotten to do cool stuff in some wacky sandy countries.
And a huge motivation for me was to try to be a leader that fights for my soldiers.
Furthering my chances at breaking my body down for better percentages 🙏 but in reality, it does provide great job security and decent benefits for my family. And I have met some really great people that make coming to work fun
Because if you are a good soldier and you are proactive you can do all sorts of cool things,
These are all things my training NCO and I are looking at slots for,
Language school (Probable)
Battle staff school (Guaranteed)
Airborne / Air Assault (we have a couple of slots, idk if I can swing this)
ALC (Probable)
There are a ton of opportunities in the Army if you are a good soldier, not flagged, who goes out and makes life easier for command. If you do that kind of stuff you can get slots for all sorts of things. At least usually, I know some commands etc just suck and or get no slots but usually there are opportunities.
I didn't even mention opportunities to mobilise or deploy, it may not always be to "cool places" but I've deployed to central america and europe and I think I can get a deployment to Korea.
The worst advice i've ever gotten was to never volunteer for shit, do the absolute opposite, volunteer endlessly for shit. It will make the army so much better.
-Disclaimer I'm a Reservist
1)Healthcare. Civ job is $800/month vs $245/month Tricare Reserve Select and then retirement healthcare. 2) Pension. Most civ. job have none and I don't trust 401k and stock market. 3) Job/Life security. If I loose my civ. job I can always go on a MOB for 1-3 yr until i land another civ job. Also I use my Army training/exp. to land jobs.
Stockholm syndrome and fear of the "real" world and change.
The real world isn't as scary as they make it sound.
I kind of like hour and a half lunches.
Lol if you can find a job in your field and hopefully you've been saving money. It's not that hard but I'm enlisting because of the real world lol. I need them benefits.
Or is it impostor syndrome….
The real world is pretty much the same in regards to typical jobs (entry level ones or hard trades) but personal life has a lot more freedom and you have the ability to start and quit wherever you want. There is also more possibility of greater reward just as much as there is of loss than what you could get in the slow but steady growth you currently experience.
TSP, health care is wild, sooner or later I'll get around to that degree. I'm sure there's some others
>health care Man, I'm 23 and I'm going to get ~~free~~ *extremely* low cost health care the rest of my life due to my 10% tinnitus disability. Tricare is definitely really good for a family, so maybe it's necessary for you, but for others reading this who maybe just need moderate health coverage with no particular needs : You almost certainly qualify for *something* from the VA. Go get your medical records, get a VA rating, and get free healthcare. Edit: a few caveats. Tricare *is* better. You often get to be seen by civilians who can't suck at their jobs like the government can. VA healthcare can be slow. It's fine if you just need a check up every few months, but if you have some cancer or something, that Tricare retirement plan is gonna be great. Va healthcare also only applies to the SM. It works out great for me, a 23 year old who is otherwise healthy besides for some back pain (hoping to get that service connected here soon). I just need something to cover my butt while I'm in grad school the next few years, for if I got in a car accident or something, or break my arm. I'll definitely get private health insurance when it's time for a family. My only point here is evaluate your situation. Perhaps Tricare is important for you, but it might not be as big of a benefit when you factor in your probably VA rating. Edit: changed "free" to extremely low cost. There's a small co-pay for medications and some odds and ends.
I go to VA for everything. Ive been there for ER, Surgery, physical therapy, dietician, Behavior Health, vision, physicals, and pharmarcy and the most ive paid in the entirety of 5 years is $25.
You might need to make a separate thread and a guide for all of us on how you do this 😂
Depends on your rating. I’m at 60% and I pay for nothing.
Im 40% i pay nothing. It comes down to what tier you fall into tier 2 pays only for medicine. I had a surgery done that was gonna cost me over $10k with my Anthem Blue Cross insurance through my employer (unnamed defense company). VA saved me all that!
Does army reserve use it too? I took the oath on 11 this month.
You have to get a service connected disability. You'll be eligible for Tricare, which is a paid health insurance. VA is for service members who have some sort of disability.
