If you’re a retired Soldier—or a family member standing alongside one—you need to know this:
The 2025 U.S. Army Retired Soldier Handbook is now available.
You can pick it up at your local Retirement Services Office or access it online here:
🔗 soldierforlife.army.mil/Retirement
This isn’t just another Army publication gathering dust on a website. It’s a lifeline.
Why This Handbook Matters
After 20+ years in uniform, I can tell you that transition doesn’t end the day you hang up your boots. In fact, the real challenge begins when the Army stops issuing orders—and you have to start issuing your own.
This handbook exists for that reason. It’s packed with the most up-to-date information on your benefits, entitlements, and responsibilities as a Retired Soldier. Whether you retired last week or 25 years ago, this guide helps you stay locked in and ready for every new phase of life.
What You’ll Find Inside
- Survivor Benefits
- TRICARE updates
- VA benefits and changes
- Legal assistance
- Uniform regulations (yes, you can still wear it on special occasions!)
- Burial entitlements and planning resources
- Retirement Pay and DFAS tools
- Space-A travel eligibility
- ID Card renewal guidance
- And much more
There are also details for widows, widowers, and family caregivers—because the Army knows retirement affects the whole household, not just the Soldier.
Stay in the Loop with Army Echoes
The handbook isn’t a one-and-done. For continuous updates, you should also subscribe to Army Echoes, the official newsletter for Retired Soldiers. You’ll get alerts about changes to benefits, legislation, and programs that could directly impact your retirement life.
Archived issues going back to 1998 are also available at the Soldier for Life website.
Final Thoughts
Retirement is a transition—not a conclusion. And as Soldiers for Life, we have a responsibility to stay informed, connected, and ready.
Don’t sleep on this. Grab the handbook. Read it. Share it with your spouse. Highlight what applies to your situation. And most importantly—use the benefits you’ve earned.
I’ve got your six. If you need help navigating anything in the handbook or want to make sure your family is fully protected with a benefits plan that bridges the gaps, reach out.
—Kirby Ingles, Retired Army Veteran & Veterans Benefits Advocate
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