THE BENEFITS OF BEING IN THE ARMY LAST A LIFETIME
The strength, training and salary you earn as a Soldier in the Army are only a fraction of the overall benefits. The Army also offers money for education, comprehensive health care, generous vacation packages, family services and support groups, special pay for special duties and cash allowances to cover the cost of living.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST SALARY
Active Duty Soldiers and activated Army Reserve Soldiers earn Basic Pay. Basic Pay is your base salary as a Soldier on Active Duty and it only counts for part of your total income. Basic Pay is distributed on the 1st and 15th of every month, similar to many civilian jobs.
Your Basic Pay as a Soldier depends on how long you've been in the Army and your Army rank (most enlisted Soldiers enter the Army as a Private). Your pay will increase as you climb in rank and years of experience.
In addition to salary and bonuses, the Army provides allowances to offset the cost of living. Soldiers who live on an Army base receive housing and meals for free. If your situation calls for you to live off base, the Army provides allowances for needs like housing, meals, clothing or official travel.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) recently estimated that the average Active Duty service member received a compensation package worth $99,000. Non-cash compensation represents almost 60 percent of this package. Non-cash compensation includes health care, retirement pay, childcare and free or subsidized food, housing and education. Coupled with regular cash compensation, this adds up to attractive compensation for Soldiers.
Drill Pay: Army Reserve Soldiers
MONEY FOR JUST ONE WEEKEND A MONTH
If you choose to serve in the Army Reserve, you will earn what's called Drill Pay. Drill Pay is money you earn while training on weekends and during full-time training events.
HOW'S THE MONEY?
You are compensated hourly for work completed. Your wages will increase when you climb in rank and years of experience (many newly enlisted Soldiers enter the Army Reserve as a private). For training events longer than a weekend, you are given prorated Basic Pay.
ENLISTMENT BONUS
All qualified recruits who enlist for three or more years in the Army are eligible for an enlistment bonus of $5,000. This bonus may be combined with additional enlistment bonuses that are based on Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), civilian education or technical skills, length of enlistment and any previous military service.
ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTMENT BONUSES
Four or more years - up to $40,000
Three or more years in a high-priority MOS - $30,000 up to $40,000
Three or more years in a priority MOS - up to $10,000
Two or more years - up to $6,000
ARMY RESERVE ENLISTMENT BONUSES
Six years, with prior service - up to $15,000
Three years, with prior service - up to $7,500
No prior service - up to $20,000
EDUCATION BONUS
Active Duty and Army Reserve applicants may be rewarded for their civilian educational experience.
ACTIVE DUTY EDUCATION BONUSES
Qualified applicants who enlist for two or more years in any Army Military Occupational Specialty may receive one of the following bonuses for civilian education:
Bachelor's degree — $8,000
Associate or two year degree — $7,000
High school graduates with 60 or more college semester hours — $6,000
High school graduates with 30 to 59 college semester hours — $3,000
ARMY RESERVE EDUCATION BONUS
Qualified non-prior service applicants who enlist for three or six years may receive one of the following bonuses for civilian education:
Bachelor's degree — $4,000
Associate or two year degree — $3,000
High school graduates with 60 or more college semester hours — $2,000
High school graduates with 30 to 59 college semester hours — $1,000
HEALTH CARE & VACATION
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE, GENEROUS TIME OFF
The Army is committed to the well being of the community of people who serve and stand ready to defend the nation. Soldiers and their families receive comprehensive health care, life insurance and generous vacation time.
HEALTH CARE
As a Soldier, you and your family are automatically covered by a comprehensive HMO-type health care plan called TRICARE that provides medical and dental care at little or no cost.
TRICARE enrollees receive most health care at a Military Treatment Facility (MTF), where a primary care manager (PCM) supervises their care. The Army's health care team is one of the biggest health care networks in the world, utilizing state-of-the-art technology in world renowned facilities.
A network of "preferred" or "in-network" providers add to the services offered at MTFs. Soldiers and their families are free to make appointments with any authorized provider.
Separate programs are available for Soldiers and their families who are on remote assignment or overseas.
LIFE INSURANCE
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) is a program of low cost group life insurance for Active Duty and Army Reserve Soldiers. SGLI coverage is available in $10,000 increments up to the maximum of $400,000. SGLI premiums are currently $.065 per $1,000 of insurance, regardless of the member's age.
VACATION
Time off is an important component of Soldier life and well being. Soldiers on Active Duty receive:
30 days vacation earned annually
Weekends free*
National holidays*
Sick days as needed
As with any job, missions and training may require work on weekends or holidays.
Money For Your Education
LET THE ARMY HELP PAY FOR COLLEGE
MONTGOMERY GI BILL (MGIB) & ARMY COLLEGE FUND (ACF)
As a Soldier, you can take advantage of the Montgomery GI Bill and the Army College Fund to pay for your college education. Depending on how long you enlist with the Army and the job you choose, you can get up to $71,424 to help pay for college. All you have to do is give $100 a month during your first year of service.
ACTIVE DUTY BENEFIT
Up to $71,424 to help pay for college with the MGIB and Army College Fund.
CHOOSE ARMY RESERVE AND GIVE YOUR MGIB A "KICKER"
The Army Reserve offers a selected Reserve Montgomery GI Bill up to $10,692. If you qualify for and accept a critical skill position in the Army Reserve you could earn an additional MGIB Kicker.
