Second Muster^™

No exact number? A careful estimate is fine ("about 30%"), as long as you can explain it in an interview.

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What hiring managers look for

• Lead with a strong verb: led, managed, trained, reduced, built.
• Give numbers: team size, dollar value of equipment, percent improvement, hours saved.
• Drop rank and unit names; say "team of 12" and "organization of 600" instead.
• Mention your security clearance near the top if it's still active. Many employers pay more for it.
• Tailor each resume to the job posting. Mirror the posting's key terms.

How federal veteran hiring works

• Veterans' preference puts eligible veterans ahead of other applicants: generally 5 points, or 10 points with a service-connected disability. Upload your DD-214 (Member 4 copy). For 10-point preference, also upload an SF-15 and your VA disability letter.
• VRA (Veterans Recruitment Appointment) lets an agency hire an eligible veteran directly, without a competitive process, up to GS-11 or equivalent.
• 30% or more disabled veteran authority lets an agency hire a veteran with a 30%+ service-connected rating directly.
• VEOA lets eligible veterans apply to jobs normally open only to current federal employees.
• Keep your federal resume to 2 pages. USAJOBS no longer considers longer resumes. Tailor it to the job announcement's qualifications.

• Never pay to get a job. Real employers don't charge for training, equipment, supplies or a "certification."
• If an "employer" sends you a check and asks you to send part of it back or buy gift cards, it's a fake check scam.
• Be wary of jobs with no interview, guaranteed hiring or big pay for little work.
• Real federal jobs are posted on USAJOBS.gov. Ads for "hidden" government jobs are scams.
• Scammers pretend to be real companies. Apply through the company's own website, and don't give your bank info or Social Security number before a real offer.

Add an application

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Stay connected with Second Muster

New videos on VA benefits, deadlines and discounts every week. Know a veteran who's getting out? Send them the app.

Can't get into VA.gov?

You need a free account to check claims, refill prescriptions, message your doctor and more. There are three ways to sign in.

• Login.gov, ID.me or CLEAR all work. Pick one; you don't need all three.
• Stuck on the online ID check? Login.gov lets you verify at a participating post office, and ID.me at a participating UPS Store.
• Free in-person help at VA: since October 2026, VA staff help you set up an account at CLEAR stations in the Washington D.C., Atlanta, Brooklyn, Orlando, Palo Alto and San Juan VA medical centers. Bring a photo ID, your phone and your email address. It's optional.
• At any VA medical center, ask for the My HealtheVet coordinator. They can help you sign in.
• Phone help: VA.gov tech support 866-279-3677 (weekdays 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET). Error code after signing in? Call 800-698-2411, 24/7. TTY: 711.

Disability compensation

Bottom line: If an injury or illness is connected to your service, you may get tax-free monthly pay. Help filing is free.

• Still serving? File 180 to 90 days before separation through Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) to get a decision faster, often soon after you get out.
• Already out and not ready to file? Submit an Intent to File first. You then have 1 year to finish your claim, and if it's approved, back pay can start from the Intent to File date.
• Collect your service treatment records, private medical records and buddy statements before you file.

Add one rating for each condition, from any part of the body: PTSD, back, migraines, hearing, knees and more. The VA doesn't simply add them together, so this shows your combined rating and estimated monthly payment.

For an arm or leg, choose left or right. If you have conditions on both sides, like both knees, the VA adds a little extra and the calculator does that for you.

An estimate only. The VA decides your official rating and payment. Uses the 2026 rates, effective December 1, 2025. Official VA rates ↗

Bottom line: You usually have 1 year from the date on your decision letter to ask for a review.

Most reviews must be requested within 1 year of the date on your decision letter.

Bottom line: Go to the exam, be on time, and describe honestly how your condition affects your daily life.

Toxic exposure (PACT Act)

Bottom line: Exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange or other toxins? Many conditions are now presumed service-connected, and there is no deadline to file.

The PACT Act expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, Gulf War hazards, radiation and other toxins. Many conditions are now presumed to be caused by service, so you don't have to prove the link. Enrolled veterans can ask for a free toxic exposure screening at any VA facility.

