Know what your income, healthcare, and benefits look like after you take off the uniform.
Separation changes more than your paycheck. BAH, BAS, TRICARE, tax advantages, and TSP contributions all shift on day one. Use free tools to see exactly where you stand — before you sign out.
Check My Transition Readiness →Example: E-6 · 10 years · Fort Campbell · with dependents · separating
Active duty value
$7,336/mo
Civilian salary to match
$98,600/yr
Hidden gap
$10,600/yr
in tax-advantaged allowances + healthcare
Military-to-civilian financial transition requires replacing the full value of military compensation — not just base pay — in a civilian job offer. For an E-6 with a family, BAH, BAS, TRICARE, and tax advantages typically represent $30,000–$50,000 per year in value that disappears at separation, with healthcare replacement alone running $600–$2,000/month in premiums for comparable civilian family coverage. Use the tools on this page to understand the gap before accepting any offer.
Three financial shocks most service members don't see coming.
Base pay has a civilian equivalent. These don't.
Income and taxes change fast
Your civilian salary may need to replace more than base pay. BAH, BAS, tax advantages, and TSP contributions can all change after separation.
Calculate civilian equivalent pay
Healthcare becomes a real bill
Compare employer coverage, VA healthcare, marketplace plans, TAMP, and CHCBP before your final out.
Compare healthcare costs
Some windows are easy to miss
BDD claims, SGLI/VGLI, TAMP, final move benefits, records, and DD-214 corrections all have timing rules.
View transition timelineWhat Changes After Separation
Most service members underestimate how much of their compensation is invisible — BAH, BAS, TRICARE, and tax advantages that never show up on their LES. Here's what changes on day one.
Active Duty
Base pay (taxable)
After Separation
Civilian salary — or GI Bill MHA if using education benefits post-separation
Active Duty
BAH and BAS (excluded from federal taxable income)
After Separation
Housing and food allowances end at separation — must be covered by civilian income
Active Duty
TRICARE Prime — $0 premiums for member and family
After Separation
Employer plan, VA healthcare (if eligible), marketplace plan, CHCBP, or TAMP (180 days if eligible)
Active Duty
SGLI — $500K coverage for ~$26/month
After Separation
SGLI ends 120 days after separation. VGLI can be requested up to 1 year and 120 days after separation, with no health questions required during the first 240 days.
Active Duty
TSP with automatic payroll contributions
After Separation
Leave TSP in place, roll to a civilian IRA, or start employer 401(k) — TSP stays invested either way
Active Duty
Tax-free BAH/BAS, combat zone exclusion, housing allowance exclusion
After Separation
Standard civilian tax rules — your effective tax rate often increases at separation
Active Duty
PCS entitlements for duty-station moves
After Separation
Most separating members have 180 days to complete their final move; most retirees have 3 years. Check your orders and branch transportation office for your specific deadline.
Active Duty
Commissary and exchange access, recreational facilities
After Separation
Access rules vary by retiree status, disability rating, caregiver status, and current DoD/VA policy
Choose your transition path
Select the path that fits your plan. Each links to the most relevant tools.
Going to Civilian Employment
Compare your military compensation to what you'll need on the civilian side. Get a readiness verdict with action steps.
Using GI Bill / Education Benefits
Compare Post-9/11 GI Bill, VR&E Chapter 31, and Tuition Assistance. Calculate MHA by duty station ZIP.
OpenPursuing SkillBridge
Plan your SkillBridge timeline alongside separation benefits and deadlines. Understand how SkillBridge affects pay and benefits.
OpenRetiring from the Military (20+ Years)
Project your pension, TSP balance, and total retirement income. Compare High-3 vs. BRS side by side.
OpenGuard / Reserve Transition
Calculate drill pay, TRICARE Reserve Select premiums, and the financial picture of part-time military service.
OpenYour transition timeline
Expand each phase to see the financial actions, calculators, and deadlines that apply at that stage. Phase 0 is the right starting point.
012+ months outStart the process
Transitioning service members must begin TAP no later than 365 days before transition. Retirees are encouraged to begin 18–24 months out where available. This phase is about getting into the system and building your baseline.
Schedule TAP initial counseling and pre-separation briefing at your installation's Military & Family Readiness Center.
Begin your Individual Transition Plan (ITP) — this becomes your living document through separation.
Pull your VMET (DD Form 2586) to translate military experience into civilian language.
Decide your post-transition path: employment, education, SkillBridge, entrepreneurship, or retirement.
If considering SkillBridge, begin researching programs and confirm command approval timeline.
16–12 months outKnow your numbers
Before you can plan your transition, you need to understand exactly what you're leaving behind — and what it takes to replace it. This phase is about getting honest with the math.
Total Compensation Calculator
Start here. Many service members underestimate the true value of their pay and benefits by tens of thousands per year because they only compare civilian salary to base pay. See the full picture — BAH, BAS, TSP matching, and tax advantages — before you evaluate any civilian offer.
OpenWhat Civilian Salary Do I Need?
The article that shows why a $60K civilian offer might not replace your E-6 pay. Walks through the side-by-side comparison of taxable vs. tax-free compensation and benefits.
OpenVA Disability Rating Calculator
If you have any service-connected conditions, your VA disability rating directly affects your post-separation income. Know your estimated rating now — so your post-separation income plan is more complete before evaluating civilian offers.
OpenFile for VA Disability Before You Separate
The BDD (Benefits Delivery at Discharge) window is 180–90 days before your separation date. File within this window so VA can review records and schedule exams before separation. VA's goal is to deliver a decision within 30 days after separation, but timing varies by claim complexity and exam completion.