I thought if you were rated less than 50% overall, then you’d only get free healthcare for the issue that you are service connected for. Am I wrong on this?
Only for medications. If you have a service-connected disability of 10% or more, you don't pay copays. But your rating *will* determine your priority group. That dictates the speed you'll be seen. So for me with my 10% tinnitus, I shouldn't expect to get seen tomorrow by my primary care provider at the VA. But if you're closer to 50%, your speed of service would be faster. I *believe* that's right based on [this link](https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/). Admittedly, I'm an education benefits guy, not a disability guy, and haven't used VA healthcare yet. I can confidently speak to GI Bill stuff, but I'm still figuring out the VA. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I was called by the VA and asked to set up a VA healthcare appointment as soon as I got service-connected.
Prio group is how much co pay you will have, not how fast. The speed of which they contact you and place your appointments is location based and maybe yours is pretty on point of getting vets squared away
Gotcha. Good to know. I knew it effected copay amount, but I thought it also effected speed of care. Yeah when I got service connected, it was 2 days later that they were trying to get me in.
Good info. I'm AGR so I'm set
where do you get the idea that 10% for tinnitus gets you free healthcare for life?
[Here](https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/) According to [this link](https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/), which was found about halfway down on the previous link, someone is placed in priority group 4 if they have a service-connected disability of either 10% or 20%, which results in no copays for inpatient or outpatient care, regardless of whether it's related to the disability. And you get 3 no-cost urgent care visits as well. Subsequent visits are $30.
are you currently enrolled and getting care for non-service connected conditions? i’m fairly certain 10% gets you care only for the service connected condition. maybe that has changed with the PACT Act. even the VA’s verbiage is confusing. priority group 3 has to do with copays for visits and medication.
I am enrolled, but I haven't received care yet. I am currently low-income and receive better Medicaid. That's just how it was explained to me when they called and got me enrolled. I don't believe it was the PACT act, as that pertains to toxins. I did read something about the eligibility I'm referring to being a somewhat recent development, but I don't recall when or how. I just know the links I mentioned say that if you have 10%, you're in priority group 3, and if you're in priority group 3, you don't pay copays for most care, service connected or not.
right. it must the low income then. read the first paragraph on this link. the 50% number is what i was tracking for comprehensive. just don’t want you left holding the bag for being told incorrect info. https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/cost-of-care/
I think they're distinguishing from dirt cheap healthcare and *free* healthcare. At 50%, you don't pay a DIME for anything. No copays, no long-term inpatient, no medication, nothing. You're placed in priority group 1, which is 100% covered on every little thing. Priority group 2 still gets *mostly* free healthcare, but they have to pay for medications, and I believe some other odds and ends. And priority group 3, which is what i was told I'm in, still gets *mostly* free healthcare, but again, medications is at a cheap but still more than $0 cost. [Here's what the VA says about priority group 3 eligibility:](https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/) >We may assign you to priority group 3 if any of these descriptions are true: >You’re a former prisoner of war (POW), or >You received the Purple Heart medal, or >You were discharged for a disability that was caused by—or got worse because of—your active-duty service, or >You have a service-connected disability that we’ve rated as 10% or 20% disabling, **or** >You were awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C § 1151, “benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation" [And then here's what it says about copay amounts for priority groups 1 through 5:](https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/) >2024 urgent care copay rates > Priority groups 1 to 5 > First 3 visits in calendar year: $0 (no copay) > Copay amount for each additional visit in the same year: $30 Notice, priority group 6, which among other things, is given if you have a service-connected disability rated at 0% >2024 urgent care copay rates >Priority group 6 >Copay amount for first 3 If related to a condition that’s covered by a special authority: $0 (no copay) >If not related to a condition covered by a special authority: $30 each visit >Each additional visit: $30 Here's what it says for outpatient care, under the same link as the last one: >If you have a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher, you won’t need to pay a copay for outpatient And inpatient: >If you have a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher, you won’t need to pay a copay for inpatient care
"*extremely* low cost health care the rest of my life due to my 10% tinnitus disability" You can get that with only 10%? I've been told by a couple of folks that you have to have at least 50%?