ARMY RESERVE BENEFIT
Up to $23,292 to help pay for college.
HOW'S THE MONEY?
Your Kicker can be $100, $200 or $350 per month if you enroll in school full time. Amounts vary depending on job and location.
RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) SCHOLARSHIP
College students on more than 700 campuses nationwide can take advantage of the best leadership course in America — Army ROTC Military Science and Leadership. Army ROTC Cadets gain practical experience in management and problem solving while training to become Army Officers.
HOW'S THE MONEY?
College students, or those on their way to college, can compete for up to $17,000 per year in tuition scholarships, with generous textbook allowances
COLLEGE LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM
The Army College Loan Repayment Program makes paying off your student loans easier.
ACTIVE DUTY BENEFIT
Up to $65,000 for Soldiers who enlist full time in the Army for three years.
ARMY RESERVE BENEFIT
Up to $20,000 for Soldiers who enlist in the Army Reserve for six years - Please call us to see if your student loan qualifies.
CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATIONAL GROWTH
The Army offers several opportunities to attend classes while serving as an Active Duty or Army Reserve Soldier. Whether it's in accredited four year universities across the nation, through an online university or in high tech learning facilities on Army posts, the Army enables Soldiers to continue their educational growth.
CONCURRENT ADMISSIONS PROGRAM (CONAP)
The Army partners with over 1,800 community colleges and four-year universities, enabling Soldiers to attend college during or after their Army service. These colleges recognize credits earned during military training.
eArmyU: TAKE CLASSES ONLINE
If you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may also take college courses through the Army's online education program, called eArmyU. Through eArmyU you may take courses for college credit, earn certifications or further your Army training. Many Enlisted Soldiers are even eligible for an Army-issued laptop. Please note that the eArmyU program is only available on certain posts.
SATELLITE CAMPUSES
Most Army bases feature satellite branches of local, accredited universities, enabling Soldiers to attend actual college classes without leaving base. Credits earned on satellite campuses transfer automatically to the host university. Through the satellite campuses program, Soldiers can earn credit toward everything from Associate's to Master's degrees.
TUITION ASSISTANCE
The Army provides tuition assistance to Soldiers who wish to further their education. Available for approved courses, tuition assistance covers 100% of course costs up to $250 per credit, with a maximum of $4,500 per academic year. Tuition assistance applies to undergraduate and graduate courses taken traditionally or through distance learning.
TAKING CARE OF FAMILIES
Beyond salary, education and housing benefits, the Army provides valuable services, support groups, counseling and training for the whole family. Many of the services are free or at discount prices.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE SERVICES
The Army offers several unique programs to help Soldiers adapt to transfers and new tour cycles. Through briefings and a web-based resource called the Standard Information Topics Exchange (SITES), Soldiers may access photos, maps, base housing floor plans and information on services and programs offered at the installation.
MONEY MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Financial readiness programs are available to educate and counsel Soldiers in the area of personal finance. Through classes on money management, financial planning and insurance and consumer counseling, Soldiers learn how to eliminate debt and manage their money wisely.
FAMILY ADVOCACY SERVICES
A wide range of family advocacy initiatives are available to Army families, from new parent support groups to abuse prevention classes to assistance for families with special needs.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES
Every Army post has a Legal Assistance Center that provides free walk-in services. The attorneys on staff offer advice on personal legal matters; review legal documents such as contracts and leases; and prepare wills, correspondence and other legal documents. Legal Assistance Centers also operate tax centers, with free income tax preparation and electronic filing for Active Duty Soldiers, dependents and military retirees.
DEPLOYMENT SERVICES
Pre-deployment and reunion briefings are provided through the Mobilization and Deployment Support Program. The program offers classes for Soldiers and their families on topics such as how to establish and manage household budgets, how to communicate with children and how to prepare wills. Family members are encouraged to join Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) and maintain communication with the Rear Detachment of the deployed unit.
CHILD & YOUTH SERVICES
Army Child and Youth Services (CYS) provide affordable childcare programs for Army families. Costs are typically based on rank and pay grade. Programs range from daycare facilities to sports and fitness programs.
Child development centers provide full-day care, part-day care and hourly care for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age.
Family childcare homes offer full day, hourly, extended hours and long-term care in government quarters and off-post residences.
School-age services deliver before and after school care during the school year and camps during vacations.
Middle school/teen programs focus on sports and fitness, life skills and leadership, arts and recreation and mentoring and education for youth grades six through 12.
Sports and fitness programs are available for children up to 18 years of age and include team sports, individual sports, fitness and outreach.
Youth education support services include school transition support, instructional programs, youth sponsorship and home school support.
Outreach programs include referrals to off-post childcare programs, parent co-ops, trained babysitters for evening hourly care and partnerships with community organizations.
ARMY MORALE, WELFARE AND RECREATIONS (MWR) PROGRAM
The U.S. Army also offers a network of support and leisure services for Soldiers and their families. The Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program delivers a wide array of recreation, sports, entertainment, travel and leisure activities for Soldiers and their families worldwide.
Need to sign up for basic training before turning 40 years of age. For more questions on enlisting please contact Sargent Rich at the phone number below.