OpenTSP Growth Projector
Review your TSP balance and contribution strategy. Your last months on active duty may be your best opportunity to review contribution levels, Roth vs. Traditional choices, and how your civilian tax bracket could change.
OpenTransition Readiness Calculator
One tool that brings it all together. Enter your rank, duty station, expected VA rating, target civilian salary, and expenses — get a clear readiness verdict with action steps.
OpenHealthcare Cost Comparison Calculator
Use this calculator to understand what replacing TRICARE will cost. Compare employer plans, ACA marketplace, VA healthcare, and TRICARE Reserve Select side by side — with actual premium and out-of-pocket estimates.
Open23–6 months outLock in your benefits
You've done the math. Now it's time to take action on the benefits that have deadlines. Miss these windows and your options get narrower, more expensive, or harder to fix.
SGLI vs. VGLI vs. Private Life Insurance
Your SGLI coverage ends 120 days after separation. If you need life insurance after separation, compare private term, VGLI, and conversion options before SGLI ends. Health changes after service can affect private coverage pricing or eligibility.
OpenTRICARE Costs in 2026
Understand exactly what healthcare will cost as a civilian. This is often the most underestimated transition expense — the gap between TRICARE and a civilian employer plan can exceed $10,000 per year for a family.
OpenHealthcare Cost Comparison Calculator
Research your healthcare options — employer plan, ACA marketplace, VA care, or TRICARE Reserve Select. See premium costs, deductibles, and the annual gap vs. TRICARE side by side.
OpenPost-9/11 GI Bill Explained
Verify your GI Bill eligibility, transfer status, and remaining months before you separate. If you're planning to use it for school, research MHA rates by ZIP code — the monthly housing allowance varies significantly by location.
OpenGI Bill vs. Tuition Assistance
If Tuition Assistance is available and fits your degree plan, compare using TA while on active duty versus saving GI Bill months for after separation, when MHA may apply. GI Bill months used on active duty generally do not produce MHA.
OpenPCS Financial Planning
If your separation involves a final PCS, know your entitlements. The difference between a well-planned and poorly-planned final move can be $10,000 or more — DLA, MALT, and PPM all matter here.
OpenSchedule your SHPE/SHA and final dental exam
Schedule your Separation History and Physical Examination (SHPE/SHA) and final dental exam — typically between 90 and 180 days before separation. This supports your medical record and VA disability claim. If filing a BDD claim, complete the Separation Health Assessment - Part A Self-Assessment and be available for VA exams.
390 days outExecute your plan
The final stretch. This is about verification, not new decisions. Confirm everything is in place before you sign out.
How to Read Your Military LES
Pull your final LES and verify everything: correct dependency status, TSP contributions hitting the right amount, state tax withholding for your future state of residence. Errors here are easier to fix while you're still in.
OpenMilitary Retirement Calculator
If you're retiring, verify your pension calculation before your separation date. Confirm your High-3 average matches what DFAS will use — even a one-month error in your High-3 period can cost thousands annually.
OpenRoth TSP Advantage
Review whether Roth or Traditional TSP contributions make sense during your final active-duty months, especially if your civilian tax bracket may change.
OpenRequest and review your draft DD-214
Request and review your draft DD-214 before final out. Verify service dates, characterization, deployment history, awards, MOS/AFSC, and separation codes. Fixing errors is much harder after you've separated.
Download records before you lose system access
Download and save: service treatment records, LES history and tax documents, VMET / JST / CCAF / training transcripts, orders, evals, awards, deployment records, and clearance documentation.
Map your final timeline
Map terminal leave, permissive TDY, final out date, and first civilian start date on the same calendar. Check your separation or retirement orders for your final move deadline and request extensions early if needed. Many members have a limited post-separation window to use final-move entitlements.
TAP Student Worksheet
Use the printable TAP worksheet to organize your numbers before your final TAP session. Captures pay, expenses, healthcare costs, VA estimates, and benefit deadlines in one place.
Open4After separationYour first 90 days as a civilian
You're out. The paycheck looks different, the healthcare works different, and the tax situation changed. Here's what to check and when.
Check your VA claim status
VA's goal is to issue BDD decisions within 30 days after separation, but timing depends on records, exams, claim complexity, and VA workload. Log into VA.gov to track your claim status.
Visit VA.govVerify your first civilian paycheck
Compare your actual take-home against your pre-transition budget. Did the numbers hold up? If not, identify the gap before it becomes a pattern.
Confirm TRICARE and healthcare coverage
TRICARE typically ends at 11:59 p.m. on your last active-duty day. Some separating members qualify for 180 days of transitional coverage (TAMP), but eligibility is not automatic. Confirm your TAMP eligibility before you sign out. If you don't qualify, research alternatives: employer coverage, VA healthcare (if eligible), marketplace plans, or the Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP).
Open calculatorBuild a cash-flow plan for the transition gap
Plan for the gap between your final military pay, first civilian paycheck, VA claim decision, final travel claim reimbursement, and moving expenses. Know exactly how many weeks your savings need to cover.
Review your state residency and domicile situation before your first post-service tax filing.
Your state tax situation may have changed. Some states don't tax military retirement pay or VA disability income; others do. Verify your new state's treatment before your first tax filing.
Revisit your total compensation baseline
Run the Total Compensation Calculator with your new civilian salary to see exactly how your compensation changed. Quantifying the delta helps you evaluate pay, benefits, expenses, and future job offers with clearer numbers.
Open calculatorClassroom & Privacy Note
MilPayTools does not require an account and does not collect personal information to run any calculator. No login, no email, no data stored. Students and service members can use approximate numbers if they prefer not to enter exact income, savings, or VA estimates during a classroom session.
Open Printable TAP Student Worksheet →