You are very welcome and thank you for your service as well. I think it just adds to the misinformation when we use the word “free” when referring to any military compensation or allowance. Everything we get in the military comes with a price that cannot always be measure using dollars and cents. Another update on the “out of pocket expenses.” There is a new program for Soldiers who live in privatized housing where they are given an allowance for their utilities every month and that allowance goes to the housing company. If they go over the allowed amount they have to pay out of pocket for the overage. Keep up the good work. its nice to see someone taking the time to dispel the rumors and set the record straight regarding the men and women, the true 1% …who serve in uniform. Thanks

Tony

I am shocked and appalled. Why is it that so many Americans place so little value on the service and sacrifice that members of our Armed Forces have given this country. Many of these retirees have two homes because they were forced to move as many as 10-20 times throughout their careers and they could not sell their homes so they had no choice but to rent them out or live on beans and rice for years to pay two mortgages. Most of them have two cars because both parents had to work to support their families during extended training, deployments and separations to fulfill their duties. Housing is not free, they give up part of their pay that is equal to comparable rent in the area, for the opportunity to live on base because it is safer and more convenient. We are the true 1% who are selflessly serving our country right now. What have you done for your country that is not self serving in some way? And just how would you propose to use these funds in any way that is more beneficial that defending your freedom, constitutional rights and way of life? You have no idea of the magnitude of sacrifice, hardship and danger that our men and women face on a daily basis. So before you judge us as undeserving of such “lavish” benefits, I suggest that you spend a day walking in our shoes before you pass judgement on something that you have no capacity to understand.

I wasn’t aware of the changes to military couples living on base. That is a nice change!

Great reply. I have spent almost 22 years in the Army as an enlisted Soldier and I can recall only two or three military families who were on food stamps throughout my whole career. All of those families were very junior Soldiers who had unusually large families at a young age. One correction though. Base Housing has never been free because it costs members the value of their housing allowance for a given area. Members who live on post forfeit their basic housing allowance (privatized or not). In fact years ago dual military couples took a double pay cut as both members had to forfeit their housing allowance (BAQ). Now only the senior member loses the allowance when they live in government quarters.

The examples in this article prove it is possible to retire from the military without having to work again, as long as you are properly prepared to do so. This includes strong financial management such as getting out of debt, investing in IRAs and/or the Thrift Savings Plan, and living within your means.

I know several people who were able to retire from the military and never have to work again, but the vast majority of the people I know have not been able to do so – either because they had debt when they retired, or they didn’t have enough money saved to be able to live off their pension.

There is no right or wrong way to retire from the military – many people choose to work out of desire or necessity, and some retirees miss the responsibility of working. The blessing, however, is having the ability to make the decision without having the decision made for you.