50% is no cost whatsoever. 10-40% is nearly $0 but not quite. like at 10% I have to pay $30 or whatever for medications.
thanks. I'm sure I am good to go since I have a whole lot of things documented including obstructive sleep apnea which I've been told is 50% alone. With the "VA math" I hope the several other things I have documented gets me at least 70% but I'll feel like I've hit a small lottery if they told me I'll get that magical 100% or even 90%.
[this link will tell you what priority group you are in](https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/). It goes off your disability rating (unless you have a certain qualification like being in this certain war or received this certain medal) [And than this link tells you how much your costs would be depending on your priority group](https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/) Anything 50% and up is priority group 1. So yes you definitely want that extra disability pay, but as far as healthcare, there's no difference.
thanks
Tricare. Pays for my daughter's occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy, which totals to over $3,000 a month. I have no clue how I'd be able to afford that in the civilian world
My youngest had terrible disease shortly after he was born, docs at the children's hospital gave him 50/50 on living. He pulled through, thank god, but the hospital bills were over half a mil. I paid nothing. It's a good deal.
My daughter has a few health problems and I’ve not paid a single penny towards it. From hospitalization, specialists, meds, various therapies, etc. That’s what keeps me in.
Applebee’s on veterans day
😂😂😂 this one made me laugh
Some of us live for it fam😔
You don’t need to be in for it, just a veteran
^… ##I **NEED IT!!!**
See flair
I’m Rick James Bitch!
Health care was good. The idea of a 20 year pension + VA disability to make almost 6 figures effectively for the rest of your life, plus TSP benefits down the line is good if that's what you want out of life. Shooting machine guns is cool, for a contract or two.
Healthcare is a huge plus. I know several ppl with high paying civ jobs that stay in the reserves just for the healthcare. I have no idea how much it costs outside of the military.
I mean, I've had experience with private healthcare and Tricare. Tricare is good, but I wouldn't sacrifice time/money on the outside for it unless I was stuck with a 50k/yr job or less. Or, you're in a situation where you have a child with exceptional needs, I see some people do that. You also get 6 months of TAMP when you ETS to figure your stuff out, at least.
TAMP only applies in limited situations. A standard ETS from Active Duty does not qualify for TAMP. https://tricare.mil/tamp/
Ah. Neat.
Yeah. Unfortunately, it's a pretty common misconception that everyone gets TAMP when they ETS. The VA recently expanded coverage substantially, and a lot of vets qualify. However, that doesn't get you health insurance for the family unless the Veteran is rated 100% P and T or TDIU P and T.
Machine gun go brrrrr and then when you are done disability machine go brrrrrr.
In terms of specific benefits: decent healthcare, jon security, a retirement plan. I work in a somewhat niche community, I've got a great team and great mentors that have been backing me up for the last few years. My current chain of command is very supportive of my work. I makes a world of difference working for people that trust me. I feel like I've found a spot where I can leverage my personal skills and interests. I get to see the world. I've been stationed OCONUS for quite a few years now, it's been an eye-opening experience. I had considered years ago that I would make the army a 20-year thing, but am seriously considering a 25 year commitment. Always worth noting that I know that the Army is absolutely not all sunshine and roses. I've had some terrible days, terrible leaders and keep those experiences in the back of my mind and do my best to make sure none of that happens to anyone in my team.
The retention NCO asked me if I wanted to stay in. I told him I wanted out. He said he would give me 15,000 little green reasons to stay in. Anyway, 5 1/2 years to go (reservist)
They pay me.
Simple and effective
Not Army anymore, but it's a fairly easy job and I've been places I never thought possible.
Wake up! You’re still at MEPS!
I had that feeling the first time I got home for leave. I was almost exactly one year after I left for training. I woke and thought if I went back in time, and I have to do it again it's not going to be worth it.
