Bottom line up front
Every calculator and guide on Page 214 is grounded in primary sources — not blogs, not third-party summaries, not AI-generated content. The foundational layer is Title 38 U.S. Code (veterans benefits statutes) and 38 C.F.R. (VA implementing regulations); Title 10 U.S. Code (military pay, retirement, separation); Title 5 (federal civil service / veterans’ preference); and Title 26 (tax code, including 26 U.S.C. § 112 combat zone tax exclusion). Operational details come from VA.gov , DFAS.mil , TRICARE.mil , OPM.gov , the DoD Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) , and the relevant DoD instructions and manuals (DoDI 1304.26 for RE codes, DoDI 1332.14 for SPD codes, DoDI 1332.18 for IDES, DoDI 6490.03 for PDHA/PDHRA, etc.). Pay tables and rate updates come from official DFAS publications and the VA Compensation Rate Tables , refreshed each January (COLA) and as Congress legislates changes. If you find an error, tell us — corrections are welcome and important. Browse the categorized source list below for the citations behind every Page 214 tool.
VA Disability Compensation
Military Retirement Pay
TRICARE & Healthcare
Military Buyback (FERS/CSRS)
State Veteran Benefits
Long-Term Wealth Projection
MOS to Civilian Career Translator
Tax Calculations
Veteran Charities
Military Education Benefits
CRDP vs CRSC
DD-214 Benefits Decoder
Guard & Reserve Benefits Navigator
Reserve Retirement DoD Military Compensation — Reserve Retirement Reserve Retirement 10 U.S.C. §§ 12731–12740 — Reserve Retirement Eligibility and Pay ComputationReserve Retirement 10 U.S.C. § 12731(f) — Early Retirement Credit for Qualifying Active DutyReserve Retirement NDAA FY2008, Section 647 (Pub. L. 110-181) — Reduced Age for Reserve RetirementReserve Retirement 10 U.S.C. § 12739 — High-3 Computation for Reserve Retired PayReserve Retirement 37 U.S.C. § 356 — Blended Retirement System (BRS) Continuation PayReserve Retirement DoDI 1215.07 — Service in the Reserve Components (Points Accrual)Reserve Retirement 37 U.S.C. § 206 — Reserve Drill PayReserve Retirement 10 U.S.C. § 1076e — TRICARE Retired Reserve (TRR) EligibilityReserve Retirement DFAS — 2026 Military Pay Tables (3.8% raise)
VA Debt & Overpayment Guide
VA Debt Guide VA.gov — Manage Your VA Debt VA Debt Guide VA.gov — Options to Request Help with VA Debt VA Debt Guide VA.gov — Waivers for VA Benefit Debt VA Debt Guide VA Form 5655 — Financial Status Report (PDF) VA Debt Guide 38 U.S.C. § 5302 — Waiver of Recovery of OverpaymentsVA Debt Guide 38 C.F.R. § 1.963 — Equity and Good Conscience Standard for WaiversVA Debt Guide 38 C.F.R. § 1.962 — Compromise of ClaimsVA Debt Guide 38 C.F.R. § 1.911 — Collection of Debts Owed by Reason of VA BenefitsVA Debt Guide 38 U.S.C. § 5112 — Effective Dates of Reductions and DiscontinuancesVA Debt Guide 31 U.S.C. § 3716 — Treasury Offset ProgramVA Debt Guide 31 C.F.R. § 901.3 — Demand for Payment (Federal Claims Collection Standards)VA Debt Guide 38 U.S.C. § 5302(b) — One-Year Time Limit for Waiver Requests
General References
VA Home Loan Calculator
VA Disability Claim Filing Guide
Federal Hiring Toolkit
Federal Hiring OPM — Merit System Hiring Plan (May 29, 2025) Federal Hiring USAJOBS — Federal Job Search and Resume Builder Federal Hiring Executive Order 14170 — Reforming the Federal Hiring Process (2025)Federal Hiring Executive Order 14356 — Four-to-One Hiring Ratio (October 2025)Federal Hiring OPM Final Rule — Rule of Many (September 2025)Federal Hiring 91 FR 8342 — Schedule Policy/Career Final Rule (February 5, 2026)Federal Hiring 5 U.S.C. § 3326 — 180-Day DoD Cooling-Off Period for Military RetireesFederal Hiring DoDI 1402.01 — Employment of Retired Members of the Armed ForcesFederal Hiring OPM — Classification Standards and Job Series Federal Hiring Chance to Compete Act (Pub. L. 118-188) — Skills-Based AssessmentsFederal Hiring 5 U.S.C. § 2108 — Veterans' Preference DefinitionsFederal Hiring 5 C.F.R. §§ 307, 315, 330 — Veterans Hiring Authorities (VRA, VEOA, 30% Disabled, Schedule A)
Survivor Benefits Guide
