People join the military for a variety of reasons. For some, enlisting is a family tradition. Others join out of a strong sense of patriotism. And some folks have just watched too many war movies as a kid. Personally, the benefits were one of the many reasons I joined the military. I knew I wanted to go to college, but I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to afford it. So, boom, I signed my name when I was still in high school. And I am definitely not alone in my motivation for joining. One of the main draws to the military—and one of the main reasons people stay in the military—is the availability of benefits for veterans and current servicemembers.
There is a variety of benefits and assistance for veterans: tuition, retirement, housing, health care and many others. If you are curious about some of these benefits, or whether you are eligible for some or all of them, I encourage you to visit the VA Benefits website at: http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/ Generally speaking, if you have ever been active duty during a time of war and were honorably discharged—or better yet, retired—you will be eligible for numerous benefits with the VA.
While the G.I. Bill, VA loans and healthcare benefits may be the most well-known perks of being a veteran or being in the service, there are some lesser-known benefits available such as valuable estate planning benefits and services.
Life Insurance
The VA currently has a wide array of available life insurance plans based on your current veteran status. These life insurance programs, generally speaking, are comparatively affordable. You also have the option of covering dependents and your spouse in many cases. Enrolling in one of the VA’s life insurance programs (SGLI for current servicemembers and VGLI for veterans) is one of the many vital tools for protecting yourself and your family in the long-term.
Funeral and Burial Arrangements
If you are a veteran, you and your family are entitled to several funeral and burial benefits. I know what you are thinking, “gee, thanks. That’s totally why I signed up in the first place… funeral benefits.” It’s true, this is not the most glamorous of perks; but hey, funerals and burials can be really costly.
Each vet, their spouse and any minor children that pass away are entitled to a burial plot and headstone in a national cemetery. This includes the upkeep, maintenance and “perpetual care” of the burial site. Veterans are also given a full military burial with an honor guard.
Will Drafting Services
If you are currently on active duty, or if you are enlisted in a reserve component, often your base’s legal office will draft a Will for you and your spouse. Many base legal offices will also prepare your health care directive and any powers of attorney that you or your spouse may want drafted. If you are no longer enlisted, there may still be some services available to you. For either case, simply contact your nearest military installation for more information.
If you are a prior military member, I strongly suggest that you contact the VA to find out what is available to you. I have found them to be very helpful with questions about my own benefits. You owe it to yourself and your family to at least find out what resources are available. After all, we give up a lot by being in the military, so we should try to get the most out of our experience as possible!
Photos: 1) Beverly & Pack and 2) DVIDSHUB
