Career Resource Management Center personnel highly encourage spouses attend their spouse’s respective end of service seminar: Transition Readiness Seminar for Separatees, Retirees Only Transition Readiness Seminar or Executive Transition Readiness Seminar.

"It’s always good for the spouse to be in the know," said Demetria Thomas, career resource program manager, Career Resource Management Center. She added that when her husband retired 22 years ago she was not afforded this opportunity.

"A lady’s lifespan tends to be longer, which means to me they need to know their rights," she added. Each seminar includes a six-hourlong class provided by Veteran Affairs that goes over the benefits they continue to receive, even outside of active duty, including survivor benefits.

Attending the full week seminar maybe too much for some families on Quantico, as many have both adults working, said Thomas. In that case, Thomas recommends both spouses attend the first two days which includes a majority of the entitlements and benefits classes.

Two sets of ears are better than one, said Thomas.

The Career Resource Management Center personnel aren’t the only ones pushing for spouses to attend.

Tanya Schaaf, the wife of a retiring captain who attended the Jan. 27-31 Retirees Only TRS, said "it’s nice to be able to understand for myself."

Raquel Pacheco, wife of a retiring gunnery sergeant, agreed, "It’s nice to know you have resources and who to go to."

"(The instructors) are better able to explain to me (the benefits and resources available) than my husband," she added. "When we first got married, everything I learned (about military life) came from my neighbors."

Thomas laughed at that and shared a story of her own: The first time her husband said his soldiers had field day she thought he meant they were going to a party and drink, not clean.

One thing all three ladies agreed on was getting the information first hand was better than getting the word from a second-hand source, even if that source is a spouse.

"If something happened to him, it’s good to understand what to do," said Schaaf.

The 2014 TRS Schedule can be found online at go.usa. gov/BDDV.

For information, call 703-784-4963 or contact your career retention specialist.