Why the change? And what does it say about the financial realities facing today’s military families?

Those are the questions explored in this episode of the Military Wallet Podcast, where host Ryan Guina is joined by military journalist, researcher, and Navy spouse Jennifer Barnhill. Together, they look beyond the headline percentages to examine the broader story: why military compensation is changing, how pay decisions are made, and why supporting military families requires more than simply increasing paychecks.

How Military Pay Raises Are Actually Determined

Many people assume military pay raises happen automatically, but the process is much more complex.

The discussion begins with an explanation of how annual raises are typically tied to the Employment Cost Index before working their way through the Department of Defense budget request, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, and ultimately the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Along the way, Congress has considerable flexibility to adjust proposed raises as a strategy to support military readiness, recruiting, retention, and budget priorities.

Understanding this process helps explain why two very different proposals are currently on the table:

• Senate proposal: A 3.6% across-the-board raise for all servicemembers.
• House proposal: A tiered raise, including:
  • 7% for E-1 through E-5
  • 6% for E-6 through O-3
  • 5% for O-4 and above

Rather than treating every rank equally, the House proposal intentionally directs more money toward the servicemembers most likely to be experiencing financial hardship.

“If military leadership and Congress can see some of these problems and find ways to build solutions before they become breaking points, we’re gonna have a more resilient military,” shared Guina.

Why Junior Enlisted Families Are Receiving More Attention

One of the most insightful parts of the conversation focuses on why Congress is considering targeted raises in the first place.

Barnhill explains that advocacy organizations, military families, and researchers regularly communicate with lawmakers about the realities military households face. Behind every budget proposal are conversations about quality of life, recruiting challenges, and family financial stress—not just economic formulas.

Today’s junior enlisted families often face multiple financial pressures simultaneously:

• Rising housing costs
• Expensive child care
• Difficulty maintaining two incomes because of frequent military moves
• Growing credit card debt
• Food insecurity
• Higher costs in duty stations where families have little choice about where they live

These challenges have become increasingly visible in recent years, making targeted raises part of a larger strategy to improve both readiness and retention.

Military Spouse Employment Is Now Part of the Conversation

“The most recent [Quadrennial Review]… really focused on the need for dual incomes as a military household and needing to consider not just the service member compensation, but the household as a whole,” shared Barnhill.

One of the biggest shifts discussed in the episode is how military spouse employment is finally being included as part of the military compensation policy conversation.

Barnhill highlights findings from the most recent Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, which acknowledged that today’s military households increasingly depend on two incomes. Frequent permanent change of station (PCS) moves, overseas assignments, and limited child care opportunities often prevent spouses from maintaining stable careers, directly affecting household finances.

Rather than evaluating only a servicemember’s paycheck, policymakers are beginning to examine the financial health of the entire family. That’s a significant change from previous compensation reviews and may influence future military pay and benefit decisions.

Targeted Raises Aren’t New

Although the 2027 proposal has generated attention, the podcast explains that targeted military pay raises have historical precedent.

Listeners learn about several examples, including:

• Targeted raises for noncommissioned officers during the mid-2000s.
• Additional raises tied to recruiting and retention challenges.
• The Fiscal Year 2025 package, which combined a general raise with an additional 10% targeted increase for junior enlisted servicemembers.

These examples illustrate how military compensation has occasionally been adjusted to address specific workforce challenges rather than applying identical raises across every rank. Both Barnhill and Guina emphasized the fact that pay raises have always been a matter of debate, as they are just one part of an ever-evolving military recruitment and retention strategy.

Pay Is Only One Piece of Financial Security

A recurring theme throughout the episode is that increasing pay alone cannot solve every financial challenge military families face.

Barnhill discusses how inflation, housing shortages, child care costs, and military spouse unemployment often compound one another. Even when housing allowances or cost-of-living adjustments eventually increase, those changes frequently lag behind rapidly rising expenses.

The conversation also explores assistance programs available to military families, including:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Installation financial counseling services

However, the hosts also explain some of the barriers families encounter when trying to access these programs, including eligibility calculations that count housing allowances and previous challenges for overseas families using WIC benefits.

Why these Raises Are Being Debated

The episode doesn’t shy away from discussing criticisms of targeted raises.

Guina explains concerns such as “pay compression,” where differences between adjacent pay grades become smaller, potentially reducing incentives for promotion into more demanding leadership positions.

Barnhill also addresses another common criticism—that previous generations “made it work” with less. 

“We experience different things like COVID. We experience recessions. We experience all kinds of things that are different than the generation before,” said Barnhill. “People behind and others will say, you know, ‘they have it so easy.’ But the reality is, it’s just a different version of hard.”

Barnhill shares that her reporting has discovered that today’s military families face different economic realities than in previous generations, including higher housing costs, child care expenses, student debt, and the lingering effects of the Great Recession and COVID-19. Comparing financial realities across different generations without considering those factors overlooks the changing financial landscape military families now navigate.

Looking Beyond Military Pay

“Behind pay, behind the topic you hear in the news, there are a lot of stories behind that. Families impacted, lives impacted,” said Barnhill.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the conversation is that compensation reform must be paired with broader investments in military quality of life.

Guina discussed several long-term issues that deserve continued attention, including:

• Military spouse employment
• Affordable child care
• Barracks improvements
• Privatized housing
• Disaster recovery after hurricanes and other emergencies
• Financial education
• Infrastructure that supports military readiness through stronger family stability

Rather than viewing pay raises as the complete solution, both Barnhill and Guina argued that military compensation should be part of a broader strategy that helps families build financial readiness throughout a military career.

Listen to the Full Conversation

Military pay raises often become headline news because of a single percentage. This conversation reminds listeners that those numbers represent real families making difficult financial decisions every day.

Whether you’re interested in military compensation, recruiting and retention, military spouse employment, or the future of military quality of life, this episode provides valuable context behind one of the biggest defense policy discussions currently underway.

Additional Resources

These organizations and government resources provide background on military compensation, housing, food assistance, and family support programs discussed in the podcast:

• Employment Cost Index (ECI) – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explains the wage-growth index that helps determine annual military pay raise recommendations.
• National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee provide updates on annual defense legislation and military compensation proposals.
• Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation – Available through the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, which oversees military compensation policy and publishes major compensation reviews.
• Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) – Learn more about your compensation for housing.
• Military OneSource Financial Counseling – Military OneSource offers free confidential financial counseling for service members and military families.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – USDA SNAP Program provides eligibility information and application guidance.
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – USDA WIC Program explains nutrition assistance for pregnant women, postpartum mothers, infants, and young children.

The post Podcast: 2027 Military Pay Raise Proposal: What It Means for Military Families appeared first on The Military Wallet.

While this arrangement could work out if they simply run the engine for a bit once a week to keep everything in working order, the situation changes if they plan to drive it regularly. You could be personally responsible for some costs if they get into an accident while you’re deployed, even if you had nothing to do with what happened. Learn more about when it’s allowed for someone else to drive your vehicle, what your insurance may and may not cover, and how to protect yourself before you leave.

The Key Rule: Insurance Follows the Car

With most policies, car insurance follows the car, not the driver. That means if you have an insurance policy on your car or truck, it can also cover someone else who borrows the car with your permission. If they get into an accident while driving your car, your car insurance could step in to help cover costs.

What Is Permissive Use?

The important factor here is that the driver has your permission to drive the car. Permissive use coverage means your policy can cover other drivers when they occasionally drive your car with your permission. For example, if your neighbor’s car broke down but they need to make it to an important doctor visit, they might be able to borrow your car while you’re deployed and be covered by your policy under permissive use. It depends on the type of coverage you maintain on the vehicle when you’re gone and the details of your policy.

But if your neighbor drives your car to work every day, that could be a very different situation. Permissive use does not apply to people who regularly and routinely drive your car. 

The coverage limits that apply to permissive use coverage can vary by insurer, state, and policy. Don’t assume that by lending someone your car when you’re deployed, they’ll be covered to the same limits as you. According to Geico, if an accident occurs under permissive use, lower liability coverage limits could apply. With some policies, your comprehensive and collision coverage may not apply at all. Your insurance claim could even be denied, depending on who was driving and what they were doing.

Costs beyond what your car insurance could cover become the responsibility of the driver. If the person borrowing your car has their own insurance policy, it’s typically secondary, meaning it kicks in after your own policy limits are exhausted.

When Coverage Can Be Denied

There are some important exceptions to permissive use coverage. In these situations, the person driving your car would most likely not be covered:

• They regularly drive your car: If someone routinely drives your car, they’re not an occasional borrower, and they should be named on your policy.
• They’re excluded from your policy: If you excluded them as a named driver on your policy, then they won’t be covered.
• They don’t have a driver’s license: If someone lost their license (perhaps for DUIs or other violations), they’re not a legal driver, and they won’t be covered.
• They’re a member of your household: Anyone who is a member of your household—your spouse, parent, or child of driving age—generally needs to be on your car insurance policy.
• They borrow your car to drive for Uber, Lyft, or similar: They would either need a rideshare endorsement or commercial auto insurance instead.

What Happens If They Get into an Accident

You’re thousands of miles away on deployment. Someone borrowed your car, and they got into an accident. By the time you find out what happened, the damage is done. Depending on what occurred, here’s what could happen with your car insurance:

Your policy pays

If you gave the driver permission, the accident could be covered under your liability insurance, up to your policy limits. 

Here’s an example. Let’s say your policy limits are 50/100/50. Depending on the state, your policy could cover the other driver’s medical bills up to $50,000 and property damage up to $50,000. If more than one person was injured, the total your policy would pay toward their medical costs would be $100,000. 

However, in some states and with some insurers, permissive use may only cover up to your state’s minimum car insurance requirements, which could be much lower. In that case, the insurance policy of the person who borrowed the car could kick in to cover costs, too. 

Your rates go up

Your insurance could be more expensive if someone causes an accident while driving your car.

Because a claim was filed on your policy, your rates will likely go up at renewal. Insurers include your claims history as a rating factor when pricing your insurance policy, so expect to see an increase on your bill. 

In some cases, your insurer might decide not to keep you as a customer. Then you’d have to shop for new insurance immediately, so you don’t risk a lapse in coverage, which could cause new headaches. An insurance lapse can result in fines, license suspension, and other penalties, depending on your state. Plus, when you go to purchase a new policy after the lapse, your rates will likely be even more expensive. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) doesn’t protect against auto insurance lapses the way it does for health and life insurance.