Survivor Guide VA.gov — 2026 DIC Rates for Surviving Spouses and Children Survivor Guide VA.gov — 2026 DIC Rates for Parents Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. §§ 1310–1318 — Dependency and Indemnity CompensationSurvivor Guide 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.5, 3.10, 3.22 — DIC Eligibility and RatesSurvivor Guide 38 U.S.C. §§ 1541–1543 — VA Survivors PensionSurvivor Guide 38 C.F.R. § 3.23 — Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR)Survivor Guide 10 U.S.C. § 1447 et seq. — Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. § 5121 — Accrued BenefitsSurvivor Guide 38 C.F.R. § 3.1010 — Substitution for Pending ClaimsSurvivor Guide 42 U.S.C. § 402 — Social Security Survivor BenefitsSurvivor Guide 38 U.S.C. Chapter 33 — Fry Scholarship (Post-9/11 Survivor Education)Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 — Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA)Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. § 1781 — CHAMPVASurvivor Guide 10 U.S.C. § 1072 et seq. — TRICARE Survivor CoverageSurvivor Guide 38 U.S.C. § 3701 et seq. — VA Home Loan Guaranty (Surviving Spouse Eligibility)Survivor Guide 38 U.S.C. § 1965 et seq. — SGLI / FSGLISurvivor Guide 10 U.S.C. § 1478 — Death GratuitySurvivor Guide 38 U.S.C. §§ 2301–2308 — Burial and Memorial BenefitsSurvivor Guide 10 U.S.C. § 1491 — Military Funeral HonorsSurvivor Guide 38 U.S.C. § 1783 — Bereavement CounselingSurvivor Guide FY2023 NDAA — Gold Star Families Act ProvisionsSurvivor Guide DoD Instruction 1300.18 — Casualty AssistanceSurvivor Guide PACT Act (Pub. L. 117-168) — Expanded DIC Eligibility for Toxic ExposureSurvivor Guide 37 U.S.C. §§ 551–558 — Missing Persons Act (pay continuation for POW/MIA)Survivor Guide 26 U.S.C. § 112 — Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (captivity tax exemption)Survivor Guide 38 CFR § 3.309(c) — POW Presumptive ConditionsSurvivor Guide Hostage Relief Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-449) — Hostage family protections
A Veteran's Guide to What You've Earned
Separation & Retirement Timeline
TDIU Eligibility Estimator
38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) — Schedular TDIU Criteria (one condition at 60%+ or combined 70% with one at 40%+)
38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) — Extraschedular TDIU (referral to Director of Compensation Service)
VA.gov — Individual Unemployability (TDIU) VA Form 21-8940 — Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability
VA Form 21-4192 — Request for Employment Information in Connection with Claim for Disability Benefits
2026 Marginal Employment Threshold: $15,960/year (Federal Poverty Guideline, single individual)
38 C.F.R. § 3.951 — Protection of TDIU After 20 Years
2026 TDIU Monthly Rate: $3,938.58 (100% single, no dependents)
Presumptive Conditions Lookup
Caregiver Eligibility Navigator
VA Healthcare Eligibility & Travel Pay
38 C.F.R. § 17.36 — VA Healthcare Enrollment and Priority Groups
38 U.S.C. § 1710 — Eligibility for VA Hospital, Nursing Home, and Domiciliary Care
VA.gov — Health Care Eligibility VA Priority Groups 1–8: 38 C.F.R. § 17.36(b)
Enhanced Enrollment for Combat Veterans: 38 U.S.C. § 1710(e) (5 years; extended to 10 years under PACT Act for toxic-exposed)
38 C.F.R. § 70.10 — Beneficiary Travel (Mileage Reimbursement)
2026 VA Beneficiary Travel Rate: $0.415/mile
Travel Deductible: $3 per one-way trip ($6 round trip); waived for 30%+ SC care, income-eligible, VA pension recipients
BTSSS (Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System) — Online filing within 30 days of appointment
VA Enrollment Line: 1-877-222-8387
Life Insurance (SGLI → VGLI → VALife)
38 U.S.C. §§ 1965–1980A — Servicemembers' and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (SGLI/VGLI)
38 U.S.C. § 1922B — Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife, effective Jan 1, 2023)
VA.gov — Life Insurance Programs VGLI Conversion: 240-day guaranteed-issue window from separation (no medical exam)
VGLI Premiums: Based on age bracket, increase every 5 years (OSGLI rate tables)
