What is the military Savings Deposit Program (SDP)?

The SDP offers a guaranteed 10% annual return, compounded quarterly, on up to $10,000 deposited while serving in a combat zone. Eligibility requires 30+ consecutive days in a combat zone and receiving hostile fire/imminent danger pay. Interest continues for 90 days after leaving the combat zone. The account auto-closes at 120 days. Deposits are made through your finance office or myPay.

How does TSP work in a combat zone?

Roth TSP contributions in a combat zone are triple tax-free: tax-free going in (CZTE), tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawal. The 2026 Roth cap is $24,500. In a combat zone, the annual additions limit rises to $72,000 — contributions above $24,500 go into Traditional TSP but are marked tax-exempt. Strategy: max Roth first, then fill Traditional tax-exempt up to the limit.

What deployment pay and allowances do military members receive?

Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay: $225/month (tax-free). Family Separation Allowance: $250/month if you have dependents and are separated 30+ days. Hardship Duty Pay: up to $150/month, location-dependent. All are in addition to base pay and applied automatically for qualifying locations.

What is the Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA)?

The PDHA is a required health screening completed within days of return from deployment. Report every symptom, exposure, and concern — respiratory issues, hearing changes, joint pain, sleep disruption, anxiety, and any other conditions. This assessment becomes part of your permanent medical record and timestamps conditions to your deployment, making future VA claims easier to establish.

When do I have to withdraw money from the Savings Deposit Program?

SDP interest accrues for 90 days after leaving the combat zone, then stops. If you don't withdraw through myPay, DFAS auto-closes the account and deposits the balance 120 days after departure. Request withdrawal through myPay as soon as you're ready after return. SDP interest is taxable income even though combat zone pay is tax-free.

Deployment Guide — Before, During & After

Pre-Deployment

30–90 days before you leave

Handle these before the pre-deployment brief forces you to rush them. Each one protects your family, your money, or your future claim.

SGLI Beneficiary Review

Verify who receives your $500,000 SGLI payout. Check your SGLV 8286 — is the beneficiary still correct? Marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or estrangement can all change who you want named. If you haven’t updated since your last major life event, do it now. Also verify FSGLI enrollment: up to $100,000 for your spouse and $10,000 per child.

Life Insurance Comparison Survivor Benefits

Will, POA & Advance Directive

Visit your installation’s legal assistance office (JAG) — all free. Update or create: a will (who gets what, who has custody of children), a general or limited Power of Attorney (authorizes your spouse or trusted person to sign documents, manage finances, handle legal matters while you’re gone), and an advance medical directive (your healthcare wishes if incapacitated). Don’t wait for the mandatory pre-deployment legal brief — those are rushed. Schedule a dedicated appointment.

Military Spouse Guide (Deployment section)

TSP: Switch to Roth for Combat Zone High Impact

If you’re deploying to a designated combat zone, every dollar you contribute to Roth TSP during that deployment is triple tax-free: no tax going in (Combat Zone Tax Exclusion), no tax on growth, no tax coming out in retirement. This is the single most powerful wealth-building window in a military career. Switch your TSP contributions to Roth before you deploy. Consider increasing your contribution rate — you’ll have fewer expenses in theater, and the tax-free compounding is irreplaceable.

TSP Guide (Combat Zone section) Wealth Projection

Savings Deposit Program (SDP) — 10% Guaranteed Return Don’t Miss This

The Savings Deposit Program offers a 10% annual return, compounded quarterly, on up to $10,000 deposited while serving in a combat zone. This is a guaranteed, risk-free rate that does not exist anywhere else in financial markets. Eligibility: you must be in a designated combat zone for 30+ consecutive days (or at least 1 day in each of 3 consecutive months) and receiving hostile fire or imminent danger pay. Deposits can be made through your finance office or via myPay allotment. Plan your deposit strategy before you deploy so you can start contributing immediately upon eligibility.

SCRA Activation (Guard / Reserve)

If you’re a Guard or Reserve member being called to Title 10 active duty for 30+ days, all SCRA protections activate: 6% interest rate cap on pre-service debt, foreclosure protection, lease termination rights, and credit card annual fee waivers. Notify every lender in writing with a copy of your orders. Call each credit card issuer to request military fee waivers. Active duty members already have SCRA protections in effect but should verify credit card waivers are applied.