You could be responsible for other costs

Typically, if the person borrowing your car is at fault in an accident, then they would be responsible for costs beyond the limits of your auto policy. Your insurance helps cover injuries and damages, but they would be legally responsible for the accident and any remaining losses.

Say, for example, a friend who was only supposed to turn your car on to keep it running started using it regularly without telling anyone after their car died. They didn’t see the harm, but one day they caused an accident that resulted in severe injury.

Your car insurance policy limits are 25/50/25, but the other driver who was injured has $30,000 in medical costs. The person borrowing your car could be personally responsible for the remaining $5,000. If they have an insurance policy of their own, it could kick in to cover their costs. But if they don’t, they’d have to pay for it out of pocket. The injured driver might even sue them for pain and suffering.

In some cases, though, costs that go beyond your policy limits (or the driver’s car insurance limits, if they have a policy) could be your responsibility to pay for out of pocket. For instance, if you let someone borrow your car who really shouldn’t be driving (such as your minor child, a drunk person, or someone with an illness that makes it dangerous to drive), it could be considered “negligent entrustment.” The injured driver might then file a lawsuit against you for their losses.

When You Must Add Someone to Your Policy

In some cases, you’ll need to make sure the person who’ll be borrowing your car while you’re deployed is listed on your car insurance policy. If they live in your home, they need to be on the policy, whether they’re your spouse, family member, relative, significant other, a kid away at college, or a roommate. Every licensed driver in the household should be named on the policy. This applies whether or not you’re deployed. 

If they live in your home but you leave them off of your policy, the insurance company could deny your claim if an accident were to happen. Your insurance company might decide not to renew you, or could even cancel your policy for lying about the drivers in your household, which is considered “soft” insurance fraud, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

You should also add someone to your policy if they’ll be regularly driving your car, borrowing it to go to work, to regularly pick up the kids, or for some other reason. This is considered regular use, not permitted use, and they should be listed as a driver if you want to make sure it’s covered.

Deployment-Specific Risks

When you’re deployed, it can be tough to juggle your car insurance needs with the fact that you’ll be gone and you won’t be driving the car. But if you own the car, it requires insurance. 

If someone else will be storing and maintaining the car for you, they’ll also need to drive it periodically to make sure it stays running, which can be a long-term commitment. If you’re deployed overseas, it’s hard to predict exactly how long you’ll be gone. 

Some insurance companies, like USAA, offer storage insurance especially for deployed military members. This allows you to store the vehicle securely and only keep a low-cost comprehensive or “storage insurance” policy on the vehicle to protect against hazards like fire or storms. If you drop liability coverage without notifying your state, there could be serious repercussions. You might need to file an affidavit of nonuse to avoid serious fines or penalties.

However, if you have a lien on the car–meaning you’re financing it with an auto loan–you may not be able to choose storage insurance, and could be required to maintain full coverage instead, even if you aren’t around to drive the vehicle. 

How to Protect Yourself

• Before your deployment, update your car insurance policy to reflect the new reality. Add any drivers who might borrow your car, especially if they live in your household. 
• Set clear agreements with each person who might borrow your car, including rules on maintenance, fueling, care, and determine how often they can use the car and where they can drive it.  
• If it works better for your situation, consider alternative arrangements, including storage insurance or removing yourself from the policy as an active driver, assuming you’re not the primary insured (or adding a military deployment status).
• See if there are military discounts that could apply that could help offset the cost of car insurance while you’re away.
• Set up autopay so you don’t miss a payment and risk a lapse in coverage.
• Keep your policy current, including the list of named drivers.
• Review your policy every year or at renewal to be sure the coverage and drivers are accurate and reflect your current situation.
• Don’t lend your vehicle to anyone you don’t trust to drive responsibly.
• Make sure your coverage limits are set high enough to cover your risk while staying affordable.

Bottom Line

Lending your car to others means accepting financial risk. If you’re deployed, life is risky enough; make sure the risk of lending your vehicle is worth it. If you decide that it is, review your car insurance policy carefully to make sure it reflects your desired coverage levels and drivers who will be using the vehicle, and make updates as necessary. When you return, review the policy again.

The post What Happens If You Let Someone Drive Your Car While You’re Deployed? appeared first on The Military Wallet.

Military members have access to benefits such as the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), government retirement contributions for eligible servicemembers, and other programs that can support long-term financial goals. But knowing these resources exist is only part of the equation. Building wealth also requires managing spending, saving consistently, investing for the long term, and making deliberate decisions when your income increases.

Darius Lester, an active-duty Airman and founder of Mammoth Money Mindset and Mammoth Money Academy, has used many of these strategies in his own financial life. He also teaches them to other servicemembers through his financial education work.

How Can You Build Wealth on Active Duty?

Servicemembers can build wealth by combining military-specific benefits with basic personal finance strategies. Some of the most important steps include:

• Automate savings and investments so you don’t have to rely on willpower.
• Contribute to the TSP and take advantage of government matching if you are eligible.
• Build an emergency fund that reflects your household’s financial needs.
• Avoid lifestyle inflation when you receive promotions or pay increases.
• Invest for the long term instead of reacting to short-term market fluctuations.
• Manage debt and spending so high-interest debt doesn’t prevent you from building wealth.
• Set boundaries around financial support for family members so generosity doesn’t undermine your own financial security.

1. Automate Your Savings and Investments

One of the simplest ways to make progress toward financial goals is to remove as many decisions as possible from the process.

Instead of deciding every month whether you have enough money left over to save or invest, set up your finances so that money moves toward your goals automatically.

For servicemembers, that can include:

• TSP contributions deducted directly from military pay
• Automatic transfers to a savings account
• Allotments directed toward specific financial goals
• Recurring contributions to an investment account
• Automatic increases in savings or retirement contributions when appropriate

The advantage of automation is that saving doesn’t depend entirely on motivation or discipline.

Tactical Take

“I’m not actually disciplined. I just let the computer be disciplined for me.”

Darius LesterFounder of Mammoth Money Mindset & Mammoth Money Academy

The goal isn’t to make every financial decision automatic. Instead, automation can help ensure that important goals—such as saving for emergencies or retirement—happen before discretionary spending uses the money.

2. Start Investing in the TSP Early

For servicemembers participating in the military’s retirement system, the Thrift Savings Plan can be an important part of a long-term wealth-building strategy.

One of the biggest advantages of starting early is time. Retirement contributions have the opportunity to grow over many years, and investment earnings can themselves generate additional earnings through compounding.

For younger servicemembers, even relatively small contributions can help establish a habit that can grow as their military career progresses.

The TSP also makes saving relatively easy because contributions can be deducted directly from military pay. Servicemembers covered by the Blended Retirement System may also be eligible for government contributions to their TSP, making it particularly important to understand how the system works and whether you are receiving the full benefit available to you.

One practical strategy is to increase retirement contributions when your military pay increases. Because the contribution is generally calculated as a percentage of pay, your savings can increase as your income grows without requiring you to make a completely new decision about how much to save.

For more detailed information about contribution options, investment choices, and TSP rules, see The Military Wallet’s Thrift Savings Plan guide.

3. Build an Emergency Fund Before You Need It

Investing is an important part of building wealth, but long-term investments aren’t designed to cover every unexpected expense.

An emergency fund provides cash that can be used for unexpected expenses without requiring you to sell investments or rely on high-interest credit cards.

The amount you need depends on your household. A single servicemember with few financial obligations may have different needs than a military family with children, one income, significant recurring expenses, or other financial responsibilities.

A common starting point is to maintain several months of essential expenses in readily accessible savings, with households facing greater financial uncertainty potentially needing a larger reserve.

Military families may also want to consider expenses associated with PCS moves, changes in housing, vehicle repairs, temporary disruptions in income for a spouse, or other costs that can accompany military life.

Once you’ve determined an emergency-fund target, consider keeping that money in an account designed for savings rather than allowing a large emergency reserve to sit indefinitely in a low- or no-interest checking account.

A high-yield savings account may provide a way to earn more interest while keeping emergency money relatively accessible.

The important distinction is between money you may need soon and money you’re investing for the future. An emergency fund is designed for financial stability; investments are designed for longer-term growth.

4. Don’t Let Military Pay Raises Become Lifestyle Inflation

Promotions and regular military pay increases can improve your financial situation—but only if some of that additional income is directed toward financial goals.

It’s easy for spending to increase alongside income. A larger housing budget, newer vehicle, more expensive vacations, or additional discretionary spending can gradually absorb raises that could otherwise improve your financial position.

This doesn’t mean servicemembers should never enjoy an increase in income. Instead, consider deciding in advance how much of a raise will go toward future goals.

For example, when your pay increases, you could:

• Increase your TSP contribution.
• Increase automatic savings.
• Pay down high-interest debt faster.
• Increase contributions to another retirement or investment account.
• Put additional money toward a specific financial goal.
• Use some of the increase for discretionary spending while directing the rest toward savings.

The important thing is to make the decision intentionally rather than allowing your spending to automatically expand until the extra income disappears.

Tactical Take

Lester emphasizes the importance of directing at least part of an income increase toward savings or investing before allowing lifestyle expenses to grow. The principle is simple: When your income goes up, try to make your wealth-building go up, too.

Darius LesterFounder of Mammoth Money Mindset & Mammoth Money Academy

5. Invest for the Long Term

Investing can be intimidating, particularly when markets fall.

For someone watching an investment account decline during a market downturn, selling can feel like the safest choice. But long-term investors need to distinguish between normal market volatility and a change in their underlying financial plan.

An example of this is the market volatility that was observed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Short-term market movements and very real economic difficulty can look very different when viewed in terms of a decades-long investment.

A long-term investment strategy generally involves understanding concepts such as:

• Diversification: Spreading investments across different assets rather than relying on a single investment.
• Index funds: Funds designed to track the performance of a particular market index.
• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): Investment funds that trade on exchanges and can hold diversified collections of assets.
• Mutual funds: Investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to purchase a portfolio of securities.
• Asset allocation: Determining how much of a portfolio to place in different types of investments based on goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.