VALife: Up to $40,000 whole life; guaranteed acceptance for veterans with any SC disability (0%+); no health questions
OSGLI Contact: 1-800-419-1473
MEB / PEB & IDES Process
MEB/PEB Guide DoDI 1332.18 — Disability Evaluation System (DES)10 U.S.C. Ch. 61 — Retirement or Separation for Physical Disability
38 C.F.R. Part 4 — Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD)
DoDI 1332.38 — Physical Disability Board of Review (PDBR)
IDES Timeline: Goal ~295 days; Referral → MEB → VA C&P Exams → PEB → Disposition
PDRL: DoD rating ≥30%, permanent & stable — full military retiree benefits
TDRL: DoD rating ≥30%, condition not stable — re-evaluated every 18 months (max 3 years on TDRL if placed after Jan 2017; 5 years if before)
Medical Separation: DoD rating <30% (<20 YOS) — disability severance = 2 × base pay × YOS (min 3 years; 6 if combat-related; max 19)
Severance recoupment: VA withholds monthly disability payments until severance amount recovered (unless combat-related)
Health.mil — IDES Information VA.gov — C&P Exam Information
Burial & Memorial Benefits
38 U.S.C. §§ 2301–2308 — Burial Benefits and Allowances
38 C.F.R. § 38.620 — Burial Allowance Rates
10 U.S.C. § 1491 — Military Funeral Honors
2026 Burial Allowance Rates: SC death ($2,000 burial + $948 plot), Non-SC VA hospitalized ($948 + $948), Non-SC ($377 + $377)
VA Form 21P-530 — Application for Burial Allowance (2-year filing deadline; no limit for SC deaths)
National Cemetery Scheduling Office: 1-800-535-1117
Appeal Path Decision Helper
38 C.F.R. § 3.2501 — Supplemental Claims (new and relevant evidence)
38 C.F.R. § 3.2601 — Higher-Level Review (senior reviewer, no new evidence)
38 U.S.C. § 7104 — Board of Veterans' Appeals (3 dockets: Direct, Evidence, Hearing)
1-Year Deadline: All three appeal lanes must be initiated within 1 year of the rating decision
VA.gov — Decision Reviews and Appeals
IRRRL / VA Refinance
38 U.S.C. § 3710(a)(8) — Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan (IRRRL)
VA.gov — IRRRL (VA Streamline Refinance) IRRRL Funding Fee: 0.5% of loan amount (exempt for SC disability)
Requirement: Must currently have a VA loan; net tangible benefit test applies
Women Veterans Benefits & Healthcare Guide
VHA Directive 1330.01(5) — Women Veteran Program Manager (WVPM) responsibilities
38 U.S.C. § 1786 — Newborn care coverage (7 days after birth)
P.L. 116-171 (COMPACT Act, 2020) — Community maternity care when VA cannot provide
PACT Act (P.L. 117-168), Section 201 — Extended postpartum coverage to 12 months
38 U.S.C. § 1788 — Fertility counseling and IVF for SC-related infertility
38 U.S.C. § 1720D — MST-related care: free for all veterans regardless of rating, enrollment, or discharge
38 CFR § 3.304(f)(5) — Relaxed evidence standard for MST-related PTSD claims
VHA Directive 2010-033 — MST Coordinators at every VAMC
VA.gov — Women Veterans Health Care Women Veterans Call Center: 1-855-VA-WOMEN (829-6636)
DoD Safe Helpline (MST): 1-800-995-8387
Discharge Upgrade Guide
10 U.S.C. § 1553 — Discharge Review Board (DRB) authority and procedures
10 U.S.C. § 1552 — Board for Correction of Military/Naval Records (BCMR/BCNR)
38 U.S.C. § 5303 — Character of discharge bar to VA benefits
38 CFR § 3.12 — Character of discharge determinations
DoD Instruction 1332.28 — Discharge Review Board procedures
Secretary of Defense Memorandum, September 3, 2014 (Hagel Memo) — Liberal consideration for PTSD
Under Secretary of Defense Memorandum, August 25, 2017 (Kurta Memo) — Expanded to all mental health, TBI, MST, and sexual orientation/DADT
Under Secretary of Defense Memorandum, July 25, 2018 (Wilkie Memo) — Guidance to military discharge review boards and BCMR/BCNR on equity, injustice, and clemency determinations
VA.gov — How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade DD Form 293 (DRB application); DD Form 149 (BCMR/BCNR application)
Rural Veterans — MISSION Act Community Care
P.L. 115-182 (MISSION Act, 2018) — VA community care access standards
38 CFR § 17.4040 — Access standards: 30/60-minute drive time, 20/28-day wait time
