By Amanda Huffman

Veteran and Military Spouse

Often, when people talk about military service, they focus on the sacrifices that servicemembers and their families must make to support the military lifestyle. It’s easy to see why, since military service does require a lot of sacrifice. But there are many good things you can take from living a military lifestyle. Here are just a few of the beneficial experiences you may have.

Financial Stability

For many servicemembers, joining the military not only gives them their first full-time job, but also their first experience living on their own. A steady paycheck can be exciting and easy to spend recklessly. But the military provides resources to help its newest members make good financial choices. Teaching them about budgeting and saving is crucial in helping them achieve strong financial stability. The military also has programs to help individuals who find themselves in debt, such as ways to pay back loans without interest. 

Friends, Both Near and Far

One of the best things about military life is the friends that you can make. It isn’t easy to continually start over and have to make new connections, but making new friends at new locations and maintaining those friendships even after you both have moved to a new location is one of the best parts of military life. Good-byes can be hard because the friends we meet make life great. However, making a PCS move to a new place brings new opportunities for new friendships. Being able to share them with other friends you’ve met along the way is invaluable.

New Experiences in New Places

You can love it or hate it, but moving often is a fact of military life for most servicemembers and their families. One of the good things about moving is planning all the additional places you can visit, either on your way to your new location or once you arrive at your new assignment. In civilian life, many people live in the same area their whole lives, but military life allows you to explore unique cultures and experiences all over the world. 

A Solid Foundation

Throughout your military career, it’s important to invest in the future. The military now matches Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) investments up to five percent for those in the Blended Retirement System (BRS). These small investments, along with government matching, can help set you up for success when retirement comes. And while the TSP is a great start in investing in your future, there are more ways to support a great retirement, such as protecting and building your wealth through financial solutions, such as life insurance plans that are created with the military lifestyle in mind.

The military also offers additional help for purchasing a home, whether or not you take advantage of a military home mortgage advisor. The VA Home Loan program gives military members and Veterans the opportunity to own a home without a down payment and no PMI. Those two factors make it easier for military members and Veterans to purchase a home.

Tools to Get You Through Tough Times

Having to act as a single parent while your spouse is deployed or TDY, saying goodbye to friends, and the stress of moving are all difficult, but these experiences can help you gain key knowledge and skills to use throughout your life. For instance, moving can teach you how to be organized. Being alone can teach you how to ask for help or make you realize you are stronger than you think. Saying goodbye to friends can help you have empathy for others who have to say goodbye.

Get the Support You Need for Your Military Life

Whether you’re looking to protect yourself or your family, Armed Forces Mutual offers a variety of affordable, right-sized life insurance policies to help ensure your financial independence, plus Member benefits — from your own Digital Vault to store your essential documents, to Survivor Assistance Services. Not sure what level of coverage you really need? Get a quote now.