Guides

Home / Guides

Enlisted vs. Officer: Which Military Path Fits You?

Career Paths · 12 min read

Compare enlisted and officer paths by entry requirements, daily work, 2026 pay, commissioning options, and enlisting-first risks before you sign.

Pay & Money · 9 min read

See 2026 E-5 basic pay, the exact E-4 promotion raise, BAH and barracks rules, annual cash pay and allowances, bonuses, and longevity increases.

Spouse Employment · 9 min read

Check MyCAA eligibility, the $4,000 limit, covered credentials, excluded costs, and how to get your education plan and funding approved.

Transition · 9 min read

Full-time SGLI generally continues free for 120 days after separation. See VGLI’s 240-day deadline, 2026 rates, and disability rules.

Career Paths · 10 min read

Compare AGR and dual-status technician jobs, application routes, tour security, pay status, and retirement before accepting a full-time Guard role.

Education · 11 min read

Calculate your Post-9/11 GI Bill housing allowance using the E-5 rate, campus ZIP, course load, online status, benefit tier, and term dates.

Career · 12 min read

Learn the 13 clearance guidelines, what continuous vetting detects, what you must report, and how to respond before one problem becomes two.

Career Paths · 12 min read

Compare military jobs requiring Secret, Top Secret, or TS/SCI eligibility, then learn what the SF-86 checks and what can block approval.

Pay & Money · 12 min read

Find the military relief society to call, expenses that may qualify, documents to gather, and safer options to use instead of payday loans.

Retirement · 13 min read

Use this final-year military retirement checklist to secure SBP, retired pay, VA claims, retiree IDs, myPay access, and Space-A privileges.

Career · 12 min read

Plan drill and AT around work, protect civilian promotions, use ESGR early, compare compatible careers, and know when an IRR transfer makes sense.

VA Benefits · 12 min read

Learn when to seek a VA rating increase, how protected ratings work, what evidence you need, and the deadlines that protect your current payment.