Military Benefits

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 included a provision "to assess the panoply of benefits and programs available government-wide to separating servicemembers intended to provide the skills and education necessary for such members to achieve meaningful and fulfilling employment in their civilian lives." Chapter 1 describes the comprehensive inventory of federal programs providing assistance to servicemembers, veterans, and their families -- including information from the administering agencies on who is eligible to receive services, the programs' objectives, and the available services. Chapter 2 provides a general discussion of legislative provisions and proposals relating to the military benefits for former spouses. Chapter 3 contains information on locating military unit histories and individual service records of discharged, retired, and deceased military personnel. Military medical care is a congressionally authorised entitlement that has expanded in size and scope since the late 19th century. Chapter 4 answers selected frequently asked questions about military health care. Chapter 5 discusses the standards and procedures governing the disposition of medical malpractice claims that servicemembers and non-servicemembers assert against the United States, as well as pertinent considerations for Congress. DOD has taken steps to modernise its Military Health System to ensure that it operates efficiently. Chapter 6 assessed the extent to which the services use validated dental clinic staffing models that also incorporate cross-service staffing standards, and have recruited and retained military dentists and measured the effectiveness of their recruitment and retention programs. The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), enacted in 1972, provides cash benefits to a surviving spouse or other eligible recipient(s) of a retiree or deceased member of the uniformed services. Chapter 7 describes the categories of beneficiaries eligible for survivor benefits under the military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), the formulas used in computing the income level (including the integration of SBP benefits with other federal benefits), and the costs of SBP participation incurred by the retiree and/or the beneficiary. Chapters 8 and 9 provide information on the military retirement system.