Free Resources for Veterans
Take advantage of these free benefits designed specifically for transitioning service members
LinkedIn Premium - Free for Veterans
Value: $29.99/month (Free for 1 year for transitioning service members)
LinkedIn offers free 1-year Premium Career subscription for transitioning military, veterans, and military spouses. Get InMail credits, see who's viewed your profile, access LinkedIn Learning courses, and stand out to recruiters.
Premium Career includes:
- ✓ 5 InMail messages per month
- ✓ See who's viewed your profile
- ✓ Premium job insights
- ✓ Featured applicant status
- ✓ Access to LinkedIn Learning
No credit card required. Verify your military status to activate.
ChatGPT Plus - Free for Veterans
Value: $20/month (Free for 1 year for transitioning servicemembers)
OpenAI offers free 1-year ChatGPT Plus access for servicemembers within 12 months of separation and veterans who separated within the past year. Get AI-powered help with resume writing, interview prep, benefits navigation, and transition planning—available 24/7.
Perfect for transition:
- ✓ Translate military experience to civilian resumes
- ✓ Practice interviews with realistic feedback
- ✓ Navigate VA benefits and paperwork
- ✓ Plan housing, education, and relocation
- ✓ 24/7 access, no appointments needed
Verify your service status with SheerID to activate your free year.
DOD SkillBridge Program
Free internships and training in your final 180 days
SkillBridge allows transitioning service members to participate in civilian job training, internships, or apprenticeships during the last 180 days of service while still receiving military pay and benefits.
Top SkillBridge Programs:
- ✓ Amazon (Tech & Operations)
- ✓ Microsoft (Software & Cloud)
- ✓ Hiring Our Heroes (Corporate)
- ✓ Google (Tech & Project Mgmt)
📚 Recommended Financial Planning Books
Expert-recommended books to master your military retirement and financial future
The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement
by Doug Nordman & Carol Nordman
Written by a retired submariner who achieved financial independence on an O-5 salary. Covers High-3 vs BRS, TSP strategies, VA benefits, and how to retire early with military pension.
You'll learn:
- ✓ How to maximize your TSP
- ✓ BRS vs High-3 comparison
- ✓ Real estate investing for military
- ✓ Early retirement strategies
The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing
by Taylor Larimore, Mel Lindauer, Michael LeBoeuf
Perfect for TSP investors. Learn the index fund investing strategy that powers the TSP's success. Simple, low-cost approach to building wealth that works perfectly with military retirement income.
Perfect for military because:
- ✓ TSP uses Bogleheads strategy
- ✓ Low-cost index fund approach
- ✓ Perfect for busy deployments
- ✓ Simple, set-and-forget method
Your Money or Your Life
by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez
Transform your relationship with money. Learn to calculate your real hourly wage (after taxes, commuting, etc.) and align spending with your values—critical for transitioning military planning civilian salary needs.
Key concepts:
- ✓ Calculate true hourly wage
- ✓ Financial independence mindset
- ✓ Align money with values
- ✓ Track spending effectiveness
The Simple Path to Wealth
by JL Collins
Straightforward investing advice focused on index funds and financial independence. Perfect companion to TSP investing—explains why the C and S funds are so powerful for long-term wealth building.
Military-relevant topics:
- ✓ Index fund investing (like TSP)
- ✓ Financial independence blueprint
- ✓ Avoid investment mistakes
- ✓ Market crash strategies
Rich Dad Poor Dad
by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Changes how you think about money, assets, and financial freedom. Especially valuable for veterans considering real estate investing or entrepreneurship after service. Learn the difference between assets and liabilities.
Why veterans love this:
- ✓ Asset vs liability mindset
- ✓ Real estate investing intro
- ✓ Build passive income streams
- ✓ Entrepreneurship fundamentals
Stock Investing for Young Adults Simplified
Beginner's Guide to Building Wealth
Perfect for young service members and veterans starting their investing journey. Learn the fundamentals of stock market investing with simplified explanations and practical strategies to build long-term wealth.
Perfect for beginners:
- ✓ Stock market basics explained simply
- ✓ How to start investing with limited funds
- ✓ Building a diversified portfolio
- ✓ Long-term wealth building strategies
Ready to Calculate Your Retirement Income?
See exactly what civilian salary you need based on your retirement pay, VA disability, and state taxes
Use the Free Calculator →📋 Affiliate Disclosure
This page contains affiliate links to Amazon and other services. If you purchase a book or sign up for a service through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend resources we genuinely believe will help transitioning service members and military retirees. The LinkedIn Premium for Veterans program is completely free and we receive no compensation for referrals—we include it because it's an excellent free resource. All opinions and recommendations are our own.