The appropriate investment strategy depends on your circumstances, but one principle is broadly useful: don’t let short-term market movements cause you to abandon a long-term plan without considering the consequences.

For servicemembers, retirement accounts such as the TSP can provide a relatively straightforward way to invest for the long term. The key is understanding what you’re investing in and choosing an approach that matches your goals and ability to tolerate risk.

6. Understand Where Your Money Is Going—and Deal With High-Interest Debt

You can’t make informed decisions about your finances without knowing what is happening to your money.

That doesn’t necessarily mean tracking every purchase forever. But it does mean periodically looking at your income, expenses, debts, and financial goals.

Start by identifying:

• How much money comes into your household each month
• Your recurring expenses
• Your discretionary spending
• Every outstanding debt
• The interest rate on each debt
• How much you’re saving and investing
• Whether your current spending reflects your priorities

High-interest debt can be particularly damaging to long-term wealth building. Credit card balances, for example, can accumulate interest at rates that make it difficult for investment gains or savings contributions to keep pace.

Before someone can change their financial situation, they need to understand it.

That awareness can help you determine whether your next priority should be building savings, paying down debt, increasing retirement contributions, or addressing another financial goal.

The goal of a budget isn’t necessarily to restrict every purchase. It’s to make sure your money is going where you actually want it to go.

7. Set Boundaries around Financial Support for Family

Building wealth isn’t always just about decisions within your own household.

Some servicemembers reach financial stability before parents, siblings, or other relatives. That can create pressure to provide financial assistance, particularly when family members face emergencies or ongoing financial challenges.

Helping family can be an important personal value. But repeatedly providing financial support at the expense of your own financial stability can make it difficult to reach your long-term goals.

Before committing to ongoing financial assistance, consider questions such as:

• Can I afford this without taking on additional debt?
• Is this a one-time emergency or an ongoing financial obligation?
• Am I sacrificing retirement savings or emergency savings to provide this support?
• Have I clearly communicated what I can and cannot afford?
• Is there another way I can help that doesn’t create a long-term financial obligation?

There isn’t a universal dollar amount that is appropriate for helping family. The right decision depends on your circumstances, priorities, and relationships.

The important thing is to recognize that generosity is a financial decision, too.

Tactical TakeShould you help your extended family financially?

Lester notes that helping family can be meaningful, but it shouldn’t require consistently sacrificing your own financial security.

Darius LesterFounder of Mammoth Money Mindset & Mammoth Money Academy

Financial Success Is About More Than a Net Worth Number

Building wealth doesn’t necessarily mean becoming a millionaire or reaching a particular net worth.

For some military families, financial success means having enough savings that an unexpected expense doesn’t become a crisis. For others, it means being able to retire when they want, buy a home, support their children, or pursue opportunities without worrying about whether they can afford them.

That definition captures an important part of building wealth: money is ultimately a tool for creating choices.

For servicemembers, that process can start with relatively simple steps: automate your savings, take advantage of military retirement benefits, maintain an appropriate emergency fund, control lifestyle inflation, invest for the long term, manage debt, and make deliberate decisions about how you use your money.

You don’t have to master every aspect of personal finance at once. The most important step may simply be putting a system in place that helps you make progress consistently.

This article incorporates financial insights shared by Darius Lester during an episode of The Military Wallet Podcast.

The post How to Build Wealth on Active Duty: 7 Strategies for Servicemembers appeared first on The Military Wallet.

“Don’t get catfished. That woman you met online is only after your money.“

“Don’t respond to emails asking for your personal data.“

“Be wary of strangers who seem overly interested in what you do in the military.“

Those scams absolutely exist—and they can be devastating for the people they target.

According to Federal Trade Commission data, business impersonation scams, employment scams, identity theft, and financial fraud generate significantly more reports than stereotypical scams among military consumers.

While romance scams and inheritance emails from a foreign prince often generate headlines, military consumers are far more likely to encounter fraudulent businesses, fake employers, identity theft, and financial scams that look like everyday transactions. 

Common Consumer Protection Myths vs. Military Realities

Source: FTC 2025 Military Top Reports 

July is Military Consumer Month at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network collects fraud and identity theft reports from consumers across the country, including reports submitted by active-duty service members, military spouses, dependents, veterans, National Guard members, and Reservists.

The agency’s military dashboard, which tracks reports from 2021 through 2025, shows a remarkably consistent trend: military families continue to experience a steady volume of fraud complaints each year. Here are some common myths and the data that explain what is really happening to military service members, veterans, and families.

Myth: Romance Scams Are the Biggest Threat to Military Service Members

Imposter scams are the most commonly reported cases for both military and civilian personnel alike. And it’s easy to understand why romance scams receive so much attention.

Military life naturally lends itself to stories involving deployments and long-distance relationships. Is being taken advantage of by a would-be suitor a legitimate lingering fear, fueled by Dear John letters sent during wartime, or based on Netflix movies, based on the premise that people may marry a service member to get health insurance? Or does it feel more common because of its personal nature? Either way, these catfishing cases are far less common than other documented types of fraud. 

For instance, in 2025, consumers reported far more complaints about businesses than about classic romance scams. Business imposter scams accounted for more than 485,000 reports—nearly seven times the number of romance scam reports (around 70,000). Friends and family impersonation scams were reported even less frequently, with about 34,000 cases, about half the number of romance scam reports.

While romance scams can result in significant financial losses for individual victims, they’re only one piece of a much larger fraud landscape.

What Military Families Worry About vs. What the Data Shows

The lesson isn’t to stop worrying about someone impersonating your grandma or the new love interest after your health care. It’s to recognize that the biggest financial risks often arrive disguised as legitimate businesses rather than those with more intimate connections.

Military Spouse Employment Is Hard, Scams Make It Harder

Browse military spouse communities on Reddit, and a different concern quickly emerges. Instead of discussing romance scams or someone impersonating their great aunt Sally, many military spouses are asking questions like:

These concerns reflect the realities of military life. Frequent PCS moves, overseas assignments, childcare challenges, and licensing barriers often push military spouses toward flexible or remote employment. Unfortunately, scammers know this.

Unlike romance scams and catfishing, military spouses actually appear to be facing more scams than one might expect. 

Fake recruiters, reshipping schemes, mystery shopper offers, and employers requesting upfront payments have become increasingly common across the country. The FTC has reported significant growth in job and business opportunity scams in recent years, with consumers losing hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Military spouses may be especially likely to encounter these scams simply because they’re actively searching for portable employment that can move with them from one duty station to the next. And the data helps explain their Reddit concerns.

Employment scams were the number 4 concern nationwide in 2025, but the number 3 concern for military-connected personnel. And their losses are higher too, to the tune of $1,000.

Who Is Losing Money from Military Scams?

And when we look at who is filing complaints, we discover that active-duty spouses and dependents experienced the highest rate of financial loss among all military groups analyzed.

Four in ten reports from military spouses and dependents involved money being lost, compared with about one-third of reports from active-duty service members and fewer than three in ten reports from veterans.

That’s a meaningful finding because it aligns with the unique circumstances military spouses often face, such as frequent job searches, PCS moves, housing transitions, and managing household finances. While the data doesn’t establish why spouses report financial losses at a higher rate, it does suggest they may face distinct fraud risks that warrant targeted consumer education.

Active-Duty Families File More Reports Than Guard and Reserve Families

Another interesting pattern in the FTC dashboard is who is reporting fraud.

Active-duty service members, military spouses, and military dependents collectively submit substantially more fraud reports than members of the National Guard or Reserve.

That doesn’t necessarily mean active-duty families are more susceptible to scams. Instead, active-duty life creates more opportunities for scammers to exploit periods of transition.

Military families routinely:

• Move across the country through PCS orders.
• Search for new housing.
• Open new utility accounts.
• Shop online for household goods.
• Search for employment after each move.
• Manage deployments and temporary separations.

Each of these life events creates opportunities for fraudsters posing as landlords, employers, movers, lenders, or businesses.

How Military Scams Are Changing

One of the more interesting findings in the FTC dashboard isn’t that complaint totals are dramatically increasing. They aren’t.

Instead, the categories of complaints appear to be shifting.

While traditional fraud categories remain relatively stable, reports involving banks, lenders, and other financial institutions have become increasingly prominent in recent years. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated, frequently impersonating banks, fraud departments, payment processors, mortgage companies, and lenders in an effort to convince consumers to transfer money or disclose sensitive financial information.

Today’s scams often don’t look like scams at all.

Instead of receiving an email from a foreign prince, consumers are more likely to receive what appears to be a fraud alert from their bank or a text message warning of suspicious account activity.

The sophistication of these scams makes them significantly harder to recognize.

Why Haven’t Military Fraud Reports Increased Dramatically?

One encouraging takeaway from the FTC data is that overall complaint volumes among military consumers have remained relatively steady between 2021 and 2025, even as fraud losses nationwide have continued to climb.

It’s hard to know exactly why.

Military families today have access to more fraud education than ever before. Installation financial readiness programs, consumer protection resources, Military OneSource, command messaging, nonprofit organizations, and financial education websites like The Military Wallet all publish information equipping service members, veterans, and families about how to recognize scams.

Greater awareness may help military families recognize suspicious activity before becoming victims. At the same time, scammers continue adapting their tactics, shifting toward more sophisticated financial impersonation and employment schemes.

The result is an ongoing race between consumer education and increasingly convincing fraud. Security experts increasingly warn that generative AI may make fraud more convincing by enabling scammers to create realistic emails, voices, images, and videos.

How Military Families Can Protect Themselves

The FTC’s data suggests today’s biggest threats aren’t always dramatic; they’re ordinary interactions that suddenly become suspicious.

Military families can reduce their risk by:

• Verifying employers before accepting remote work opportunities.
• Never pay upfront fees for a job.
• Contacting banks directly using official phone numbers instead of responding to unsolicited calls or texts.
• Researching unfamiliar businesses before making purchases. And read reviews from independent sites.
• Monitor credit reports and financial accounts regularly.
• Reporting suspected fraud to the FTC, even if no money was lost.

Frequently Asked Questions About Military Scams and Consumer Protection

What are the most common scams targeting military families?

According to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Sentinel data, military families most frequently report business imposter scams, employment scams, identity theft, and financial fraud. While romance scams receive significant media attention, FTC data suggests business impersonation scams generate far more reports. Military families should be especially cautious when interacting with unfamiliar businesses, online sellers, recruiters, and financial institutions.

