Military pay & benefits
news for the ranks.
Pay raises, BRS, BAH, retirement, and the military-to-federal transition, tracked for service members, veterans, and their families. Back to the military hub →
Latest coverage
15 articles- Feds Get 0%, Military Gets 7%: The 2027 Pay Gap's Pension CostJun 21, 2026The 2027 budget proposes 0% for civilian feds and 5-7% for military, the widest gap in the modern GS era. See the year-by-year data and the High-3 pension hit.Read
- Navy DRP 2026: Eligibility, $46,800 Severance Gap ExplainedMay 20, 2026Are you eligible for the Navy DRP in 2026? Full eligibility matrix, grade-by-grade payment table, and a 5-question decision framework before you sign anything.Read
- DoD VERA/VSIP May 2026: Army Phase 2 and $40K Buyout BillMay 20, 2026Every DoD component's VERA/VSIP status as of May 2026. Army Phase 2 active, Navy modeling deadline Sept 30, H.R. 7256 would triple buyouts for GS-13s.Read
- Navy DRP 2026: What Civilian Employees Need to KnowMay 13, 2026Navy DRP 2026 status, eligibility, and the financial decision most civilians miss. Includes version history, benefits during admin leave, and the $46,800 severance gap.Read
- Dept of War Rebrand: $72/Civilian for a Name ChangeMay 6, 2026Pentagon spent $50M on the Department of War rebrand while losing 101K civilians. Cost-per-employee math, rebrand timeline, and what 694K remaining DoD civilians need to know.Read
- DoD Union Contracts Terminated: What 300,000 Civilians Just LostApr 26, 2026Hegseth terminated DoD CBAs April 9. Side-by-side statutory baseline vs. union add-ons, what protections survive, and your action checklist.Read
- Military Got COVID Vaccine Backpay. Civilian Feds Got This InsteadApr 23, 2026Military service members got 4 years of backpay under EO 14184. Civilian federal employees got record expungement, not money. The full contrast and what to do now.Read
- How to Transfer to Another Federal Agency During a RIFApr 19, 2026Facing a RIF? CTAP and ICTAP give you priority placement at other agencies. Here's the step-by-step process with deadlines and required documents.Read
- Navy Civilian Reduction 2026: 10/15/20% GuideMar 31, 2026Navy ordered commands to model 10–20% civilian cuts by Sept 30, 2026. Shipyard workers are protected. Here's what every Navy civilian needs to know now.Read
- MDR vs RIF vs VERA/VSIP: What DoD Employees Need to Know in 2026Mar 25, 2026Army RIFs confirmed at Detroit Arsenal. MDR, RIF, and VERA/VSIP carry different rights and financial outcomes. Here's how to decide which path is right for you.Read
- VERA & VSIP Guide 2026: Take the Buyout?Feb 19, 2026VERA/VSIP buyouts in 2026: eligibility rules, benefits impact, DOD's $40K cap, and whether accepting makes financial sense for you.Read
- 2027 Federal Pay Raise: FAIR Act vs. Trump's 0% Budget ProposalFeb 12, 2026Trump's FY2027 budget proposes a 0% civilian raise while seeking 5-7% for military. The FAIR Act counters with 4.1%. Here's what both mean for your paycheck.Read
- Military Buyback 2026: Add Years to Your FERS PensionFeb 11, 2026Calculate the cost to buy back military time for FERS credit. At 3% of base pay, most veterans pay $2,400-$6,600. Interest-free window + step-by-step process.Read
- Federal Leave Options Beyond Sick and Annual: Complete 2026 GuideFeb 8, 2026Know all your federal leave options. LWOP, FMLA, donated leave, military leave, paid parental leave, and more, plus how each affects FEHB, FERS, and TSP.Read
- DHS Shutdown 2026: Day 61 Back Pay, Legal Rights & What's NextMay 31, 2026DHS shutdown Day 61: employees ordered back April 10 under 'Liberating DHS' EO. Back pay deposits Apr 10-16. Avalos case explained. Guide for TSA and DHS workers.Read