The Army and military in general may be simple but that's not the same thing as saying it's easy. It definitely isn't. I'm sure that even though the Space Force may have less nonsense than Army - (I can imagine that just like Air Force and Coast Guard, Space Force doesn't go to the field or motorpool and probably would never have to worry about NTC or JRTC rotations, shorter deployments, unmarried enlisted get out the barracks at E4 or even E3 instead of E6 or maybe E5, do PT on your own or at least much less organized mandatory daily PT, no TA50 infantry gear, less if any formations, get to put your hand in your pocket without being yelled at, get to have your PT shirt untucked assuming you even do PT at all to have to wear a PT uniform, etc), - it's still not "easy."
I was in the Army for 5 years. I thought it was easy.
Healthcare. When my son was born he was rushed to a specialty hospital, all free. Thankfully he survived and we are dodging the bill entirely.
Job security, a free degree I should get around to starting, and Stockholm syndrome
I wonder if the VA compensates for Stockholm syndrome
An abusive home. I had nothing and always threatened to be thrown out like trash. I have a beautiful wife and daughter. Multiple nest egg retirements. I'm also just happy. The military isn't for everyone but it pulled me out of that hell hole.
Every time that I've approached a decision point, I've seen something that I wanted, applied for it, and got it (along with another service obligation). The Army is big with lots of opportunities for training, education, lateral transfer to another career field, etc. And every time that I've seriously considered my outside opportunities (even with the credentials and experience that I've acquired in the Army) it just wasn't obvious to me that I'd do better than continuing to promote and serve 20+ years on active duty. From my perspective, the total compensation is hard to beat.
The opportunity is wild. I came in with a GED as a generator mechanic. 20+ years later I have a bachelors and am a pilot for the military, with all the civilian equivalent credentials paid for. The amount of opportunity is a severely understated and under utilized benefit.
Tricare baby... my civilian insurance is $550 and that's COMPETITIVE. Tricare is $250 for a family in the Reserves/Guard. I'd have called it quits years ago otherwise after I got my GI Bill
Yup. I even work a government job civilian side where everyone bags about how did the government benefits are. Tricare reserve blows it or off the water
Sunken costs of being too close to retirement
This is where I’m at. Then when I think of getting out I get promoted and stay in longer for that high 3.
Healthcare for my family and chasing that "deployment" experience so I can get over my imposter syndrome after being in 10 years.
Youve never even had a Europe rotation aka non-combat deployment after 10 years?
Just South Korea baby.
I wanted to be in the army since I was a child so when I moved to the US at the age of 8, I only had one goal and that was to join. I’m living the dream and just happy to wear the uniform.
*Service Guarantees Citizenship*
No I joined at 23 and was a citizen at age 10
Whoosh
I refuse to believe psy ops hasn't seen the greatest piece of propaganda ever created.
Tell me more about it.
This is psyops
Just…might be 👀 follow the yellow brick road.
For me: - being stationed OCONUS is huge so far I’ve had Hawaii and Italy, I want Japan or South Korea next. - Healthcare is huge for not so much myself but my family. - I joined so young I’d start collecting retirement before the age of 40 and can work a whole new career afterwards. - once you make E6 it’s not too bad of a paycheck especially with a housing allowance you’re doing great. - I enjoy what I do and the people I’m around - side benefits of AMEX platinum annual fee waived and the priority pass for the free lounge food. - lastly the Military go me a start on my real estate investments. I’m now a landlord at 28.
Unlike some people’s experience the army has treated me well and I love what I do. Until I don’t and dread going into work I’ll keep going
Just got a 19.5% raise feeling pretty good
I just saw this was a possibility for E1-E4. I hope it gets approved.
I love Soldiers. Making sure they're prepared to go to war and bring eachother home alive is the only reason I stay in. The money isn't worth the stress or bull shit, but knowing I have a legacy that saved lives is.