VA.gov — Community Care VA Video Connect (VVC) — Telehealth for rural veterans
Benefits Eligibility Finder
All 38 benefits in the finder database are sourced from the individual tool sources listed on this page
Eligibility logic based on discharge characterization (38 CFR § 3.12), disability rating, years of service, and service component
VA Nexus Guide
38 CFR § 3.303 (Principles relating to service connection — direct)
38 CFR § 3.310 (Disabilities that are proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected disease or injury — secondary)
38 CFR § 3.306 (Aggravation of pre-service disability)
38 CFR § 3.304(f) (Service connection for PTSD — stressor verification and MST provisions)
38 CFR § 3.309 (Disease subject to presumptive service connection)
38 CFR § 3.317 (Compensation for certain disabilities occurring in Persian Gulf veterans — undiagnosed illness)
38 CFR § 3.385 (Service connection for hearing loss)
38 U.S.C. § 1111 (Presumption of sound condition)
38 U.S.C. § 1110 (Basic entitlement — wartime disability compensation)
P.L. 117-168 (PACT Act — toxic exposure presumptive conditions)
VA Adjudication Procedures Manual (M21-1) — nexus opinion requirements
VA.gov — Public Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs)
Deployment Guide
26 U.S.C. § 112 (Combat Zone Tax Exclusion — CZTE)
37 U.S.C. § 310 (Hostile Fire / Imminent Danger Pay)
37 U.S.C. § 427 (Family Separation Allowance)
10 U.S.C. § 1035 (Savings Deposit Program — SDP, 10% annual return)
DFAS — Savings Deposit Program 5 U.S.C. § 8432 (TSP contributions and combat zone annual additions limit)
TSP.gov — Contribution Limits and Combat Zone 50 U.S.C. §§ 3937–3938 (SCRA — interest rate cap, deployment protections)
DoD Instruction 6490.03 (Post-Deployment Health Assessment — PDHA)
DoD Instruction 6490.12 (Post-Deployment Health Reassessment — PDHRA)
38 U.S.C. § 1967 (SGLI — coverage and beneficiary designation)
10 U.S.C. § 1044 (Legal assistance — wills, POA, advance directives)
American Red Cross Emergency Communication: 1-877-272-7337
Your First 90 Days
38 U.S.C. § 3011 (Montgomery GI Bill — Chapter 30 enrollment)
38 U.S.C. § 1967 (SGLI — automatic coverage and beneficiary designation)
5 U.S.C. § 8432 (Thrift Savings Plan contributions and matching)
TSP.gov — Making Contributions (BRS matching rules) DoD Blended Retirement System fact sheets (automatic enrollment, matching schedule)
50 U.S.C. §§ 3937–3938 (SCRA — 6% interest rate cap)
SGLV 8286 (SGLI beneficiary designation form)
10 U.S.C. § 1044 (Legal assistance for military members — wills, POA)
Essential Military & VA Documents
How Veterans Benefits Become Law
PACT Act (P.L. 117-168, Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act, signed Aug 10, 2022)
Agent Orange Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-4)
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — Gulf War and Health series
Szema et al., “Military burn pit exposure and airway disease,” Annals of the American Thoracic Society (2023)
Smith et al., “Burn Pit Exposure Assessment,” Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (2012)
VA Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry (established 2014, 300,000+ participants)
RAND Corporation, “Lessons from 9/11 for Supporting Veterans Exposed to Military Environmental Hazards” (2025)
Congress.gov — H.R. 3967 legislative history House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (HVAC); Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (SVAC)
Military Campaigns & Associated Benefits
Military Working Animals & Service Dogs
H.R. 5314 (Robby’s Law, P.L. 106-446) — Military Working Dog Adoption
10 U.S.C. § 2583 — Military Animal Adoption and Transfer
38 CFR § 17.148 — VA Service Dog Benefits
P.L. 117-61 (PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, 2021)
H.R. 2605/S. 1441 (SAVES Act, pending)
VA Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service — Service Dog Benefits Assistance Dogs International (ADI) Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — Service Animal definitions
Fair Housing Act — Emotional Support Animal accommodations