Are romance scams the biggest threat to military families?

No. Romance scams can cause devastating emotional and financial harm, but they are not the most commonly reported scam affecting military consumers. FTC data shows business imposter scams generate nearly seven times as many reports as romance scams. Military families are more likely to encounter fraud involving fake businesses, employment opportunities, financial institutions, and identity theft.

Why are military spouses frequently targeted by employment scams?

Military spouses often seek flexible, portable careers because of frequent PCS moves, deployments, and childcare responsibilities. Scammers exploit this by advertising fake remote jobs, reshipping positions, mystery shopper opportunities, or employers that require applicants to pay for equipment or training. Legitimate employers will never ask you to pay up front to begin working.

Why do active-duty spouses report financial losses more often?

FTC data shows that 40% of reports filed by active-duty spouses and dependents involved a financial loss, the highest percentage among military groups analyzed. The data does not explain why this occurs, but military spouses often navigate frequent moves, housing transitions, and employment searches, all of which create opportunities for scammers to target them.

What should I do if I think I’ve been targeted by a scam?

If you suspect you’ve encountered a scam, stop communicating with the individual or company immediately. Contact your bank or credit card issuer if financial information was shared, change compromised passwords, monitor your credit reports, and report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission through ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reporting scams helps investigators identify trends and warn other consumers.

How can I tell if a job offer is a scam?

Be cautious if an employer offers unusually high pay for little experience, conducts interviews only through text messages or encrypted apps, asks you to purchase equipment, requests payment before hiring, or wants to deposit a check for you to redistribute funds. Research the company independently and verify job listings through official websites before accepting an offer.

How can military service members and families protect themselves from scams?

Military families can reduce their risk by verifying businesses before making purchases, researching employers, monitoring financial accounts regularly, using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, and contacting organizations through official phone numbers rather than responding to unsolicited emails, texts, or phone calls. Staying informed about common fraud tactics is one of the best ways to avoid becoming a victim.

Where can military families report fraud or identity theft?

Military consumers can report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov. Service members and military families may also find assistance through installation legal assistance offices, financial readiness programs, Military OneSource, or their financial institution if accounts have been compromised.

The Bottom Line

When you move around a lot, you often have to trust people quickly. This opens military personnel and their families up to scams. But it is important for service members, veterans, and families to recognize the documented threats, not just the sensational scams that go viral.

The next fraud attempt is just as likely to come from someone pretending to be an employer, a bank representative, an online retailer, or a lender as it is from someone claiming to need money from you while you’re stationed overseas.

Understanding how scams are changing—and where military consumers are actually losing money—can help families focus on the threats that matter most.

Where to Report Military-Related Fraud

If you believe you’ve been targeted by a scam or experienced identity theft, report it as soon as possible.

• Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• Identity theft assistance: IdentityTheft.gov
• Notify your financial institution immediately if you believe your accounts have been compromised.
• Service members and military families can also seek assistance through their installation’s legal assistance office or financial readiness program if they need help responding to fraud.

The post Military Scams: Consumer Protection Data Reveals the Fraud Threats Facing the Military appeared first on The Military Wallet.

In a recent episode of The Military Wallet podcast, host Ryan Guina sat down with military spouse, registered dietitian, and advocate Heather Campbell to discuss the financial and emotional realities many military families face behind closed doors.

Their conversation explored everything from the gaps in military pay structures to the emotional toll of constant financial stress, while also offering practical strategies and resources for families trying to stretch a grocery budget during difficult seasons.

The discussion revealed an uncomfortable truth: food insecurity in the military community is far more common than many people realize.

Source: Military Family Advisory Network

“It Could Happen to Anybody”

Campbell describes herself as an “accidental advocate.” Her advocacy work began not through politics or policy, but through lived experience.

Despite being an officer family with three college degrees between them, Campbell and her husband struggled financially while stationed at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska.

The family faced mounting student loan payments, limited child care options, spouse unemployment, and the unique financial pressures that often accompany military life. They narrowly missed qualifying for assistance programs like WIC by just $67 per month.

That gap left them in what many advocates call the “benefits cliff”, earning slightly too much to qualify for assistance, but not enough to comfortably absorb rising costs.

“We never went without,” Campbell explained during the episode, “but it was a constant mental load.” That mental load became one of the podcast’s most important themes.

What Food Insecurity Actually Means

One of the biggest misconceptions addressed in the episode is the definition of food insecurity itself.

Food insecurity is not simply starvation or hunger. According to the USDA, food insecurity refers to “limited or uncertain access to adequate food.”

For many military families, food insecurity looks like:

• Skipping meals so children can eat
• Stressing over grocery costs before payday
• Relying on credit cards to cover essentials
• Constantly calculating whether an unexpected expense will derail the month’s budget
• Choosing cheaper, less nutritious foods because they stretch farther

Campbell noted that military food insecurity often exists quietly in middle-income military households, especially among E4 to E7 families balancing children, moves, spouse unemployment, and rising costs.

The conversation challenges the stereotype that food insecurity only affects junior enlisted troops or unemployed civilians. 

While planning for the unexpected is routine in the military, the community has to do so again and again. While many can mentally plan, it can be harder to recover after unexpected financial losses.

Why Military Families Are Especially Vulnerable

The podcast also explored why military families face unique financial pressures compared to many civilian households.

Frequent PCS moves, unpredictable employment for spouses, child care shortages, and rising housing costs create layers of instability that can quickly overwhelm even financially responsible families.

One particularly revealing discussion focused on military allowances.

Campbell explained that the military’s Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) is designed only to feed the servicemember, not their spouse or children. Meanwhile, according to the Military Officers Association of America, housing allowances often fail to match actual housing costs in competitive markets.

Even financially savvy families can struggle when several “normal” emergencies happen at once:

• Car repairs
• Insurance deductibles
• Damaged household goods during a move
• New utility deposits
• Home maintenance costs
• Temporary housing gaps during PCS transitions

As Campbell explained, “The math doesn’t math.”

That phrase may resonate with many military families who feel they are doing everything “right” and still struggling to stay afloat.

The Emotional Toll No One Talks About

Perhaps the most powerful moments of the episode came when Campbell discussed the emotional and psychological effects of financial stress.

She openly shared how isolation, financial pressure, parenting stress, and constant uncertainty contributed to feelings of depression and hopelessness during one particularly difficult season of life.

Her honesty highlighted another important issue: military families often hesitate to ask for help.

In military culture, self-reliance and resilience are deeply valued. Many servicemembers and spouses feel pressure to “handle it” privately, especially those in leadership positions.

Campbell explained that many families think:

• Someone else needs help more
• Asking for help reflects personal failure
• Financial struggles could hurt careers or reputations
• Their situation “isn’t bad enough”

The result is that many families suffer silently.

The conversation also emphasized the importance of mental health support. Campbell specifically highlighted the national 988 crisis line, which provides immediate mental health support via call or text.

Practical Grocery and Budget Strategies

While much of the episode focused on systemic issues, the discussion also included highly practical advice for families trying to manage rising grocery costs.

Campbell encouraged listeners to simplify their approach to nutrition and ignore the unrealistic messaging often promoted by diet culture and social media influencers.

Her advice centered on realistic, sustainable habits:

• Start meal planning with food already in the home
• Build meals around weekly grocery sales
• Use frozen and canned produce strategically
• Stretch proteins with beans, mushrooms, or lentils
• Reuse leftovers creatively
• Shop generic brands when possible
• Match meal complexity to weekly schedules

One particularly useful tip involved “extending” expensive proteins. For example:

• Mixing ground beef with black beans or mushrooms
• Adding vegetables and eggs to ramen
• Turning leftovers into soups, scrambles, or quesadillas

The goal, Campbell explained, is not perfection — it’s sustainability.

Resources Mentioned During the Podcast

The episode also highlighted several organizations and programs that military families can use for support.

National Resources

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
• Feeding America Food Bank Locator
• WIC Program Information
• SNAP Benefits Information

Military-Specific Resources

• Military OneSource
• Army Emergency Relief
• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
• Air Force Aid Society
• Coast Guard Mutual Assistance

Educational Support

Campbell also discussed her free workshop series, “Fuel the Home Front,” developed with the nonprofit Independent, an organization focused on military spouse wellness. The program is designed to help military and veteran families learn practical grocery budgeting and meal-planning skills.

The workshop covers:

• Meal planning
• Grocery budgeting
• Emergency food planning
• Eating out on a budget
• Shopping strategies
• Nutrition basics for busy families

Why This Conversation Matters

Military food insecurity is often invisible because the families experiencing it frequently appear stable from the outside. 

But as this podcast episode makes clear, financial strain can affect anyone, especially in a lifestyle built around frequent moves, disrupted spouse careers, and unpredictable expenses.

The conversation between Guina and Campbell offered something many military families need: honesty without shame.

It acknowledged the reality of financial hardship while also reminding families that asking for help is not weakness. And perhaps most importantly, it reframed food insecurity not as personal failure, but as a community issue that deserves visibility, empathy, and practical support.

For military families quietly carrying the stress of stretching groceries, juggling bills, or wondering how they will make it through the next PCS season, this episode serves as both validation and reminder:

You are not alone.

The post Podcast: Inside the Hidden Reality of Military Food Insecurity with Heather Campbell appeared first on The Military Wallet.

Then, at the airline counter, one question brings everything to a halt:

“When did your dog get his rabies blood test?”

Unfortunately, the answer was six months too long ago.

For military families preparing for a permanent change of station (PCS), moving a pet often requires far more planning than booking a flight. Depending on the destination, vaccination timelines, import permits, airline restrictions, seasonal embargoes, and limited pet spaces can turn a typical chaotic PCS into a logistically painful house of cards.

And unlike many other aspects of a PCS, military orders do not waive pet-related requirements, fees, or transportation restrictions. In most cases, families are responsible for meeting those requirements and paying associated costs upfront.

Here’s what military families should know before flying with pets during a PCS. 

* Please note that for simplicity, this article focuses on dogs and cats, which are the animals covered by most airline policies, destination-country import requirements, and military reimbursement programs.

