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There are lots of benefits tied in with working for the British Armed Forces that help to make a career with the military more enticing than the average civilian job.

30 days Annual Leave
The Armed Forces offer a generous holiday package and when you are stationed overseas you could be given extra leave on top of your standard allowance.

Military Pension
The pension is one of the key benefits of the British Armed Forces as unlike most civilian pensions the MoD make all the payments without you having to contribute anything. It is also a final salary pension which is not often available in civilian jobs now. You will be entitled to pension benefits provided you have had two years of reckonable service.

Your pension is based on your final pensionable pay. This starts from your first paid day of service in the British Military and the way it is paid depends on how long you have served and how old you are. See the Benefits section for more details.

Pension for Volunteer Reserve Forces (VRF)
The MoD will pay you a pension for the time you are mobilised as a member of the VRF, (for example the Territorial Army). You have a number of options as to how this is arranged depending on when you joined. See the Benefits section for more details.

Health Care
You will receive free medical and dental health care to a standard that at least matches the NHS. All military families will be treated by standard NHS facilities. However, overseas healthcare will be provided by the Armed Forces for your family.

Meals
If you are living in Armed Forces barracks you receive subsidised meals that are much cheaper than civilian alternatives. The food is generally of a high standard and the cost is taken out of your wages. If you are out on operations your food is provided for free.

Housing
The cost of housing is also subsidised and council tax is much cheaper than it is for civilians. New recruits undergoing training are housed in barracks, but after that there are choices to live in ‘halls of residence’ type of accommodation or flats/houses depending on your family status.

Many new accommodation for single personnel now feature en-suite bathrooms. If you are married or have a civil partner, or if you are a single parent, you will have the opportunity to rent a suitable sized accommodation at a reduced rate.

Life Insurance
The MoD doesn’t actually provide life insurance, nor does it recommend commercial companies. However, it is has arranged a special policy with a commercial life insurance product for all service members, including reserves. This means that members of the British Armed Forces are never refused life insurance cover regardless of their activity. Find out more information in our Benefits section.

Travel
All members of the Regular Forces are eligible for the HM Forces Railcard which costs £15 and then gives a 34% discount off most rail fares. Spouses and children are also eligible for the railcards and there are also discounts off family groups travelling together. The railcards are available from Armed Forces Personnel Offices.

Service Member and Veteran Benefits and Discounts
Many retailers and businesses also offer veteran and service members special discounts.

Wondering what to do now? Check out our expert career advice, or find out more about working in the Armed Forces.