Bottom line: GI Bill for school, VR&E for training if you have a rating, and a VA home loan often with no down payment.

Bottom line: VA disability pay and VA pension are not taxable income. If your rating went up and was paid back to an earlier date, you may be able to get a refund by amending past returns.

Income limits change each year. Check the IRS page for this year's numbers.

Bottom line: Most states add their own benefits, like property tax breaks and tuition help. Choose your state below.

Benefits, amounts and eligibility rules change. Tap a benefit to check the official source, and confirm with your state veterans office before you apply. A county veterans service officer can help you apply for free.

Bottom line: You can do a lot for a veteran you love: find their records, get permission to talk to the VA, and get free help filing. Check off each step as you go.

1. Talk with them first

   Ask what they want help with, and what they'd rather keep handling themselves. Agree on who in the family does what.

2. Find their DD-214

   It's the key to almost every benefit. Order a free copy from the National Archives. Some veterans also filed a copy with their county recorder's office.

   Request a DD-214 ↗
3. Get permission to talk to the VA

   The veteran fills out VA Form 21-0845, online or on paper, so the VA can share their information with you.

   VA Form 21-0845 ↗
4. Get a free accredited representative

   A service officer from a group like the American Legion, DAV or VFW, or your county veterans office, can file claims for them at no cost. Never pay anyone to file a VA claim.

   Find free help ↗
5. Gather their papers in one folder

   DD-214, VA letters, a list of their health conditions, doctors and medicines, marriage and divorce records, and income and savings information. Keep copies in the folder, not originals.

   Make a one-page summary →
6. See what they may qualify for

   Take the 2-minute checkup and choose "I'm helping a veteran."

   Take the checkup →
7. Enroll them in VA health care

   Many more veterans qualify now, especially after the PACT Act. You can help them apply online or by phone.

   How to apply ↗
8. If they need help every day

   Wartime veterans with limited income may get the VA pension plus Aid and Attendance. Caregivers can get support too: call 855-260-3274, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

   Aid and Attendance ↗Caregiver support ↗
9. If they can't manage money anymore

   The VA can name a fiduciary, often a family member, to manage VA payments for them. The VA decides this based on medical evidence.

   VA fiduciary program ↗
10. Plan ahead together

    Apply for pre-need burial eligibility, and make sure their spouse knows about DIC and the Survivors Pension. Keep the folder where family can find it.

    Pre-need eligibility ↗Survivor benefits →

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Bottom line: Wartime veterans 65+ with limited income may get a monthly pension: up to about $1,453 a month in 2026, and more if they need help with daily care.

Rates shown are for Dec 1, 2025 to Nov 30, 2026. They change every December.

Bottom line: We're so sorry for your loss. Here is what to do, in order, so you don't miss the honors and benefits your veteran earned. Check off each step as you go.

1. You don't have to do it all today

   Most of this can wait a few weeks. Start with the funeral and getting several certified copies of the death certificate. The VA, banks and insurers may each need one.

2. Find their DD-214

   You'll need it for burial benefits and military honors. If you can't find it, the National Archives can send a copy.

   Request a DD-214 ↗
3. Tell the funeral home they served

   They can request military funeral honors (at least two service members, folding and presenting the flag, and Taps) and help you get a burial flag with VA Form 27-2008.

   Burial flags ↗
4. Ask about a national cemetery

   Burial in a VA national cemetery is free for eligible veterans, including the gravesite, headstone and flag. Spouses may be buried there too.

   Schedule a burial ↗
5. Report the death to the VA

   Call 800-827-1000 and choose option 5, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Report it soon so payments stop. Payments sent after the death may have to be paid back.

6. Order a headstone or marker

   Free for eligible veterans, in any cemetery, with VA Form 40-1330. You can also ask for a Presidential Memorial Certificate.

   Burial benefits →
7. Apply for survivor benefits

   DIC, the Survivors Pension and any money the VA owed the veteran are all on one form: VA Form 21P-534EZ. If you need more time to gather papers, file an intent to file first.