What Military Families Should Know Before Flying with Pets

When planning a PCS with pets, think beyond the airline. Before booking travel, ask three key questions:

1. What does my destination require?
2. How will my pet travel?
3. What documentation do I need…and when?

In locations such as Hawaii and Japan, requirements may need to be completed months before departure. Airlines add another layer of complexity, with limited pet reservations and air temperature-related restrictions that can negatively impact available travel options during peak PCS season.

Before finalizing travel plans, verify both your destination’s import requirements and your airline’s pet policies. The two don’t always align, and overlooking either one can create costly delays.

Military Flights vs Commercial Flights

Some military families traveling overseas may be booked on the Patriot Express or Space Available flights, which offer limited pet transportation on select routes. Because pet reservations are not guaranteed and often remain uncertain until close to departure, many families continue exploring commercial airline options as a backup.

OCONUS PCS Moves With Pets

Not all PCS moves are created equal. A family moving from Norfolk to San Diego may only need to reserve a pet space with their chosen airline and obtain a health certificate. A family moving from Norfolk to Okinawa needs months of preparation and carefully coordinated timelines.

While airline policies matter, destination-country requirements often determine whether a pet can travel–and when. Before booking flights, military families should understand the specific entry requirements for their new duty station. Here are some examples:

Hawaii

Because Hawaii is the only rabies-free state in the nation, dogs and cats entering the islands must meet specific requirements before arrival. 

To qualify for Hawaii’s Direct Airport Release program and avoid quarantine, pets must be microchipped, have documentation of at least two rabies vaccinations administered more than 30 days apart, and pass an approved rabies antibody (FAVN) test. The blood sample must be tied to the pet’s microchip number.

Families must also submit paperwork and fees before arrival. As of publication, the Direct Airport Release fee was $185 per pet.

The most common mistake made by families heading to Oahu is underestimating the time it takes to process these requirements. Missing a waiting period or paperwork deadline can result in additional quarantine requirements and fees. When in doubt, work backward from your anticipated arrival date rather than your departure date. While military orders do come at the last minute, being aware of requirements in advance is advised.

Japan

Japan is considered one of the most challenging PCS destinations for pet owners, but its requirements are clearly documented by the Animal Quarantine Service. 

To bring a cat or dog into Japan without an extended quarantine period, pets must be microchipped, receive two qualifying rabies vaccinations, complete an approved rabies antibody (FAVN) test, and satisfy a 180-day waiting period before arrival. As with Hawaii, the order matters. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccinations and antibody test are completed, and the test results are tied to that specific microchip number.

Japan also requires advance notification at least 40 days before arrival. Families must submit documentation to the Animal Quarantine Service and receive approval before their pet enters the country. Pets that arrive before completing the required 180-day waiting period, or with incomplete documentation, may be required to complete the remainder of that period in quarantine. The location of that quarantine depends on the family’s circumstances and guidance from the Animal Quarantine Service.

The 180-day waiting period can complicate PCS timelines, particularly when orders arrive with less than six months’ notice.

When orders to Japan arrive, pet planning should move to the top of the PCS checklist.

Other Common OCONUS Destinations

South Korea: Pet import requirements are generally less restrictive than those in Japan, but families must still comply with vaccination, microchipping, and health documentation requirements. One advantage is the absence of Japan’s 180-day waiting period, allowing many pets to travel once testing and paperwork requirements have been met.

Guam: Although Guam is a U.S. territory, military families should not assume moving a pet there is as simple as a stateside PCS. Like Hawaii, Guam is rabies-free and requires pets to meet specific import requirements before arrival. The greater challenge is often transportation, as limited airline options can make pet reservations difficult to secure during peak PCS season.

Europe and the United Kingdom: Pet import requirements are generally less restrictive than those in Hawaii, Japan, or Guam, but rules vary by country. Many common military duty stations in Europe—including Italy, Germany, and Spain—require pets to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies before entry. The United Kingdom follows its own pet travel rules, making it important for families to verify destination-specific requirements before making travel arrangements.

Families can research destination-specific requirements through the USDA APHIS Pet Travel website, which provides guidance for pets traveling from the United States to individual countries.

Also, don’t forget that you will have to fly your pet home, and the U.S. has its own reentry policies to keep in mind. 

Cabin vs Cargo Pet Travel

In-Cabin Travel

For many military families, getting a pet into the cabin is the preferred option. Small dogs and cats may be allowed to travel under the seat in front of their owner if they meet the airline’s size and weight requirements.

The challenge is availability. Most airlines only allow a limited number of pets in the cabin on each flight, and those spots can fill quickly during peak PCS season. Some international routes do not permit in-cabin pet travel at all.

Cargo Travel

Cargo transportation is often the only option with larger dogs, especially during an OCONUS PCS.

That option comes with additional requirements, including kennel standards, weather restrictions, breed limitations, and routing considerations, as not all routes accept pet travel. Families should review airline policies carefully, as these factors can affect both travel dates and available flight options. 

Seasonal Embargoes and Breed Restrictions

One of the most frustrating aspects of PCS pet travel is that availability can change based on the weather.

Many airlines restrict or suspend pet transportation during periods of extreme heat or cold, often during the same summer months when military families are moving. A flight that works for the family may not be available for the family pet.

Breed can also affect travel options. Snub-nosed, or brachycephalic, breeds such as bulldogs, pugs, boxers, and Persian cats may face additional restrictions or be prohibited from traveling in cargo because of increased respiratory risks.

Before booking flights, verify both weather-related policies and any breed-specific restrictions that could affect your travel plans.

Which Airlines Offer Military Pet Exceptions or Discounts?

Policies, fees, and military exceptions change frequently. The chart below provides a snapshot of major airline policies as of publication, but families should always verify requirements directly with the carrier before booking travel.

How Much Does Flying with a Pet Cost Military Families?

Please note, these are planning ranges, not quoted prices.

The total cost of moving a pet during a PCS can vary dramatically depending on destination, airline availability, pet size, and whether professional transportation assistance is needed.

A family flying a cat from Virginia to Florida may spend only a few hundred dollars. A family moving a large dog overseas could easily spend several thousand dollars once airline fees, testing, veterinary appointments, crates, and import requirements are added together.

The good news is that some military families may qualify for reimbursement of certain PCS-related pet transportation expenses.

Military Reimbursement for Pet Expenses

Before the military expanded reimbursement options in 2024, responsibility for pet transportation costs fell largely on military families. This changed when new authorities expanded reimbursement options for certain pet transportation expenses.

Under current Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), servicemembers may be reimbursed for qualifying expenses associated with relocating one household pet during a PCS.

For CONUS moves, reimbursement is generally capped at $550 per move. Eligible expenses may include mandatory microchipping, boarding fees, hotel pet fees, licensing costs at the new duty station, and pet transportation costs when a pet flies or is shipped separately from the servicemember.

For OCONUS moves, reimbursement may be available for a broader range of expenses, including mandatory microchipping, quarantine fees, rabies antibody testing, boarding fees, hotel pet fees, licensing costs, and pet transportation. Reimbursement is generally capped at $2,000 per overseas PCS.

In certain situations where Patriot Express capacity and commercial airline options are unavailable, military departments may approve reimbursement above the standard cap. Eligible servicemembers assigned to specific overseas locations may receive reimbursement of up to $4,000 for qualifying pet transportation expenses. The servicemember must be PCSing FROM countries designated by the CDC as high-risk for dog rabies to receive the transportation reimbursement.

Families should keep detailed records and receipts for all pet-related expenses and consult their transportation office before making travel arrangements. Reimbursement can provide meaningful relief, but it is best viewed as a way to offset costs rather than cover them completely. Depending on the destination, airline availability, and number of pets involved, families may still face significant out-of-pocket expenses during an overseas PCS.

Alternative Pet Transportation Options

Pet Relocation Services

Professional pet relocation companies coordinate many of the logistics associated with pet travel, including documentation, flight arrangements, import requirements, and destination-country compliance.

These services can be helpful for complex OCONUS moves involving quarantine requirements or strict import timelines.

Ground Transportation

For many CONUS PCS moves, driving is often the simplest option. It allows pets to remain with their owners throughout the trip while avoiding airline restrictions and scheduling challenges.

Family Escort Arrangements

When airline pet spaces are unavailable, some servicemembers have a spouse, friend, or relative escort the pet separately.

While not always ideal, these arrangements can help military families overcome limited airline availability during peak moving seasons or temperature limitations in the summer.

Common Mistakes Military Families Make when Flying with Pets

Most PCS pet travel problems can be traced back to a handful of avoidable mistakes:

• Assuming a pet can be added to a reservation after flights are booked.
• Waiting too long to reserve a pet space.
• Starting OCONUS paperwork after receiving flight dates.
• Focusing on airline requirements without researching destination-country regulations.
• Missing documentation deadlines or required waiting periods.
• Failing to develop a backup transportation plan if flights change or pet spaces become unavailable.

Tips for Reducing PCS Pet Travel Stress

• Start researching requirements as soon as PCS orders are received.
• Reach out to your sponsor or families who have recently completed the same move for destination-specific advice.
• Work backward from the pet’s arrival date rather than the family’s departure date.
• Reserve airline pet space as early as possible.
• Acclimate pets to their travel carrier well before moving day.
• Discuss travel plans with a veterinarian, particularly for older pets or animals with medical concerns.
• Build flexibility into travel plans whenever possible.
• Plan on being at the airport for a long time. Airline officials will inspect your documents, crates, and pet before approving them to fly.

FAQs: Flying With Pets During a Military PCS

Does the military pay to fly your pet during a PCS?

Sometimes. Under the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), servicemembers may be reimbursed for certain pet transportation expenses, generally capped at $550 for CONUS moves and $2,000 for most OCONUS moves, depending on eligibility and orders.

Can pets fly on Patriot Express flights?

Yes, but space is limited and not guaranteed. Pet reservations often fill quickly, so families usually need backup commercial travel plans.

Can military pets fly for free?

No. Military orders do not waive airline pet fees or destination requirements. Some airlines offer limited military programs, but families typically pay upfront and may later seek reimbursement for eligible costs.

Can large dogs fly during a military PCS?

Yes, but most large dogs must travel in cargo. Cargo travel is subject to airline rules, weather restrictions, kennel requirements, and breed limitations.

How early should I start preparing my pet for an OCONUS PCS?

