Bootcamp · Reserve
Federal Selected Reserve. Everything is a purchase except the roster.
USAR and the other federal reserve components. DEERS, then TRS, then TDP. Vision is BENEFEDS. Chapter 1606 is a different pot from Post-9/11. Forty-nine points is a lost year.
National Guard is the other card. AGR and Title 10 active duty do not buy TRS.
Still needed
Next official doors.
Check them off after you enroll on .gov / .mil. Ask TOP if the portal fights you.
DEERS and a working Login.gov
Do now
Buy TRICARE Reserve Select
Do now
Orders over 30 days are a different TRICARE door
Clock
Keys
Do nowDEERS and a working Login.gov
BWE will not sell TRS to a dirty roster. Login.gov still works at the kitchen table when the CAC reader does not.
Healthcare
Do nowBuy TRICARE Reserve Select
Not automatic. milConnect → Benefits → BWE. 2026 published premium: $57.88 member / $286.66 family. Open Season is Prime/Select, not TRS.
Healthcare
ClockGap recutOrders over 30 days are a different TRICARE door
Recut from TRICARE.mil: drill, AT, and orders of 30 days or less stay inactive — TRS if you bought it, plus line-of-duty care. More than 30 days: personnel posts DEERS, you sit on active-duty TRICARE from day one of the orders. Deactivating is a qualifying life event — 90 days to change the plan. Contingency / 12304b / national emergency: TAMP 180 days after. Then buy TRS again if you still drill.
Healthcare
This monthGap recutLine of duty care on drill and AT
Recut from TRICARE.mil LOD: injury, illness, or disease incurred or aggravated on orders of 30 days or less — including travel to and from duty. Family does not get LOD. An approved LOD / Notice of Eligibility is how follow-on care is paid after the orders end.
Finance
This monthGap recutUSERRA for the civilian job
DOL VETS administers USERRA. It covers drill, AT, active duty, and funeral honors. ESGR mediates for free — they do not enforce the law. File a claim on DOL if mediation is not the move. Recut from DOL.gov and ESGR.mil.
Healthcare
This monthBuy TDP. TRS did not enroll your teeth.
United Concordia / TRICARE Dental Program. Separate portal, separate LES line. FEDVIP dental is the retiree product.
Healthcare
When you need itFEDVIP vision on BENEFEDS
Own open season. Not milConnect. Guard and Reserve on TRS: vision yes, FEDVIP dental usually no.
Finance
Do nowAudit the 50-point year
Anniversary year, not 1 January. 15 membership + drill + AT. IPPS-A or state RPAM is the authority. Forty-nine is a fail.
Finance
This monthTSP on drill pay
BRS matching is not automatic if you never contribute. Even a small percent is an election on TSP.gov.
Education
This monthGap recutMontgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
Get the Notice of Basic Eligibility (DD 2384-1) from the unit, then file 22-1990. Not the same pot as Post-9/11. Recut from VA.gov.
Education
When you need itGap recutService tuition assistance vs GI Bill
TA is a service door. Chapter 1606 is VA. Some services let you stack them only above half-time. Confirm before you burn a chapter.
Housing
When you need itVA home loan after qualifying service
Selected Reserve / Guard often need six honorable years or other qualifying service. The COE application is the test.
Insurance
Do nowSGLI + FSGLI
Amount and beneficiary in milConnect. Spouse coverage is not max by default.
Finance
When you need itMilitary OneSource counseling
Free financial counseling, tax, the rest of the stack. 800-342-9647.
Finance
Do nowGap recutmyPay for drill pay
Direct deposit, W-4, SGLI premium, TSP. A stale routing number is how AT pay disappears.
Insurance
Do nowGap recutFSGLI on the spouse
Not max by default. milConnect, next to SGLI. Kids’ coverage is usually automatic once FSGLI is on.
Healthcare
This monthGap recutTRICARE Pharmacy after you buy TRS
TRS did not create the Express Scripts account. Recut from TRICARE.mil Rx. Home delivery is usually cheaper than retail.
Housing
When you need itGap recutMilitary Child Care / fee assistance
Selected Reserve families can request care. Fee assistance is a separate path when the installation waitlist is full. Recut from Military OneSource.
Keys
This monthGap recutCivilian Employment Information in milConnect
Guard and Reserve (except some services) update CEI in milConnect. It is how the service finds you for a mobilization. Recut from milConnect help.
Education
When you need itGap recutPost-9/11 (Chapter 33) if you have qualifying active time
1606 is drill. Chapter 33 is qualifying active-duty days. Run the Comparison Tool before you spend either pot. Transfer to family is still a milConnect election.
Healthcare
When you need itGap recutVA health if you have qualifying active service
Drilling does not block 10-10EZ. Qualifying active duty, a service-connected claim, or other VA gates can open the clinic while you still drill. Recut from VA.gov.
Insurance
When you need itGap recutRC-SBP is a 90-day clock from the 20-year letter
The Notification of Eligibility is not a souvenir. Recut from DFAS: 90 days to elect on DD 2656-5. Do nothing with a spouse or child and Option C is automatic. This is not TRR and not VGLI.
Education
When you need itGap recutFAFSA is a different pot from TA and 1606
studentaid.gov. Grants and loans do not spend GI Bill. File it even if you think TA will cover the class.
Ask TOP
Point me at the enrollment door.
Say the product. I’ll match the recut walkthrough and the official site. Always enroll on .gov / .mil.
Prefer the full finder? Open Ask TOP.