TRANSITION SUPPORT · STANDWATCH
Veteran Transition Support
This page is not about money and there is nothing to sign up for. It is a plain, source-checked map of the real help that exists during and after a military transition: someone to talk to, counseling and readjustment, VA claims help, jobs, community, and legal support. Every organization here offers its core help at no cost. If you are not sure where to start, scroll to the bottom and just reach out to me. StandWatch is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the VA or DoD.
The Veterans Crisis Line is free and confidential, 24/7. You do not have to be enrolled in VA care, and you do not have to be in crisis to call.
Dial 988, then press 1 · Text 838255 · Chat online · TTY 1-800-799-4889
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911.
At a glance
You do not have to reach out first: VA Solid Start
In your first year out, the VA reaches out to you. Solid Start calls every newly separated service member around 90, 180, and 365 days after separation to walk through your benefits and connect you to help. It was built for a hard truth: veterans are at higher risk in that first year, and the point is to make sure no one falls through the cracks. No cost, no catch.
- Save the number so you know it is really them: 800-827-0611 (Monday to Friday). Keep your contact info current in your VA.gov profile so they can reach you.
- Learn more or schedule your own call: va.gov Solid Start
Free help filing your VA claim
This is the one to know first, because people pay for help they can get for free. Accredited Veterans Service Organizations file and manage VA claims at no charge.
- An accredited VSO representative can gather evidence, file your claim, and deal with the VA for you, always free on benefit claims.
- Well-known VSOs include the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). You do not have to be a member to use them.
- Your state or county Veterans Service Officer also files claims free and can point you to state benefits.
- Confirm anyone is VA-accredited before you sign, using the VA accredited representative tool. Accredited attorneys and claims agents may charge a fee, but only after an initial decision, and never just to file.
Jobs and training
- Transition Assistance Program (TAP): the required DoD program, usually starting about a year before you leave. It covers benefits, employment, and financial-planning workshops. dodtap.mil
- DoD SkillBridge: lets you do a civilian internship, apprenticeship, or training program during your last up to 180 days of service while still on military pay. skillbridge.osd.mil
- Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31): for those with a service-connected disability and an employment handicap. It provides counseling, training, education, and a subsistence allowance. va.gov VR&E
- Hire Heroes USA: free job-search coaching and resume help for veterans and military spouses. hireheroesusa.org
Counseling and readjustment
- Vet Centers: community-based VA centers that offer free readjustment counseling for combat veterans and others, individual, group, and family, often outside a hospital setting. Call the Vet Center Call Center any time at 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387). vetcenter.va.gov
- Veterans Crisis Line: if you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 then press 1, text 838255, or chat online, any time. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. veteranscrisisline.net
- VA mental health care: free or low-cost care for PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief, anger, and substance use, whether or not your condition is service-connected. mentalhealth.va.gov
- Make the Connection: real veterans telling real stories about what they went through and what helped, plus a resource locator. Sometimes it helps just to hear someone who gets it. maketheconnection.net
Money stress and health travel together. The VA built FINVET, the National Veterans Financial Resource Center, inside its Office of Suicide Prevention for exactly that reason: financial well-being is tied to better mental health. FINVET is a one-stop site organized around five steps (meet basic needs, manage your money, increase your income, manage your debt, protect your money), with a Top 20 resource list, a state-by-state local resource finder, and a direct financial assistance list. It connects you to help rather than paying benefits itself, and it is not a crisis line: if you are in the fight right now, the Veterans Crisis Line above comes first. mirecc.va.gov/visn19/finvet
Emergency financial help
If money gets tight during a transition, these organizations provide grants or interest-free loans. Many pay a landlord or utility directly.
- Your branch relief society: Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society, and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance provide interest-free loans and grants for emergencies.
- VFW Unmet Needs: grants of up to $1,500 for essentials, which do not have to be repaid. vfw.org
- Operation Homefront: critical financial assistance for rent, utilities, and other essentials. operationhomefront.org
- American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance: help for veteran families with minor children. legion.org
- Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF): a VA program that helps very low-income veterans avoid homelessness. va.gov SSVF
Community and connection
Isolation is one of the hardest parts of coming home. These groups exist to put you back on a team.
- Team Red, White & Blue: local chapters that connect veterans through activity and community, a low-pressure way to rebuild your circle after service. teamrwb.org
- The Mission Continues: veterans serving their communities together, for a renewed sense of purpose and a team around you. missioncontinues.org
- Team Rubicon: disaster response that puts your skills and drive to work alongside other veterans. teamrubiconusa.org
- Fisher House Foundation: free lodging for families while a service member or veteran gets medical care. fisherhouse.org
- USO: transition programs and community support at locations worldwide. uso.org
Free help on your installation (and up to a year after)
Before you leave, use the help you already earned. Every branch runs a family support center staffed with people who help with the whole transition, counseling, relocation, spouse employment, benefits, and yes, money, all at no cost. These centers serve members of any branch, so use whichever is closest.