As early as possible, often 6+ months ahead for some destinations. Countries like Japan and Hawaii require long timelines for vaccinations, testing, and waiting periods.

What documents are required to fly with a pet during a PCS?

Requirements vary but may include rabies vaccination records, a health certificate, microchip documentation, and destination-specific import paperwork.

Can my pet fly in the cabin during a PCS?

Yes, for small dogs and cats that meet airline size limits. However, space is limited and not all international routes allow in-cabin pets.

What should I budget for moving a pet during a PCS?

Costs range from a few hundred dollars for CONUS moves to several thousand for overseas PCS moves, including airline fees, vet care, testing, crates, and possible relocation services.

Bottom Line

Moving a pet during a PCS requires more planning than many families expect. Airline policies, destination-country regulations, and transportation availability can all affect when and how a pet travels. Starting early, understanding the requirements, and building flexibility into the process can help ensure both your family and your pet arrive safely at the next duty station.

The post Flying with Pets During a Military PCS: Airline Fees, Rules & Exceptions appeared first on The Military Wallet.

Barnhill’s new book, The Military Stories You’ve Been Told and the Ones You Need to Hear, challenges many of the narratives Americans have long accepted about military spouses. It examines their sacrifice, volunteerism, and support systems. The book draws upon her years of journalism, public policy research, and lived experience as a Navy spouse. The conversation peels back the layers of official policy to reveal the complicated realities military families navigate every day.

“There is always more to the story,” Barnhill shared with TMW. “Just because you’re not necessarily hearing from family members in a loud way doesn’t mean that they are not affected.”

For listeners unfamiliar with the hidden pressures placed on military spouses, the episode serves as both an introduction and a wake-up call. For military families themselves, it may feel like they’re hearing someone describe their lives.

The “Official Story” vs. Real Life

One of the central themes of the conversation is the disconnect between military policy and lived experience. Barnhill describes how military families often operate within two systems simultaneously: the official rules written in policy manuals and the unofficial expectations that quietly shape daily life.

Military spouses, she explains, are often expected to support morale through organizing events, mentoring younger spouses, and contributing to the military community in ways that are technically voluntary but culturally expected. These expectations become even more pronounced as servicemembers rise in rank.

What makes the conversation especially compelling is Barnhill’s historical perspective. She discusses how these unofficial norms are communicated through military spouse guidebooks. These books, dating back to the 1940s, are still being updated today. While the language has changed over the decades, some expectations remain remarkably persistent.

Listeners also learn about a little-known chapter in military history. Until 1988, spouse participation could directly affect a servicemember’s performance evaluation in some branches. The policy officially changed after Air Force spouses challenged the practice, but Barnhill argues the cultural expectations never fully disappeared.

The Military Spouse Employment Crisis

Another major topic explored in the episode is military spouse employment. This issue continues to affect readiness, retention, and financial stability across the force.

Frequent PCS moves, inconsistent licensing reciprocity between states, overseas SOFA agreement complications, resume gaps, and underemployment all contribute to what Barnhill calls a “wicked problem” — one without a simple solution.

The statistics discussed during the interview are striking. While military spouse unemployment numbers are often cited at around 20%, Barnhill explains that those figures only account for spouses actively seeking work. Roughly 30% of working-age military spouses are categorized as “out of the workforce” entirely.

The distinction matters.

Many spouses stop searching not because they lack ambition, but because the structural barriers become overwhelming. Barnhill highlights research from the Institute for Veterans and Military Families showing that higher education and advanced credentials do not necessarily protect spouses from underemployment. In some cases, the more specialized a spouse becomes, the harder it is to maintain career continuity through repeated relocations.

She also highlighted how perception has played a role in how practitioners approach offering solutions.

“It’s a spouse’s choice to volunteer. It’s their choice to be out of the workforce. It’s a choice that they make. However, when we look at choices, we have to look at the conditions of those choices.” Barnhill calls this misalignment the “myth of choice.” She says the choices made by spouses are seen as singular choices, when in reality, many feel as though they are left without a choice. 

Because spouses move every two to three years, creating bouts of unemployment that leave their resumes like Swiss cheese, many are underemployed. They can’t find affordable child care. If they are offered jobs, some have to make the decision to pay to work because child care costs are higher than their income, or break even, despite the added stress on the family schedule.

Barnhill shares that many of these choices are made to benefit the military family unit, but are borne by the spouse themselves. This leaves many without vested savings accounts, making retirement feel out of reach.

Housing, Advocacy, and Accountability

The conversation broadens beyond employment into larger questions of accountability within the military system.

Barnhill and Guina discuss privatized military housing, mold exposure, and the creation of the Military Tenant Bill of Rights following widespread public pressure from military families. But Barnhill emphasizes that when the military creates a policy to solve a problem, it is only the beginning. Her reporting has highlighted that policies must be revisited, evaluated, and enforced to determine whether they are truly solving the problems they were designed to address.

That theme — promises versus outcomes — runs throughout the interview.

Listeners interested in military policy, family readiness, or quality-of-life issues will find the discussion particularly valuable because it connects individual stories to systemic challenges. Rather than treating these issues as isolated incidents, Barnhill’s reporting highlights the structural nature of these problems, problems that require sustained attention.

The Human Cost of Bureaucracy

Perhaps the most emotional portion of the episode centers on the story of Theresa Jones, whose husband, Landon Jones, died after his helicopter went into the ocean while secured aboard a ship.

Barnhill explains how Jones later became involved in advocacy surrounding the so-called “Widow’s Tax” — the Survivor Benefit Plan and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset that reduced benefits for many surviving military spouses for decades.

The issue became one of the military community’s most significant survivor advocacy fights, with families spending 20 years traveling to Capitol Hill to share deeply personal stories of loss in hopes of legislative change.

The discussion underscores a difficult reality many surviving spouses face. After the casualty notifications, ceremonies, and public condolences end, families are often left to navigate complex bureaucracies largely on their own. 

Barnhill argues that military families should not have to repeatedly relive trauma simply to receive the survivor benefits they were promised.

Who Gets to Tell Military Stories?

Toward the end of the episode, Barnhill shares findings from her own analysis of military media representation. In a sample of roughly 150 military-related stories, only six substantially featured family experiences. She also found officers were quoted at dramatically higher rates than enlisted personnel.

The imbalance, she argues, shapes public understanding of military life.

When only certain voices are amplified, entire portions of the community become invisible, including spouses, children, caregivers, surviving families, reservists, and junior enlisted households.

The podcast episode focuses on the thesis of Barnhill’s book: military families are not tangential to military life. They are part of the story.

Why This Conversation Matters

What makes this podcast episode compelling is not simply the policy discussion. It is the way Barnhill combines research with deeply human storytelling. She avoids simplistic narratives and instead invites listeners to examine the military community in all its complexity.

For civilians, the conversation offers a rare glimpse into challenges often hidden behind patriotic imagery. For servicemembers and families, it validates experiences that are frequently minimized or overlooked.

And for policymakers, employers, and military leaders, the episode raises difficult but necessary questions about what genuine support actually looks like.

Listeners interested in military family advocacy, spouse employment, survivor issues, military housing, or veteran policy will find this episode especially worthwhile.

Whether you are part of the military community or simply want to better understand the realities behind military service, this episode makes one thing clear: some of the most important military stories are the ones we rarely hear.

The post Beyond the Battlefield Podcast Episode: Jennifer Barnhill on the Hidden Stories of Military Families appeared first on The Military Wallet.

There is grief in that sentence that I didn’t fully understand as a newer military spouse. Going home as a military family means walking back into a world that didn’t pause while you were away. People have grown, some are no longer there, and the neighborhoods that shaped you can look entirely different than what you once knew.

For military service families, traveling isn’t a luxury. It’s how we stay connected to who we are while our servicemember is deployed. And those trips have a way of making us deeply grateful for the life the military has helped us build.

Which makes the cost of travel feel especially heavy. Airfare for a military family of four can easily cost thousands. And to complicate matters, understanding which military benefits apply to your specific family and travel situation isn’t always easy.

There were times I stared at our bank account, wishing I could travel home for something, and didn’t go. Looking back, I wonder how many of those trips were closer to possible than I realized. 

I wasn’t looking for a handout; I just didn’t know where to look. I hope this helps another family get where they need to go—whether that’s home, on vacation, or anywhere in between.

Military Airline Discounts at a Glance

What Types of Military Family Airline Discounts Exist?

Not all military airline discounts look the same. The most common military airline benefits tend to be free checked baggage, waived oversize and overweight fees, priority boarding, and flexible ticket policies. True fare discounts are less common, and when they exist, they aren’t always cheaper than public sales.

WeSalute Airline Discounts

One program worth exploring is WeSalute (formerly Veterans Advantage), available to active-duty members, veterans, retirees, Guard and Reserve members, and their families. 

The free membership includes a $250 travel cash gift and access to the WeSalute Travel portal, a members-only booking site for flights, hotels, cruises, and more. 

The paid WeSalute+ plan offers deeper discounts across partner airlines, including JetBlue, Alaska, United, and American Airlines, free checked bags on JetBlue, and household-wide benefits. 

Also, in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, annual and multi-year plans now include $3,000 in Travel Cash gifts per year; each plan is billed upfront. The monthly plan ($9.99/month) provides a $250 Travel Cash gift. It is important to note that Travel Cash isn’t a rebate, they’re promotional travel credit with terms and expiration rules.

WeSalute is one of the few programs that extends benefits to veterans, retirees, and dependents regardless of travel type.

Do Military Spouses Qualify for Airline Discounts?

This one is rarely straightforward. Eligibility comes down to the airline, the reason for travel, and the documentation you have with you.

Spouses Traveling on PCS Orders

Most major airlines extend expanded baggage allowances to spouses. You’ll generally need to present a dependent military ID, a printed copy of the orders, and travel within the authorized window. Some airlines allow spouses to travel separately from the servicemember if dependent travel is authorized on the orders; always confirm this with the airline before travel.

But please remember that airline personnel don’t always know how to read orders or know the latest military discount policy. If the airline has an exception, be sure to have that link handy so you can explain it to them. 

You will also have to go to the ticketing agent to get these exceptions, as they are not always readily available through self-check-in kiosks. Be sure to budget ample time for this.

