Welcome. Let's set your first year up right.
The choices you make in your first 12 months — banking, TSP, SGLI, tuition assistance, and how you handle your LES — compound for the rest of your career. Here's the playbook.
Your first 90 days
Open a military-friendly bank
USAA, Navy Federal, or a local credit union. Direct-deposit your LES here. Avoid overdraft-heavy commercial banks.
Learn your LES
Log in to myPay. Understand every line: base pay, BAH, BAS, taxes, TSP, SGLI, allotments. If you don't know a line, ask.
Set SGLI intentionally
You're auto-enrolled at $500k for ~$31/mo. Keep it unless you have private coverage — it's the cheapest life insurance you'll ever get.
Update DEERS
Add dependents (spouse, kids), verify your address. Downstream benefits — TRICARE, BAH-with-dependents, ID cards — all depend on DEERS being correct.
Start TSP — 5% minimum
You get the full 5% match under the Blended Retirement System. Not contributing 5% is leaving free money on the table. Use the Lifecycle fund matched to your retirement year.
Do NOT buy a car at 24% APR
The dealership outside base is not your friend. Get pre-approved by USAA/NFCU first, or don't buy. Debt on a depreciating asset is the #1 junior enlisted mistake.
Money moves that pay off for decades
Contribute at least 5% to TSP from day one
Under BRS (Blended Retirement System), the government matches up to 5% of your base pay. Contributing 5% doubles your TSP contribution instantly. Skipping this is turning down a guaranteed 100% return.
- Choose Roth TSP at junior ranks — you're in a low tax bracket now, pay tax now, withdraw tax-free.
- Pick a Lifecycle (L) fund matched to your target retirement year. It auto-adjusts as you age.
- Deploy to a combat zone? Contributions are tax-free — max out TSP while deployed.
- See the TSP Projector to run your numbers.
An E-3 contributing 5% + match to TSP for a 20-year career can retire a millionaire on that alone.
Use school benefits WHILE you're in
Federal TA — up to $4,500/yr
Save your GI Bill for later
Start your VA file NOW
Document every injury, every sick-call visit, every incident.
Twisted ankle in PT? Ringing in your ears after the range? Back sore from ruck marches? Go to sick call.Every documented visit becomes evidence for VA service-connection later. No documentation = no rating.
- Get a copy of your service treatment records annually.
- Know what an Intent to File is — you'll want to file one before you ETS.
- Baseline hearing test at MEPS is your friend later.
Ready to plan further out?
First home? First investment? First deployment?
15-minute call, veteran-to-veteran. We'll map out your benefits stack.