- Army: Army Community Service (ACS)
- Air Force and Space Force: Military and Family Readiness Center (M&FRC)
- Navy: Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC)
- Marine Corps: Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS)
- Coast Guard: Coast Guard Workforce and Family Service
- Find your center, any branch: Military OneSource readiness support
These centers serve members of any branch, and Military OneSource offers the same free financial counseling by phone or secure chat, including for up to 365 days after you separate or retire, at 800-342-9647. For a national nonprofit option, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling offers low-cost or free credit counseling.
What is actually on an installation. The official MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory lists every program and service with a local contact at each base. The money-relevant doors alone are worth the visit: Personal Financial Management Services (the free financial counselors), Emergency Relief Services, the Finance Office, Legal Services (JAG), the Loan Closet (free household basics after a move), Retirement Services (the office that keeps serving retirees for life), the Transition Assistance Program, the Household Goods/Transportation Office, and Spouse Education, Training and Careers.
The full catalog of installation programs, as listed July 2026: Adoption/Foster Care; Adult Education Centers; Automotive Services; Barracks/Single Service Member Housing; Beneficiary Counseling Assistance Coordinators; Chapels; Child Development Centers; Child and Youth Registration and Referral; Citizenship and Immigration Services; Civilian Personnel Office; Commissary; DoDEA Schools; Dental Clinics; Deployment/Mobilization; EFMP Enrollment and EFMP Family Support; Educational and Developmental Intervention Services; Emergency Relief Services; Exchanges; Family Advocacy Program; Family Child Care Homes; Finance Office; Financial Institutions; Fitness Centers; Hospitals and Medical Treatment Facilities; Household Goods/Transportation Office; Housing Office and Housing Referral; ID/CAC Card Processing; Information and Referral; Legal Services (JAG); Library; Loan Closet; MWR; Military Clothing Sales; Military and Family Support Center; New Parent Support Program; Personal Financial Management Services; Personnel Support Office; Relocation Assistance Program; Retirement Services; School Age Care; School Liaison Program; Spouse Education, Training and Careers; Temporary Lodging; Transition Assistance Program; Travel Office; VA Facilities; Veterinary Services; Victim Advocate Services; Welcome Center; WIC and WIC Overseas; and Youth Programs. Find the local contact for any of these on any base at installations.militaryonesource.mil.
Source: Military OneSource, MilitaryINSTALLATIONS programs directory (accessed July 2026), and each service's family readiness program.
Free legal help: wills, powers of attorney, and more
Nearly every installation has a legal assistance office staffed by military attorneys (JAG) who handle personal civil matters at no cost. You can use any branch's office, not only your own.
- Common help: a will, a power of attorney, an advance medical directive (living will), lease and contract review, consumer and debt problems, family-law advice, and notary service.
- Eligible: active-duty members of all branches, Guard and Reserve on federal active-duty orders of 30 or more days, military retirees, and their dependents with a valid ID. Certain DoD civilians and contractors deploying or stationed overseas can receive a will and power of attorney.
- They do not handle criminal (UCMJ) matters or your outside business, and generally do not represent you in court.
- Find the nearest office with the Armed Forces Legal Assistance locator at legalassistance.law.af.mil, or call Military OneSource at 800-342-9647.
Source: U.S. Armed Forces Legal Assistance and Military OneSource. Authority: 10 U.S.C. 1044.
Have a question, or need a hand? Contact me.
I am Larry, an Army infantry combat veteran and the founder of StandWatch. My own transition was one of the hardest stretches of my life, and I know how isolating it can feel. If you have a question, or you are not sure where to turn, send it here and I will do my best to help you directly or connect you with the best available resource.
Please know: this is a one-person effort, so it may take me 1 to 2 days to get back to you. This is not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, reach the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1 (text 838255, or chat online), and call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger. For the VA's full financial resource hub, see FINVET.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay to file a VA claim?
No. Accredited Veterans Service Organizations like the VFW, DAV, and American Legion, and your state or county Veterans Service Officer, file claims for free. Attorneys and claims agents may charge a fee, but only after an initial decision, never just to file.
What is SkillBridge?
A DoD program that lets you do civilian job training or an internship during your last up to 180 days of service while still receiving military pay, so you can build civilian experience before you separate.
Who qualifies for VR&E?
Service members and veterans with a service-connected disability and an employment handicap. It provides counseling, training, education, and a subsistence allowance. Apply through the VA.
What is a Vet Center?
A community-based VA center offering free readjustment counseling, individual, group, and family, for combat veterans and others. Reach the Vet Center Call Center any time at 1-877-WAR-VETS.
Where do I start if money is tight right now?
Your branch relief society and programs like VFW Unmet Needs and Operation Homefront provide emergency grants or interest-free loans. Your state or county Veterans Service Officer can point you to what you qualify for.
Sources
- Accredited representatives and free VA claims help: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Transition Assistance Program: DoD TAP
- DoD SkillBridge: skillbridge.osd.mil
- Veteran Readiness and Employment: va.gov VR&E
- Vet Centers and the Veterans Crisis Line: vetcenter.va.gov
Programs and organizations verified July 11, 2026. Details and eligibility change over time, so confirm current information at each official source. StandWatch is an independent resource for the military community, not affiliated with or endorsed by the VA, DoD, or any government agency, and lists these organizations as resources, not endorsements. This guide is general information, not financial, legal, or medical advice.