Spouses on Personal Travel 

When a military spouse travels without their servicemember, most airlines do not extend military baggage or fare benefits. A WeSalute membership is one of the few options available to spouses traveling independently.

Can Adult Children Receive Military Airline Benefits?

Military Children on PCS Travel

Both minor and adult military children listed on official orders typically receive the same baggage allowances as the servicemember. This represents meaningful savings for larger families. Some airlines, such as JetBlue, even allow dependents to travel on a separate reservation with a Military Dependent ID card.

Military Children on Personal Travel

WeSalute fare discounts extend to immediate family members traveling together, which can help offset costs for leisure trips. Servicemembers can also add extended family members to their membership, further extending the benefit.

Before flying with children, confirm ticketing policies by age, stroller, and car seat handling, and passport requirements for any OCONUS assignment.

Do Airline Discounts extend to Veterans and Retirees?

The honest answer here is that benefits are more limited for veterans and retirees. Most airlines reserve their most generous benefits for active-duty members on orders, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing available.

Retiree Airline Discounts

Retirees generally have more options than veterans who separated without retirement. Some airlines extend baggage benefits and priority boarding when a retired military ID is presented, and several carriers offer military fares by phone that may apply to retirees as well.

Veteran Airline Discounts

Veterans have fewer automatic perks at most airlines, but there are still options worth noting. The WeSalute fare discount is available across most major carriers for veterans, retirees, and their families, making it one of the most accessible ongoing benefits after leaving service. 

American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and other airlines partner with the Honor Flight Network, which provides complimentary flights for veterans to visit memorials in Washington, D.C. Additionally, several airlines, including American and JetBlue, offer priority boarding to veterans even when traveling for leisure.

It’s also worth noting that veterans who are within seven days of discharge are often eligible for the same baggage benefits as active-duty members. So, if you’re separating soon, confirm your eligibility before your first post-service flight.

To access benefits, be prepared to show a Veteran ID Card, a retired military ID, or a DD214. Because airline policies vary widely and change frequently, always confirm directly with the airline before you travel rather than assuming what applied on a previous trip still applies today.

Which Airlines Offer the Best Military Family Benefits?

I did the research, so hopefully you don’t have to sit on hold with multiple different airlines. The table below reflects current policies sourced from each airline’s official website as of 2026. Policies change, so always confirm directly before you travel.

Southwest deserves a specific callout: Military families traveling on PCS orders can check up to 20 bags without paying charges for excess, oversize, or overweight bags. For a family moving their lives across the country, that’s significant.

It is also worth noting that Delta, United, and Alaska each have dedicated military pet programs for PCS travel.

Common Mistakes Military Families Make

Assuming dependents automatically qualify. Benefits don’t extend to spouses and children automatically, especially for personal travel. Rules vary by airline and travel type.

While Southwest allows servicemembers free bags on personal travel, spouses and children can only take advantage of this benefit if they are traveling with their servicemember.

Assuming veteran and active-duty benefits are the same. They aren’t, at most airlines. Know the difference before you fly.

Using a kiosk instead of the ticket counter. Military benefits require agent verification. Walk past the kiosk, go to the counter, and say clearly: “I’m an active-duty servicemember, and I’d like to check bags under the military baggage policy.”

Approaching airline staff with frustration. The policies are inconsistent, and the enforcement of those policies can vary by agent. That said, agents respond to kindness, and they often have more flexibility than the official policy suggests. A calm explanation and a polite ask will take you further than anything else.

Tips to Save More on Military Family Travel

• Call the airline directly. Many military fares aren’t available online. A phone call can uncover benefits the website never mentions.
• Watch for discounted airline gift cards. Warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJ’s periodically sell airline gift cards below face value. Buying a $500 gift card for $429 is a simple way to reduce travel costs with no eligibility requirements. No orders, no military ID, and no phone call needed. Keep in mind that purchases are sometimes limited to four or five gift cards at a time.
• Look into military discount programs. Programs like WeSalute offer fare discounts, travel portals, and other perks across multiple airlines for active-duty members, veterans, retirees, and their families. Some benefits are available through a free membership, with additional savings unlocked through a paid tier.
• Check American Forces Travel. This is the DoD’s official leisure travel site, powered by Priceline, available to active-duty members, Guard, Reserve, retirees, honorably discharged veterans, and eligible MWR patrons. Hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages tend to offer the best savings, and flight prices are often comparable to public sites, so always compare before booking. Visit americanforcestravel.com to verify eligibility through DEERS. 
• Consider travel credit cards. Under SCRA and MLA protections, major issuers waive annual fees on personal cards for active-duty members and often their spouses. When paired with responsible credit use, a premium travel card can offer additional rewards and savings for military families.
• Don’t assume a paid travel membership will yield savings without crunching the numbers. If your WeSalute+ membership costs $9.99 per month, determine if your potential 5% off a JetBlue flight will yield enough savings to justify the cost. As stated above, public sales can often beat a 5% discount. 

Bottom Line

Military airline discounts exist, and for families who know where to look, they can help offset the cost of travel. Active-duty members, veterans, retirees, and their dependents all qualify differently depending on the airline, the type of travel, and the reason for travel. 

But all in all, the discounts for families on solo travel are limited. The biggest discounts go to active-duty servicemembers and families traveling on military orders.

But it never hurts to ask. 

Be sure to call ahead, bring your documentation, and be kind to the agents you encounter. Travel is a lifeline for military families, and hopefully, some of these airline discounts will make it more within reach for yours.

Policies sourced from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue official websites and program pages. Airline policies change frequently; always confirm current benefits with the airline before travel.

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There’s a whole lot to recommend these arrangements. Besides bonding and building camaraderie, it’s practical, typically with real savings to all parties’ costs of living.

But what happens if there’s a fire, burglary, or bodily damage to a visitor who has an accident on the premises? Will the renters insurance policy stump up, protecting everyone?

Does Renters Insurance Cover Roommates?

Not necessarily; a standard renters insurance policy protects only “the insured.” That’s usually (but not always) the policyholder: the person named on the policy who typically pays the premiums. 

So, suppose John and Jim share an off-base apartment, which is wholly consumed by a devastating fire. If John’s is the only name on the policy, he should get the protection of the insurance, including replacement of his lost belongings and help with the costs of temporary accommodation. Jim gets zilch.

Or maybe Jennifer and Jill share a home. James visits Jill for a date and slips on water left on the bathroom floor. He hits his head on the tub on the way down and is so badly hurt that he spends two weeks in a local hospital. 

To cover his medical bills, lost salary, and general damages, James sues both Jennifer and Jill. Jennifer, the insured, has her legal defense funded by her insurer, and if James wins, that insurer should compensate James, as directed by the court, up to the policy’s liability limit. Jill gets no support and is on the hook for any sums the court awards, plus her legal fees.

John and Jennifer could have protected their friends by adding Jim and Jill to their renters insurance policies. Many (but not all) companies permit this, and they’d simply have to tell their insurers to add their roommates’ names to the documentation. However, as we’ll soon discover, there can be disadvantages to that, too.

Who Counts as a Roommate?

A roommate in the military is the same as in civilian life: “one of two or more persons sharing the same room or living quarters,” according to Merriam-Webster. 

Military life throws up several circumstances in which having a roommate makes financial sense. The geo bachelor is a common one.

Differentiating between a roommate and a guest isn’t easy. Individual landlords and insurers likely have their own guidelines on which is which. A guest is generally a temporary visitor (e.g., weekend visitors, party attendees, out-of-town friends). Meanwhile, a roommate is a co-tenant permanently residing at the residence and typically listed on the lease.

By all means, read your lease to make sure a guest staying for weeks or longer doesn’t count as a roommate according to their definition. An unauthorized long-term guest could place you in violation of your lease, potentially creating liability issues if property damage occurs.

Geo-Bacher Roommates

The term geo-bach references the concept of military members who are “geographic bachelors” who elect to take an assignment but not move their families along with them. While the term originated during the days when there were far fewer female servicemembers, the idea applies to everyone. The Department has recently taken to referring to families as “geo-dispersed”.

Some families choose this arrangement because the posting is too brief to justify the disruptive move, to allow a child to remain in a particular school, or the military spouse in an important job. But there are plenty of others, including continuity of access to specialist healthcare. 

But the military doesn’t financially support the decision for a family to geo-bach, meaning those who choose it must shoulder the extra financial burden themselves. They get only one basic allowance for housing (BAH) even though they have to maintain two homes.

Household bills quickly climb, with housing costs in particular sucking up resources.

Geo-bach arrangements need command approval if you want the government to pay you at a different BAH rate than the servicemember’s assigned duty station. Additionally, if a servicemember wishes to reside on base, where accommodation is limited, they’ll still have to pay. The amount depends on rank. If no on-base accommodation is available, servicemembers will usually rent an apartment nearby or find a roommate.

Off-base shared housing is a common choice for geo-bachers, but for many other servicemembers, too. It provides a break from “the office,” and sharing with friends can be fun.

But it’s often a time when roommates need renters insurance the most. Nowadays, most privatized landlords of military housing require their tenants to have renters insurance, perhaps with minimum liability limits.

How Policies Define “The Insured”

According to Cornell Law School, “an insured is a person or organization whose life, health, or property is covered by an insurance policy. The person or organization purchasing the insurance is known as the policyholder. The policyholder and the insured are often, but not necessarily, the same person, as insurance coverage can include an insured who does not purchase insurance.”

It’s easy to imagine situations in which the insured is not the policyholder. Parents of a recruit might arrange and pay for renters insurance for their son or daughter’s first PCS. It’s the recruit who’s insured, but the parents are the policyholders.

Or maybe someone who’s both the policyholder and the insured adds a named roommate to a renters insurance policy. They’re both insured, but only one is the policyholder.

Typically, a spouse and the couple’s children are automatically covered by a renters insurance policy. Still, it’s best to name a spouse on the policy.

That’s even more important when romantic partners aren’t legally married. Chances are, an insurer won’t recognize the relationship and will deny claims on the same basis it would for any other roommate.

While defining terms, it’s worth recognizing what a household is. Cornell Law School says, “A household can be defined as those who dwell under the same residential roof and compose a family. A household is distinct and should be distinguished from a family because a household does not need to have the same financial, emotional, and social interconnection. However, a family can be a household.”

