What in the world is a 20/20/20 Spouse?

I grew up in a military family, live in a military community, and frequently represent service members and military spouses. Length of military service makes a big impact for military spouses who want to maintain some benefits after a divorce. For a military spouse who was married to the service member for at least twenty years and where the service member served at least twenty years active duty, the spouse will maintain military privileges if there was a twenty year overlap between the marriage and the military service.

The spouse cannot remarry, or the spouse will then lose the military benefits. The benefits to the 20/20/20 spouse are as generous as if the spouse were still married to a retired service member. One of the most important benefits for a 20/20/20 spouse is the retention of military health coverage. Other benefits include PX privileges, Commissary privileges, and use of military bases and facilities. The 20/20/20 spouse will maintain a military ID card in order to access these benefits. The value of these benefits is significant.