   About DIC ↗Survivor benefits →
8. Claim the burial allowance

   When the death wasn't related to service, VA pays up to $1,032 for burial and $1,032 for the plot if the death was on or after October 1, 2026 ($1,002 each for deaths from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026). File VA Form 21P-530EZ within 2 years of the burial. There's no deadline if the death was service connected.

   Burial allowance ↗
9. Check health care and school for the family

   If the death was service connected, or the veteran was rated permanent and total, the family may get CHAMPVA health coverage and DEA school money.

   CHAMPVA ↗
10. Look for insurance and state benefits

    Check for VA life insurance, like VALife or VGLI, and your state's benefits. Many states give surviving spouses property tax breaks.

    State benefits →
11. Take care of yourself

    TAPS offers free grief support, 24/7, for anyone grieving a military or veteran loved one: 800-959-8277. Be careful with anyone who calls asking for money or to "speed up" benefits. Help filing is always free.

    TAPS helpline ↗

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Bottom line: If a veteran's death was connected to service, the surviving spouse may get tax-free monthly DIC payments, starting at $1,699.36 in 2026.

Rates shown are for Dec 1, 2025 to Nov 30, 2026. They change every December.

Bottom line: Eligible veterans get burial in a national cemetery, a headstone and a burial flag at no cost to the family.

The biggest savings come from federal benefits most veterans don't know they have. Retail discounts change often, so confirm the details at checkout.

Tickets are limited and go fast, so check often.

Streaming deals change often. Check the price on the company's own page before you pay.

Proving you're a veteran

• In stores: a Veteran ID Card, VA Health ID Card, or a driver's license with a veteran designation. You shouldn't need to carry your DD-214.
• Online: most retailers use a free military-status check. You do it once on the retailer's own website, and it often unlocks discounts at other stores too.
• Always ask "Do you offer a military discount?" Many local businesses do but don't advertise it.
• Veterans Day (November 11): many restaurants and stores offer free meals or extra discounts. Offers change every year, so check the week before.

VA runs more than 1,100 outpatient clinics nationwide, so there's likely one closer than the medical centers listed here. The VA locator shows every clinic with current hours and phone numbers. Always check it before you go: facility names and services change.

Getting care

• Not enrolled yet? Apply for VA health care online at VA.gov or by phone at 877-222-8387.
• Too far from a VA facility or long wait? Ask your VA care team about Community Care, which pays for care from a local provider.
• Urgent but not an emergency? Enrolled veterans can use in-network urgent care clinics. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
• General VA questions: call MyVA411 at 800-698-2411, 24/7.
• Vision loss? Blind and low-vision veterans can get free Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, with training, from the Blinded Veterans Association. Request a pair ↗ There's a waitlist, so sign up early.

Bottom line: Bring one page to a VA appointment or a service officer: the veteran's details, the benefits to check, the papers you have and the phone numbers you need.

Everything here is saved only on this phone. Your checkup results are added automatically. Never write a Social Security number on a page you carry around.

Second Muster saves your job tracker, timeline checklist and settings only on this phone or computer. Nothing is sent to us. Download a backup file to keep it safe, or to move it to a new device.

Veterans who are homeless or about to lose housing, and people calling for them, get connected to their local VA for emergency housing, rent help and legal support. VA homeless programs ↗

Live agents, many of them veterans or veteran family members, answer questions about VA services, document complaints about VA care or benefits, and help get stuck issues resolved. Not for emergencies: in a crisis, call 988 then press 1.

Planning to share your GI Bill with a spouse or child? The transfer must be approved while you are still serving.

Bottom line: Some nonprofits host free retreats for veterans, couples and families. Each one has its own rules, so check who qualifies before you apply.

A muster is a roll call: everyone accounted for. Getting out of the military is a second muster. You still need to know where you're headed and who has your back. Second Muster puts the tools for that in one free place.

• Free for good. No ads, no account, no paywall. Optional tips help cover the costs.
• Your info stays on your device. Nothing you type is sent to us or sold. See the privacy page.
• Checked against official sources. Job codes are matched to the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET Military Crosswalk. Benefit links go straight to VA.gov and other official sites. Every link was last checked on .
• Built with veterans. Changes come from people who use it. Tell us what's wrong or missing.