For some time the military has made spiritual, family, and continuing - education counselling available to discharged servicemen. Only recently have the services begun to provide the sort of labour market assistance that many private industry employers offer their laid - off employees. Such programmes were just beginning to be fully implemented by the end of 1992. Though it is too early to evaluate the quality of these programs, some preliminary observations are in order. The general benefits include unemployment compensation, preferential treatment in government hiring, eligibility for certain government - sponsored work and training programmes, home mortgage guarantees, and treatment in Veterans Administration health care facilities for health problems resulting from military service.
Unemployment insurance is available to all discharged non retiring personnel.
Military insurance is somewhat different from private sector insurance in that veterans can receive the benefit regardless of whether they were involuntarily separated or chose to leave. Like private industry Military insurance is administered through State Employment Services. and is available for 13 weeks anywhere in the country after a two week wait. Many existing benefits for involuntarily discharged members have been enhanced and expanded for an era of cutbacks. Separation pay is now available to active duty enlisted personnel and officers with at least 6 years of service who are not eligible for retirement pay. After extensive delay, the services finally agreed on rules to implement the new law on separation pay.