SCRA & MLA Guide

Family Care Plan & Emergency Contacts

Required for single parents and dual-military couples. Designates who has custody of children during deployment and grants them legal authority to make decisions. Even if not required for you, ensure your family knows: where all documents are stored (will, POA, insurance, passwords), how to reach your unit’s Family Readiness Group (FRG), and the Red Cross emergency number: 1-877-272-7337 — the only reliable way to reach you in a true family crisis during deployment.

Military Spouse Guide Essential Documents

Financial Setup

Allotments: Set up automatic payments through myPay for mortgage/rent, car payment, insurance, and any recurring bills so nothing gets missed while you’re gone.
DEERS/TRICARE: Verify family enrollment is current and ID cards won’t expire during deployment.
Joint account access: Ensure your spouse or designated person can access accounts needed to manage household finances.

Healthcare Guide

During Deployment

What you’re earning, what you should be doing

While deployed, your pay changes and several financial programs become available. Know what’s automatic and what requires action on your part.

Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE)

In a designated combat zone, all enlisted pay is federal income tax-free. For commissioned officers, the exclusion is capped at the highest rate of enlisted pay (E-9 with maximum years) plus hostile fire/imminent danger pay for that month. State tax treatment varies — most states also exclude combat zone pay, but verify your state. This exclusion applies to base pay, special pays, bonuses earned in the combat zone, and reenlistment bonuses signed in the combat zone. It does not apply to BAH or BAS (those are already tax-advantaged). CZTE is applied automatically by finance — no action required, but verify your LES to confirm taxes are being withheld correctly.

Deployment Pay & Allowances

Hostile Fire / Imminent Danger Pay (HFP/IDP): $225/month, tax-free. Automatic for qualifying locations.
Family Separation Allowance (FSA): $250/month if you have dependents and are separated 30+ days. Automatic.
Hardship Duty Pay (HDP): Up to $150/month, location-dependent. Automatic for qualifying locations.
Per Diem: If not housed/fed by the military, you may receive per diem for meals and lodging.
All of these are in addition to your base pay and appear on your LES. Review your LES monthly to confirm you’re receiving everything you’re entitled to.

SDP Deposits — Maximize the 10%

Once you’ve been in the combat zone 30+ days and are receiving HFP/IDP, you’re eligible to deposit into the Savings Deposit Program. Maximum: $10,000. Interest accrues at 10% annually, compounded quarterly. Deposits can be made through your finance office or myPay allotment. Strategy: If you can afford it, deposit the full $10,000 as early as possible to maximize the time your money earns at 10%. A $6,000 deposit held for 8 months earns approximately $408 in risk-free interest, compounded quarterly.

TSP Roth Contributions — The Triple Tax-Free Window

Every dollar contributed to Roth TSP while in a combat zone enters tax-free (CZTE), grows tax-free, and withdraws tax-free in retirement. The 2026 elective deferral limit is $24,500 for Roth contributions (this cap applies even in a combat zone). However, the annual additions limit rises to $72,000 in a combat zone — contributions above $24,500 go into Traditional TSP but are marked as tax-exempt (meaning you won’t be taxed on them when withdrawn). Strategy: max out $24,500 in Roth first, then contribute additional tax-exempt dollars into Traditional up to the $72,000 limit. Verify contributions through myPay and confirm Roth vs Traditional coding.

TSP Guide

Document Everything Medical Critical for VA Claims

Every sick call, every injury, every exposure — report it and make sure it’s documented. Burn pit exposure, loud noise, blast exposure, chemical smells, respiratory symptoms, joint injuries, sleep problems, headaches, mental health concerns — all of it. Your deployment health record is the foundation of every future VA claim. Without documentation, establishing a service connection becomes significantly harder during the VA claims process. This is the single most important thing you can do for your future self during deployment.

Claim Filing Guide Presumptive Conditions Campaigns & Benefits

Post-Deployment

First 90 days after return

The first 90 days after return are when the most important health assessments happen and when time-sensitive financial windows close. Don’t let the relief of being home cause you to skip these.

Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA) Required

Completed within days of return. Report every symptom, every exposure, every concern. Respiratory issues from burn pits, hearing changes from blast exposure, joint pain from carrying loads, sleep disruption, anxiety, hypervigilance — all of it. This assessment becomes part of your permanent medical record. Conditions you report here are timestamped to your deployment — making future VA claims significantly easier to establish.