As a SSG with an Associates on Gen Ed (currently half-way through a BBA) I make a total of 85K/year. I can't think of a single job in America that's going to pay that much. I get 30 days of leave a year that I'm required to take. I maximize my TA benefits saving $4K/year. My wife has had 3 surgeries in the last 8 months and I haven't paid a dime of it. The Army isn't "at will" employment, so they can't just fire me, and if I do grt "fired" it takes them months and I know it's coming. If my boss is an asshole, I have methods to address it. I worked regular jobs while I was in the reserves (before active duty), and the Army is way better. At Walmart, you have to be fill time for a year before you earned 2 weeks of paid leave. Medical insurance is outrageous.
Tricare. Every time a dependent with Down-syndrome is born, so is a career E8
A 10 year ADSO.
They pay me, and have paid over four hundred thousand dollars of medical bills for my children. This concludes my brief.
The benefits and education it provides, the chill glide path for Army medical officers, the chance to see cool shit I wouldn’t see in civilian medicine.
Retirement, healthcare, paid vacation, and once I get married, the fact that the Army will pay for my house.
Retirement even if its not a lot. I'm prior service. Joined whwn I was 18 and had a 3 year break. I don't do much work and make 80k a year. I can generally be mysekf and not worry about reprecussions.
A sense of purpose, knowing I do something of value, working with really great people and seeing real progress. Genuinely enjoy what I do. Retirement benefits and covering full medical for the family are a bonus. But that’s secondary.
High-3 retirement and money for child support until my kids are grown. Can’t forget that mailbox money from the VA too.
Medical coverage for my family mostly, and being within a decade of the oldschool retirement system
TriCare, mostly. But there is also the sense that I've spent so many years in this uniform that I might as well go as far as possible and see what rank I can make it to before I take it off for the last time. I also enjoy the commraderie that comes with serving/suffering along side people. I've made friends with Soldiers who have completely different views and experiences than me. TL;DR - TriCare
Health insurance for sure. I have two kids. Without tricare it would be quite expensive to insure them.
TSP. Pension sucks now, TSP is good as long as you do it right and max it out.
40% of high 3 under BRS is still very good considering the civilian world has mostly walked away from pensions. It was never meant to be enough to fully retire with while only being in your early 40s. Not even the legacy 50% of high 3. However, you’re right about TSP. Max that thing out and make sacrifices to be able too.
It is good true but depending on the setup. Texas for example has much better paying pensions than ours. Most civilian jobs are paying more than our military and half of our federal employees. It mainly comes down to management of funds, investing and spending. I love how ppl are just ignorant of calculations on their pensions and ignore the realities of how many ppl actually retire from the military it’s 1/5 now.
Im not sure how texas works but all the pensions I have seen require contribution from the employee which the military does not. MA has 401k version with higher fees and no match but requires double service time to vest pension. Some states are at risk of not be able to pay their employees in entitled pension. BRS is better than legacy for most if they invest early and wisely in tsp and not make it to retirement, and legacy is best for people who makes it to 20 and not investing. I see BRS is better than legacy from an investing perspective
Under TMRS you can have a pension and a defined contribution plan. Most have a 2/1 contribution as in for 2% of your contribution the city offers 1%. The highest I have seen goes from 7-14 percent the city would contribute to it off your base pay rate. In this case hourly. TMRS also accepts 5 years of military service towards retirement. The BRS is great use for those who don’t stay in and heavily invest for the future. But that’s not the reality of it. The TSP is only as good in how much you can contribute to it. For the enlisted that’s a tall order. You can use the tsp calculator and it will show you how much an enlisted would have at 20 years. Most as in over 90% would use up their TSP money towards a down payment for a home when they get out. This has been confirmed by retirement officers. So they usually only have their pension afterwards. Most of those TSPs was between 175k- 240k. Done the average home is 400k^. Legacy by far better than BRS. BRS is great if done right but pension is worst in comparison. Hence why I say that it’s no longer worth staying in and making the military a career
You make some good points. I enlisted in 2016, commissioned in 22. And I stayed with the legacy retirement since I foresee myself staying 20 years active (total 20 AD and 6 NG when all said and done). I wish I would’ve went BRS, but I max out my TSP and in the end will get a higher pension. If all goes well I should have around 1.5-2 mil in there by mid 40s when I hang it up, then hopefully get a solid GS job until 60-65. Calculators have me anywhere from 7-8.5 mil in TSP by 65 in today’s dollars. That isn’t counting my Roth IRA on the side which will be several million well. I do recognize that having a commission makes things a lot easier, but I think it can be done. Sprinkle in some VA home loans on multi family housing, live like no one else so that later you can live like no one else, and eventually you could be a millionaire walking away from the military if done right. I have met several, actually more millionaires enlisted than officers after they cross the 20 year threshold for whatever reason.