Military Spouse Guide
SCRA & MLA Guide
TSP for Military Members
TSP.gov — Contribution Limits TSP.gov — Individual Fund Options 5 U.S.C. § 8432 (Thrift Savings Plan authority)
26 U.S.C. § 112 (Combat Zone Tax Exclusion)
26 U.S.C. § 72(t) (early distribution penalty and exceptions)
IRS Publication 3 (Armed Forces Tax Guide)
DoD Blended Retirement System fact sheets
DFAS 2026 military pay tables and TSP contribution guidance
Veteran Homelessness
Returning to Service — Benefits & Eligibility Guide
Veterans Overseas Benefits Guide
VSO & VA Accredited Representatives Guide
Top VA Disability Claims — VASRD Rating Criteria Decoder
Top Claims 38 CFR Part 4 — Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD) M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual (rating criteria application)
38 CFR 4.40, 4.45 — DeLuca factors (functional loss, pain, weakness, fatigability) VAOPGCPREC 23-97 (separate knee ratings for instability and limitation of motion)
VAOPGCPREC 9-2004 (separate ratings for flexion and extension of the same knee)
38 CFR 4.71a — General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine
38 CFR 4.130 — General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders
38 CFR 4.97 — Respiratory system (PFT-based criteria)
38 CFR 4.104 — Cardiovascular system (METs/ejection fraction criteria)
150 diagnostic codes covering 11 body systems, current through March 2026
Nexus & Service Connection Guide
Nexus Guide 30 conditions, 46 connection pathways38 U.S.C. 5107(b) — Benefit of the doubt
38 CFR 3.102 — Reasonable doubt
38 CFR 3.159 — Duty to assist
38 CFR 3.385 — Hearing loss thresholds
38 CFR 3.304(f)(5) — MST marker evidence (relaxed standard)
38 CFR 3.317 — Gulf War presumptives (deadline December 31, 2026)
M21-1 V.iii.2.B.3.b — Tinnitus lay evidence standard
VA.gov DBQ forms library
BVA decision A25014545 (Jan 2025) — GERD secondary to NSAIDs
GERD DC updated May 2024: DC 7346 → DC 7206 (new criteria)
Aid & Attendance & Elderly Care
Aid & Attendance 38 CFR 3.351–3.352 — Aid & Attendance and Housebound criteria 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 — VA healthcare and geriatric services
VA.gov 2026 pension rates (Aid & Attendance, Housebound)
38 CFR 3.655 — Consequences of failure to report for C&P examination
National Association of State Veterans Homes (160+ facilities)
VA Geriatrics and Extended Care program descriptions (VA.gov/geriatrics)
PACE program information (Medicare.gov)
PCS Entitlements Checklist
PCS Entitlements Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) — Chapters 5 (PCS Travel), 6 (Temporary Lodging), 8 (Household Goods)DLA rates: DTMO MAP 72-25(I) , effective January 1, 2026 (3.8% ECI increase)
MALT rate: DTMO MAP 73-25(I), $0.205/mile, effective January 1, 2026
Pet transportation: JTR par. 050107, effective January 1, 2024; alternate location policy effective February 21, 2025. CONUS $550, OCONUS $2,000, high-risk $4,000
HHG weight allowances: JTR Table 5-37
TLE: JTR Chapter 5, up to 14 days CONUS combined
TLA: DTMO Temporary Lodging Allowance rates, up to 60 days OCONUS
PPM reimbursement: JTR par. 051202, 100% of Government Constructed Cost (2026)
move.mil — Defense Personal Property System (claims, tracking)
Life Events Checklist
Life Events 8 life events, 72 checklist itemsDEERS enrollment: DoDI 1000.13 (Identification Cards for Members of the Uniformed Services)
SGLI/FSGLI: 38 U.S.C. Chapter 19; SGLV 8286, SGLV 8286A
SBP: 10 U.S.C. Chapter 73; DD Form 2656
TRICARE Qualifying Life Events: 32 CFR 199
DIC rates 2026: VA.gov DIC survivor rates , $1,699.36/month base, effective December 1, 2025 (2.8% COLA)
VA dependent pay: VA Form 21-686c; 38 CFR 3.4(b)(2)
Burial allowances: VA Form 21P-530EZ; $2,000 SC, $1,002 non-SC (deaths on/after Oct 1, 2025)
USFSPA: 10 U.S.C. 1408
MSRRA: P.L. 111-97 (Military Spouses Residency Relief Act)
Fry Scholarship: 38 U.S.C. 3311(b)(9)
TSP: 5 U.S.C. Chapter 84; TSP.gov participant guidance
Military Pay Calculator 2026
Active Duty Benefits & Total Compensation