Claim Filing Guide

Post-Deployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA)

Completed 90–180 days after return. This catches conditions that develop after the adrenaline fades — PTSD symptoms, depression, sleep disorders, chronic pain that worsens. Many conditions don’t surface until weeks or months after deployment. The PDHRA exists specifically to capture them. Don’t skip this or treat it as a formality. Be as thorough as you were on the PDHA. If new symptoms have appeared since your PDHA, report them here.

SDP Withdrawal — 120-Day Window Time-Sensitive

Your SDP continues earning 10% interest for 90 days after you leave the combat zone. After 90 days, interest stops. If you don’t withdraw the funds yourself through myPay, DFAS will auto-close the account and deposit the balance into your military pay account 120 days after departure. Don’t let the money sit dormant between day 90 and day 120 — request withdrawal through myPay as soon as you’re ready. The interest earned is taxable income in the year withdrawn, even though combat zone pay itself is tax-free.

Mental Health & Readjustment

PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, hypervigilance, difficulty reconnecting — these are common and expected responses to deployment, not signs of weakness. If you’re experiencing any of them, report them to medical. The record you create now supports a future VA claim. Beyond claims, early intervention leads to better outcomes. Resources: Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647, confidential), your installation’s behavioral health clinic, and the Veterans Crisis Line (988, press 1) if you’re in crisis.

Crisis Resources Healthcare Guide

TSP & Financial Review

Verify your combat zone TSP contributions went to Roth (not Traditional). Check your fund allocation — if you changed it for deployment, decide whether to revert. Review your LES to confirm deployment pay and allowances have stopped correctly. Cancel any deployment-specific allotments. Review your savings — between SDP, reduced expenses, and tax-free pay, you may have accumulated significant capital. Consider your next financial move: emergency fund, debt payoff, additional TSP contributions, or VA home loan down payment.

TSP Guide Wealth Projection VA Home Loan

SGLI, Will & Documents Review

Did anything change during deployment? Marriage, birth, divorce, death in the family? Update SGLI beneficiary (SGLV 8286), will, POA, and advance directive accordingly. If this was your last deployment before separation, start reviewing the Separation Timeline and Claim Filing Guide — the transition clock is already running.

Life Insurance Essential Documents Separation Timeline

Guard / Reserve: SCRA Wind-Down

SCRA protections don’t end the day you return. Depending on the protection, they extend 30 to 180+ days after release from active duty. Foreclosure protection extends 12 months. Lease termination rights remain available. The 6% interest rate cap continues through the period of military service. Review the SCRA & MLA Guide for specific timelines. Don’t let lenders reinstate higher rates prematurely — know your protected period.

SCRA & MLA Guide (After Separation Timeline)

Quick Reference Checklist

Pre-Deployment:
☐ SGLI beneficiary — verify SGLV 8286, enroll spouse in FSGLI
☐ Will, POA, advance directive — JAG, free
☐ TSP — switch to Roth before entering combat zone
☐ TSP — increase contribution rate (fewer expenses in theater)
☐ SDP — plan deposit strategy ($10,000 max at 10% return)
☐ SCRA — notify lenders (Guard/Reserve: with copy of orders)
☐ Credit card fee waivers — call each issuer
☐ Family Care Plan (if applicable)
☐ Allotments — set up auto-pay for recurring bills
☐ DEERS/TRICARE — verify family enrollment, check ID expiration
☐ Document storage — spouse/NOK knows where everything is
☐ Red Cross number — give family: 1-877-272-7337

During Deployment:
☐ Verify LES — CZTE, HFP/IDP ($225), FSA ($250), HDP applied
☐ SDP deposits — start as soon as eligible (30+ days, receiving HFP)
☐ TSP Roth contributions — maximize the triple tax-free window
☐ Document every injury, illness, exposure — sick call creates the record

Post-Deployment:
☐ PDHA — report every symptom, every exposure (within days of return)
☐ PDHRA — 90–180 days after return, report anything new
☐ SDP withdrawal — interest stops at 90 days, auto-close at 120 days
☐ Mental health — report symptoms, seek support if needed
☐ TSP — verify Roth coding, review fund allocation
☐ Cancel deployment allotments, review finances
☐ Update SGLI, will, POA if circumstances changed
☐ SCRA wind-down timeline (Guard/Reserve)

Know someone getting ready to deploy? Send them this page. The financial opportunities during a combat zone deployment are some of the most powerful in a military career — and the administrative tasks protect the people you care about most.