Risks of Sharing a Policy

We mentioned earlier that we’d explain some of the disadvantages of sharing a renters insurance policy. And we’ve now reached that point.

Problems can start even before the policy is in place. Suppose one roommate wants to maximize coverage by adding high limits for loss and liability, while the other prioritizes low premiums. 

There’s also a potential issue with having a shared claims history. If one of you makes a claim, it goes on both (or all) your insurance records, potentially raising the cost of future coverage for all of you.

Then there can be disputes over payouts. If one has appreciably more valuable possessions than the other, but the payout has reached its cap, how do you fairly share the proceeds?

Suppose you jointly own one or more possessions with your roommate or unmarried partner. If that person isn’t named on your policy and doesn’t have their own insurance, your insurer may only pay for half of the item’s value.

Finally, liability caps can present problems. If Jennifer and Jill shared renters insurance with a $250,000 liability limit, what happens if that’s insufficient to satisfy James’s medical bills and damages plus their legal fees?

Besides saving money, often the best thing about being military roommates is hanging out and having fun with pals. The last thing you want is arguments over insurance ruining a great friendship.

Best Practice for Military Roommates

There’s a simple and obvious way to avoid roommates falling out over renters insurance: Each roommate takes out their own policy.

The benefits are clear. Each gets to:

• Choose the level of cover that suits them best
• Make a claim without affecting their roommate’s insurance history
• Receive the appropriate payout for their claim
• Select the level of liability coverage that makes them comfortable

Each receives their own documentation, clearly laying out the coverage they’ve chosen. And there are no grounds for disputes or arguments.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Assume Renters Insurance Covers Roommates

Does renters’ insurance cover roommates? Not unless the roommate is named on the policy.

Does adding a name to a shared renters insurance policy solve the problem? Sometimes. But it raises several risks that may lead to the sorts of disputes that can kill a friendship.

The cleanest, safest way for roommates to get the coverage they want and need is for each to have their own renters insurance policy.

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What Military Families Should Include in a Home Inventory

A home inventory list should include all belongings that have value to you. A few quick ideas may include things like: 

• Televisions 
• Computers/laptops 
• Firearms and accessories
• Jewelry 
• Clothing 
• Furniture and appliances

Those are just a few. Maybe you have a family heirloom or antique that is important to you; make sure to list it! 

When you list all your items, be sure to include a rough estimate of each item’s value. This is easier for something like a shotgun that costs roughly $400, or for jewelry you bought for your partner with a $1,000 receipt.  However, when it comes to items like clothing, whole-number estimates for your entire wardrobe are likely best practice. We’ll touch more on this later on the page. 

Photographing Belongings for Home Inventory

In addition to writing down your belongings, take a picture of them! First, it proves ownership; secondly, it can be evidence of the item’s condition. You’d hate to move into your new house and have a moving company claim that the giant dent or scratch on the refrigerator was there before the move, when it actually wasn’t. This documentation can also help with insurance and PCS claims. 

Why You Need to Create Your Home Inventory

For those going through a PCS move, many of you might be asking, “Why can’t I just let the PCS movers conduct the inventory? That’s what I’ve done in the past.”

It’s a fair point, but let’s go ahead and look at some of the advantages of making a self-conducted inventory of your property rather than one conducted by the movers:

Mover Inventory vs. Personal Inventory 

As you can see, having a more detailed inventory of your goods can make it less complicated when having to file a claim later.

How to Make Your Home Inventory

Above, I mentioned a rough idea for approaching a list. Now, let’s take a deeper look at the step-by-step process of making a detailed self-conducted inventory.

1. Document with Photos, Videos & Spreadsheets

Once you are ready to start your inventory, visual documentation is your best friend. As you start your inventory, be sure to get photos and videos of all your items. Take extra time to document your most valuable items. Using a spreadsheet might seem like too big a task, but don’t worry, it’s not as cumbersome as it might sound.

Tactical TakeExpert Insight

“We had a client who lost their entire house, and they had 10 or so short, one-to two-minute videos, and we were able to recreate a pretty decent list of their entire house [inventory] from that.”

— David Melzer, Professional insurance adjuster

While it may take you a full evening, or a couple of nights after work, doing a walkthrough in your home, going room-to-room to get good visual documentation of your household items, will pay off in the long run, especially if you find yourself filing a home insurance claim. 

Another upside of pictures and video, let’s say on your phone, is that the phone offers digital timestamps that date your property as being in good shape and undamaged while in your possession. 

Tactical TakeExpert Insight

“You might not get every single individual item [while recording], but you do have some sort of documentation. Recently, I’ve seen these insurance companies dive into it a lot more, in that they want the original videos or photos, because it does have metadata.”

— David Melzer, Professional insurance adjuster

2. List High-Value Items Separately

Getting back to your spreadsheet, make sure to list your high-value items separately from similar items of lesser value. For instance, if you have a box full of low-value jewelry, you might list that entire box — jewelry included — at a modest “guesstimate” value.

However, if you have an expensive pair of diamond earrings mixed in with that box of jewelry, make sure to separate out those earrings, visually document them, and list them separately on your spreadsheet.

A good practice is for your spreadsheet to have columns like:

• Purchase date
• Estimated value
• Original receipt (in the case of high-ticket items like those diamond earrings)

Since you’ll be maintaining this list for more than one PCS move, you can also take a photo of the receipt and drop it into the spreadsheet, adding to it as needed.

If you find you are “guesstimating” the value of multiple items all lumped together, you may want to reassess. A bunch of low-cost items can add up before you know it.

Tactical TakeExpert Insight

“When I took a photo of my junk drawer, and then I inventoried the drawer using [my company’s] inventory system…it ended up coming out to like, $600. So, when I talk to homeowners about creating an inventory, I tell them not to skip the small items.”

— David Melzer, Professional insurance adjuster

3. Use Additional Digital Tools

In addition to your trusted spreadsheet, there are numerous other digital resources to assist you with your household goods inventory. A quick online search for apps that can assist with your PCS will reveal a plethora of options.

I’d also recommend backing up this list on a cloud-based service so you can access it anywhere there’s an internet connection. A few good resources for this are:

• iCloud (Apple/Mac)
• Google Drive (if you have a Gmail account)
• OneDrive (Microsoft)

These are just some of the larger, more common options. However, you can search for other cloud storage services, some of which may be paid subscriptions that include more online security measures. 

Documenting Firearms for Home Insurance

When creating a home inventory, firearms and tactical gear deserve special attention, especially in military households. These items often represent some of the most valuable personal property military families own, yet they’re also among the most commonly underinsured.

For each firearm, record the following:

• Make 
• Model 
• Caliber
• Serial number
• Purchase date
• Purchase price 
• Estimated replacement value
• Any aftermarket upgrades or customizations, such as upgraded triggers, stocks, suppressor-ready barrels, or other modifications (document those separately and include receipts whenever possible)

Photos are equally important. Take clear, well-lit photos of each firearm from multiple angles. Include close-up images of the serial number and any unique features or modifications. Store digital copies of these images in a secure cloud account or encrypted storage device.

This level of detail matters because many renters and homeowners insurance policies impose special limits on firearms coverage. A rifle equipped with a quality optic, weapon light, and accessories can easily represent $2,000 to $4,000 in value. Yet some standard renters insurance policies limit firearms theft coverage to as little as $1,500.

If the value of your firearms collection exceeds your policy’s coverage limits, consider a firearms rider or scheduled personal property endorsement. These optional coverages allow you to insure specific firearms and accessories for their full value.

Finally, store your documentation somewhere other than where the firearms are kept. A secure cloud backup, encrypted external drive, or safety deposit box can help ensure your records survive the same event that damages or destroys the property you’re trying to protect.

How to Use Your Home Inventory

Ok, so you’re done conducting your own home inventory of household goods. Now what?

With your new inventory in hand, you can approach your PCS move with more confidence. Your inventory can be stored digitally and later uploaded to the Defense Personal Property System₁ during the claims process if needed. It can be used as documentation of your property’s pre-move condition, and all of the dutiful documenting you did, both visually and in writing, can now be used to compare the condition of your pre-moved items against their condition post-move.

Insurance Claim Help

Additionally, your personal inventory has the potential to help speed up insurance claims; it can help limit disputes with the moving company over your property’s value, and having a solid inventory can help improve the likelihood of you and your family being fully reimbursed for lost or damaged goods.

In terms of how to file a claim₂ for lost or damaged goods, it’s important to be mindful that you typically have 180 calendar days from the date of delivery to give your transportation service provider, or TSP, a written notice of all missing and/or damaged items you plan to file a claim on. 

Following that, you have 12 months to file the actual claim₃ for moves that started on or after May 15, 2026 (9 months for moves that started prior), at which point you will then work on assessing your claim with the TSP. Eventually, the TSP will provide you with an itemized offer detailing the value of each item, which you can either accept or reject. 

Common Home Inventory Mistakes to Avoid

Lastly, let’s talk about some common mistakes to avoid when it comes to managing your home inventory.

• Don’t only document your most expensive items. Remember: Melzer’s $600 junk drawer?
• Avoid worrying about the value fluctuation of your items. Once you have a value set, stick with it.*  
• Forgetting to update your inventory every time you procure a new item in your household.
• Not reviewing your list before you PCS to ensure it is up-to-date.
• Failing to take new photos or record new videos. Last year’s photos may not hold much weight if you need to file a claim.

Home Inventory FAQs

What is the best way to document household belongings for insurance purposes?

Do a video walkthrough, alongside a written spreadsheet with serial numbers, stored in cloud storage. Be sure to grant your spouse or family access, especially when deployed.

Do I need to document every single item I own?

No, but document everything, room by room, and be thorough, especially for high-value items like electronics, firearms, furniture, and appliances. While small items add up, documenting the big-ticket items matters more.

How do I document firearms for insurance purposes?

Document the make, model, serial number, and purchase price. Take photos featuring the serial number and accessories, while storing documentation separately.

How do I create a home inventory for renters insurance?

Follow the same process for renters insurance as you would for homeowners, but pay particular attention to what the policy’s sub-limits are for specific categories like electronics and firearms.

Where should I keep my home inventory records?

Your inventory should be saved to cloud storage with shared access, not only on local devices —this is especially important for military families whose devices may be in transit during a PCS.

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