Active Duty Benefits DFAS 2026 Military Pay Tables (3.8% raise, NDAA FY2026)Active Duty Benefits DTMO BAH Rate Lookup (2026 rates, +4.2% avg)Active Duty Benefits BAS 2026: Enlisted $476.95/mo, Officers $328.48/mo. DFAS BAS Rates Active Duty Benefits Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE): IRS Combat Zones · 26 U.S.C. § 112Active Duty Benefits TRICARE Prime (Active Duty): 10 U.S.C. § 1076 · TRICARE Prime Active Duty Benefits Healthcare premium benchmark: KFF 2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey (employee contribution figures)Active Duty Benefits SGLI: 38 U.S.C. §§ 1965–1980A · $500K coverage @ $0.06/$1,000/mo = $30.00 base + $1 TSGLI = $31/mo. VA SGLI Active Duty Benefits TSP / BRS Match: 5 U.S.C. § 8432 · 37 U.S.C. § 356 · TSP Booklet — Summary of the Thrift Savings Plan Active Duty Benefits BRS Continuation Pay: 37 U.S.C. § 356 · DoD Blended Retirement System Active Duty Benefits Tuition Assistance: DoD Instruction 1322.25 ($250/SH, $4,500/yr cap)Active Duty Benefits SkillBridge: DoD SkillBridge Program (up to 180 days)Active Duty Benefits COOL (Credentialing Opportunities On-Line): DoD COOL Portal Active Duty Benefits PCS Entitlements (DLA, TLE, MALT, DITY/PPM): Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) Active Duty Benefits Family Separation Allowance: 37 U.S.C. § 427 · DD Form 1561Active Duty Benefits VA Home Loan eligibility: 38 U.S.C. Chapter 37 · 90 days active service thresholdActive Duty Benefits SCRA (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act): 50 U.S.C. § 3901 et seq. (6% interest cap, lease termination)Active Duty Benefits Military Lending Act (MLA): 10 U.S.C. § 987 (36% MAPR cap)Active Duty Benefits Commissary savings: DeCA published average (~22% vs civilian grocers)Active Duty Benefits Parental Leave (12 weeks): DoD Instruction 1300.26 (effective 2024)Active Duty Benefits Military OneSource (counseling, MilTax, MFLC): militaryonesource.mil · 1-800-342-9647Active Duty Benefits Space-A Travel: AMC Passenger Travel · DoD 4515.13-R
Transition Skills Matrix
Skills Matrix Transition Programs Active Duty Benefits SkillBridge (DoW): skillbridge.mil · Military OneSource — About DoW SkillBridge · up to 180 days, command approval + completed TAP, 3,000+ partner organizationsSkills Matrix Hiring Our Heroes (US Chamber of Commerce Foundation): hiringourheroes.org · Corporate Fellowship Program (12wk SkillBridge), Career Forward (Google Career Certificates), Career Accelerator (12wk paid spouse fellowship — permanent DoW program effective Jan 1, 2026 per FY2025 NDAA), Salesforce Fellowship Program, Skilled Trades Academy, Amplify, IBM SkillsBuildSkills Matrix FourBlock Veteran Career Readiness Program: fourblock.org · 10–11 week semester cohort, weekly host-company engagement, 1:1 Career Readiness Coaches, CareerFlow AI toolsSkills Matrix Warrior-Scholar Project: warrior-scholar.org · 1–2 week academic bootcamps at top-tier universities (Yale, Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Columbia, Notre Dame, UCI); enlisted (E1–E9) without bachelor's degree; Humanities, STEM, and Business & Entrepreneurship tracksSkills Matrix USO Pathfinder Transition Program: uso.org/programs/uso-pathfinder-transition-program · 1:1 USO Transition Specialist + personalized Action Plan; 12 months pre-separation through 12 months post; AD/RG/SP; worldwide via USO networkSkills Matrix IVMF Syracuse (D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families): ivmf.syracuse.edu · Onward to Opportunity (O2O, 30+ industry certs · SkillBridge program); Boots to Business (with SBA); Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV); EBV-F (Families); EBV Accelerate (growth track); V-WISE (women-focused entrepreneurship); STRIVE; Coalition for Veteran-Owned Business (CVOB)Skills Matrix American Corporate Partners (ACP): acp-usa.org · 12-month 1:1 mentoring with Fortune 500 corporate professionals; post-9/11 vets (180+ days AD), surviving spouses, AD spouses, recent vet spouses; ACP Ventures (entrepreneurship track, launched 2024); AdvisorNet free networking platformSkills Matrix MSEP (Military Spouse Employment