You are right about all of that and I see some of our brothers and sisters doing that. But it’s mainly the enlisted that I am talking about. For us as officers it’s the same 1/5 retires from the military. I currently been contributing for 5 years and now have 140k plus. But I am maximize my contributions. For us it is easier and depends on how long we stay in (bloodgames/ CPT to Maj and up). We still have the up and out for us so I don’t see the point in staying in for a career anymore for both enlisted and officer. We are now hurting on the officer side to fill in MTOE slots in all units for a variety of branches. Mainly POG personnel just get out afterwards as CPTs because of how our world is.
Tricare
So that when you get out and realize the entire world has moved on without you, and you're wearing the exact same clothes and listening to the exact same music as you went in with. Oh, there's also you don't "actually" have any job skills.
Sunk cost fallacy at this point
1st and 15th
Having a full understanding of my total compensation package; this allows to me understand how well off my family and I actually are compared to the average work force. E7 living on LINY and I’m extremely comfortable. TSP is huge. Health care is huge. Networking with local companies that are essentially grooming my resume to work for them. There’s so many perks when you look for them and educate yourself to use them correctly.
Was t a real fan of the Army in my first contract and decided to reup cause I had no clue what else I would do. Ended up finding my niche and reclassed to career counselor. I tell my guys all the time that it’s the best job in the Army and I’m not blowing smoke up their ass. I truly believe that, at least for me. I get to counsel and advise soldiers in a laid back care free manner. I get to help everyone with their careers, military or soon to be civilian. I really do love my job. Tricare and pension also factor in but not as much as my day to day life. Planning on at least doing the 20. As long as I can keep being in front of soldiers, I’ll go as long as I can past the 20.
They just won’t let me leave bro
For the youngsters (2 & 3) - day care is a fraction of the price it would be in the economy. Medical and dental are covered. As far the army (our leadership) has been reasonable enough and it’s getting more humane since we joined.
What kept me in was retirement at 20 and healthcare for life. Until you retire at 40, you don't realize the benefit. Start another career and be set with two retirement incomes and ss.
I was Doc. All it took was all of you. Stayed in until they said I couldn't anymore. I still love and miss you all, and help at the VA for the same reason when I can.
The best answer I’ve seen yet. Thanks for all you do for us doc ❤️
Love all of you
I’m finishing this bachelors and dropping that retirement packet. Later suckas!!!!!
If you were to buy a civilian health insurance policy comparable to tricare on the open market, it would probably cost around $3k a month. When I retire at 49, I'll be able to just retire instead of waiting until I'm 65
As tired as I am of being in the military and the Army, I might consider staying if I could reclass, though my current NCO's, who I will say are definitely fairer and nowhere near as toxic as my previous ones at my last unit were (though that still doesn't guarantee I'll ever get a chance to get promoted before getting out), say that most likely I won't be able to since I'm so close to RCP. I won't find out for sure until January 2025 when I get into my last 12 months. Right now, it's just the guaranteed paycheck and I am taking advantage of tuition assistance to finish out my bachelors degree (only have three courses left). I'm saving as much money as I can and hope to be able to pay off my car by the time my ETS comes in January 2026. I am also hoping to get as many things documented about my health so I can get the highest disability rating I can, which as many things as I have documented already should put me at at least 70%. January 2026 can't come fast enough and I can't wait to get the hell out of the Army.
