BAH and BAS are not taxable income. An E5 receiving $2,200/month in BAH is equivalent to a civilian earning ~$3,000+/month before tax just for housing.
Under both BRS and Legacy, you can earn a historically reliable pension for life — something nearly impossible in civilian employment. The value is enormous and often underestimated.
TRICARE, commissary access, base services, and VA benefits add thousands per year in real value that never shows up on your LES.
VA loans require no down payment and no PMI. On a $350k home, that's $70k+ you keep in pocket vs a conventional buyer who needs 20% down.
Estimate your Basic Allowance for Housing by pay grade, duty station, and dependency status.
Compare the Blended Retirement System against the High-3 pension side-by-side.
Convert your total military compensation to an equivalent civilian salary including hidden benefits.
Calculate monthly payment with VA funding fee, no PMI, no down payment.
Maximize your Thrift Savings Plan contributions and project retirement savings.
Looking for more? Retirement Savings Calculator · Mortgage Affordability · Tax Brackets