Separation Runway
If you separate without a job lined up, how long does your cash last at civilian prices? This counts the months, including the healthcare cliff.
| x | Cash remaining |
|---|---|
| 0 mo | $12,000 |
| 1 mo | $9,200 |
| 2 mo | $6,400 |
| 3 mo | $3,600 |
| 4 mo | $800 |
| 4 mo | $0 |
A burn-rate estimate, not a budget. TAMP is 180 days of premium-free TRICARE, but mostly for involuntary separations; a voluntary ETS may get none. Sold-back leave is capped at 60 days over a career, paid at basic pay only, and taxed. Verify your specifics with transition counseling.
Most people leaving the service do it without a confirmed next job, and the safety net changes overnight: no more tax-free housing and food, and TRICARE winds down. The right question is not how to split a budget but how many months your savings last with no paycheck. This is a burn-rate estimate, with the day-180 healthcare cliff built in.
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