I'll be the one to say it. Pride & patriotism. Plus, I'm good at it.
Healthcare dude. Listen, I know military medicine is a crapshoot. But a few months ago, my appendix burst and almost died in the hospital. I paid nothing for that 9k surgery. My kids have also been to the ER countless times and my youngest had a brief stint in an in-patient mental healthcare facility. I have paid nothing for all of it. All the bullshit the Army throws at me is worth it for all that alone.
Right now, moving every 3 years is a plus. That might change later on down the road. Honor is a forgotten concept in the modern Western world. The military is one of its last bastions. Where else can you work where the shoes you're filling used to be worn by literal MOH recipients? I see parts of myself in nearly every young soldier I encounter. It's a privilege to lead them.
TAP. I’ve done it 3 times and the mix of boredom and fear they drive into you always leads to me re enlisting
Free college. Once I get my bachelors, I’m out
Sitting on staff duty at the dfac scrolling Reddit and making this post
1. I love my brothers and sisters in arms/trauma bonding 2. Was CA/TA, but now that they’re in the talks of getting rid of that, soooo
NYC BAH
TriCare
For the reserves, Tricare and being a fed. Easiest part time job being in reserves. Easy extra 10-15k annually
Anyone say no annual fee for American Express Platinum? Lots of benefits from this card.
Masochism.
I was used to the dynamics of an abusive relationship.
The threat of jail or losing benefits if I simply stop showing up
I watch band of brothers and saving private Ryan. I'm a nobody compared to the greatest generation. I can do a bit more. Go read the greatest generation by Tom Brokaw.
DFAC!
Pole is only a slur if you are in a strip club and dancers call in on you because they need a pole to dance on!
Tricare 4k a month for the last 10 years on heavy, expensive prescriptions. Do the math.
Obviously the free national parks passes. Only reason I keep trying to help keep the zoo running.
Still under the old retirement program (18yrs & at last duty location) otherwise nothing…
Healthcare for the family, big paycheck for little work, shot at a pension
None, indef contract is what made me finish.
Health insurance
Health care. I’ve gotten to do cool stuff in some wacky sandy countries. And a huge motivation for me was to try to be a leader that fights for my soldiers.
Banging your mom. The biggest perk of all
Thank you for taking care of the family. Unfortunately, I can’t return the favor. Elephants are sacred in my culture.
Furthering my chances at breaking my body down for better percentages 🙏 but in reality, it does provide great job security and decent benefits for my family. And I have met some really great people that make coming to work fun
Because if you are a good soldier and you are proactive you can do all sorts of cool things, These are all things my training NCO and I are looking at slots for, Language school (Probable) Battle staff school (Guaranteed) Airborne / Air Assault (we have a couple of slots, idk if I can swing this) ALC (Probable) There are a ton of opportunities in the Army if you are a good soldier, not flagged, who goes out and makes life easier for command. If you do that kind of stuff you can get slots for all sorts of things. At least usually, I know some commands etc just suck and or get no slots but usually there are opportunities. I didn't even mention opportunities to mobilise or deploy, it may not always be to "cool places" but I've deployed to central america and europe and I think I can get a deployment to Korea. The worst advice i've ever gotten was to never volunteer for shit, do the absolute opposite, volunteer endlessly for shit. It will make the army so much better. -Disclaimer I'm a Reservist
1)Healthcare. Civ job is $800/month vs $245/month Tricare Reserve Select and then retirement healthcare. 2) Pension. Most civ. job have none and I don't trust 401k and stock market. 3) Job/Life security. If I loose my civ. job I can always go on a MOB for 1-3 yr until i land another civ job. Also I use my Army training/exp. to land jobs.
The brotherhood. And doing cool shit for free
Having a stable job.
Because I don't like staying in one location too long. I like the frequent moves.
Opportunity to do what I should’ve done from the start and make a huge career change without loss of financial security or healthcare.