Partnership): myseco.militaryonesource.mil/portal/msep · msepjobs.militaryonesource.mil · 950+ partner employers committed to recruit, hire, promote, and retain military spouses; SECO career coaching includedSkills Matrix EO 13832 — Enhancing Noncompetitive Civil Service Appointments of Military Spouses: Executive Order 13832 (May 9, 2018) · federal hiring authority for military spousesSkills Matrix Spouse Guide MyCAA Scholarship Program: mycaa.militaryonesource.mil · Military OneSource — About MyCAA · up to $4,000 over 2 years for licenses, certifications, associate degrees in portable career fields; pay-grade eligibility cited from official portal — verify directly before applyingSkills Matrix Service to School (S2S): service2school.org · free admissions counseling for veterans and transitioning AD applying to undergrad and graduate programs (MBA, JD, MPA, MPP, etc.); VetLink — ~50 top-tier partner colleges with 70%+ graduation rateSkills Matrix Coverage research methodology: each program mapped to 19 civilian-life skills (5 clusters: Getting Hired, Money & Mindset, Going Federal, Starting a Business, Running a Business) using ✓ direct / ~ adjacent / ♦ vehicle-delivered notation; researched directly against each program's official materials. Last verified May 9, 2026.
Glossary
74 terms defined from VA.gov, 38 U.S.C., 38 CFR, 10 U.S.C., DoD publications, and OPM regulations
Cross-linked to relevant Page 214 tools
Crisis Resources
Veterans Crisis Line: 988 (press 1)
DoD Safe Helpline (MST): 1-800-995-8387
Vet Centers: 1-877-WAR-VETS (927-8387)
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1-877-4AID-VET (424-3838)
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
VA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274
All numbers verified against VA.gov and respective organization websites, March 2026
All data is sourced from official U.S. government publications and publicly available federal records.
Page 214™ is not affiliated with the VA, DoD, OPM, or any federal agency.
If you find an error, please
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Built by a retired Navy Commander
Page 214 was built by Em, a retired U.S. Navy Commander (Medical Service Corps, 20+ years) . Page 214 is free, privacy-first, and entirely client-side — no account, no data collection, no advertising. Source-fidelity principles: every calculator validates against the corresponding VA, DFAS, or DoD rate table; every guide cross-references the underlying U.S. Code or Code of Federal Regulations citation; every legislative reference includes the public-law number. Pay tables refresh each January with the annual COLA; tool updates ship as VA, DoD, or Congress publishes changes. The Page 214 source standard: primary government source > official agency interpretation > peer-reviewed research > established secondary source . Where conflicts exist between secondary sources, Page 214 defaults to the underlying statute or regulation and notes the conflict in-tool. Sources lists are dated — rates, deadlines, and presumptive-condition lists change frequently; always verify the current version at the official source before filing claims or making financial decisions. If you find an error, please email contact@page214.org — corrections are welcomed and prioritized.
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Page 214™ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Department of the Treasury, or any federal agency.
The tools on this site are for
educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or medical advice. Results are approximations based on publicly available data and may not reflect your exact situation.
Always consult a qualified professional — such as a VA-accredited claims agent, financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney — before making decisions about your benefits, retirement, or finances.
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Built by a retired U.S. Navy Commander to help veterans and their families understand their benefits.
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