Do members of the National Guard or Reservists qualify for BAS? The Basic Allowance for Subsistence or BAS is a military benefit paid to servicemembers while serving on active duty. According to the DoD, BAS is designed “to offset the cost of food for service member” and is rooted in military tradition when “the military… Read more »
H.R. 1, the federal budget signed into law by the President on July 4, 2025, includes more than $150 billion in funding for the Department of Defense, intended to modernize the armed forces and enhance national security. It also adds some $9 billion in military quality of life programs. What’s in H.R. 1? The bill… Read more »
Servicemembers, whether veterans or active duty military, you already know there are plenty of people out there trying to take advantage of you. Scammers don’t just throw random lines around — they specifically target military folks, veterans, and their families. VSAFE.gov is the government’s tool to help you spot these scams, get real information fast,… Read more »
Military OneSource is a Department of Defense-funded website and resource that improves military and family readiness and quality of life. The website provides resources, information, and options for active duty, Guard, Reserve, and family members. Using MilitaryOneSource access to confidential assistance, comprehensive information, and referrals to essential services such as military child care, base housing,… Read more »
Legal actions in 2025 are reminders of the importance of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or SCRA, a law providing financial and legal protection to military members. Two important cases occurred in 2025 that service members and their families should know about. Greystar Management Services LLC, a large property management company was ordered to pay $1.4… Read more »
Update July 1 2025: The DoD promises the setup of a PCS move hotline to assist those who experience difficulties with their 2025 permanent change of station moves following the cancellation of the DoD global PCS contract with HomeSafe Alliance (see below.) The DoD has admitted defeat in the troubled HomeSafe Alliance household goods controversy,… Read more »
The Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) is a military life insurance program for qualifying military families. According to the Defense Accounting and Finance Office official site, “The Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan enables members who served in Reserve Components, and qualify for retired pay, to leave their spouse and/or dependent children with an ongoing monthly benefit called an annuity.” Learn more.
Once you’ve spent time in the military, you begin to see what really counts in banking: having someone who truly gets your situation, reliable access to your money, and services that can adapt as your life changes. Soarion Credit Union, formerly Air Force Federal Credit Union (AFFCU), began as a small, base-focused institution but has… Read more »
For members of the armed forces, programs like Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) are an important part of the larger package of military benefits, providing high levels of coverage with no required medical exams or high premiums. But military life insurance is not necessarily a lifetime benefit, and there are numerous circumstances under which it… Read more »
Andrews Federal Credit Union (Andrews FCU) was born to meet the day-to-day banking needs of military communities. With branches in the Washington, D.C. area and on U.S. Army bases across Europe, it serves the financial realities of military life, including PCS orders, overseas moves, pay system quirks, and household transitions. Here’s a look at Andrews… Read more »