A second career town
Redstone Arsenal hosts major Army commands, including Army Materiel Command, the Aviation and Missile Command and the Space and Missile Defense Command, along with a large defense and aerospace workforce. Many retirees in the Huntsville area are on their second career: civil service, contractor or engineering jobs that build on what they did in uniform.
That raises CRSC questions most retirees never face. Can you receive CRSC while working full time? Yes, CRSC is not an unemployability benefit, and a job does not by itself affect it. Read CRSC while working. The bigger trap is in federal employment: if you waive military retired pay to credit your service toward a civil-service retirement, DoD guidance treats you as ineligible for CRSC. Anyone weighing a military service deposit or retired pay waiver should read CRSC and the federal civil-service buyback before deciding, and get the details in writing from their agency benefits office.
Fact patterns we look at for North Alabama retirees
- Aviation. Army aviators and crew may have injuries tied to aircraft or flight duty that fit instrumentality of war or hazardous service.
- Air defense and missile units. Injuries caused by weapon systems or ordnance, documented at the time, may qualify.
- Earlier combat deployments. Many retirees here did their combat tours before their final assignment. Those records still count. See armed conflict.
- Noise. Hearing loss and tinnitus need careful proof. See our noise guide.
What CRSC is
CRSC is a tax-free monthly payment under 10 U.S.C. § 1413a for eligible military retirees whose retired pay is reduced by VA disability compensation. The VA rates the condition. Your branch decides whether it is combat-related. Most Huntsville-area retirees are Army and file with the CRSC branch at Human Resources Command; retirees of other branches file with their own boards. See our Army CRSC guide and use the CRSC calculator for a working estimate.
Local resources worth knowing
The Redstone Arsenal retirement services office can help with retired pay and SBP questions. VA health care facilities serve North Alabama for treatment and records. For VA disability claims, county veterans service officers and accredited Veterans Service Organizations can help at no cost; Standfast does not file VA claims. For questions about a civil-service deposit or retired pay waiver, your agency's benefits office and DFAS are the authorities. Our role is the CRSC packet.
How it works
- Take the 30-second quiz or book a free 15-minute review.
- Upload your DD-214, VA rating decisions and any prior CRSC letters.
- We tell you which conditions look combat-related and provable.
- If you hire us, we build the packet for a flat fee. You sign and submit it.
- Flat fee, quoted up front. Never a percentage of your back pay. Payment plans available through Affirm or Klarna at checkout, subject to approval.
- Founded by a combat-disabled Army Infantry retiree who filed his own 277-page CRSC packet. Meet Loy.
- Free 15-minute review before you spend anything.
We help retirees from every branch
Each branch decides CRSC through a different board. Start with yours:
What we do
- CRSC packet preparation: end-to-end build, intake to submission-ready.
- CRSC records review: what is combat-related, provable, and worth per month.
- CRSC reconsideration: rebuild a denied claim with a clearer link to a qualifying cause.
- DD Form 2860 help: completing the CRSC claim form, block by block.
- CRSC eligibility: see if you qualify.
- CRSC calculator: a working estimate of the monthly amount.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get CRSC while working at Redstone or for a contractor?
Yes. Employment does not by itself affect CRSC. The separate issue is a federal civil-service buyback: waiving military retired pay to credit service toward a civil-service retirement can make you ineligible for CRSC under DoD guidance. Confirm your situation with your agency benefits office and DFAS before acting.
Does Standfast give tax or retirement planning advice?
No. We provide general information and CRSC packet preparation only. For tax, legal or retirement planning decisions, consult a qualified professional or the responsible agency.
Is Standfast affiliated with the Army or the VA?
No. Standfast is a private, veteran-owned company, not affiliated with the VA, DoD, DFAS, HRC or any branch, and not a law firm, VSO or accredited agent.
Do I need to meet in person?
No. We are 100% remote and work with retirees nationwide.
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Local or nationwide, start with a free review.
Everything is done by phone, email and secure file sharing, so where you live never limits the help. Tell us your situation and we will give you a straight, vet-to-vet read on whether CRSC looks like a fit.
Standfast Veterans Group (Standfast Claims LLC) is a private, veteran-owned CRSC packet-preparation company. We are not a law firm, not a Veterans Service Organization and not VA-accredited agents, and we are not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, DFAS, Army Human Resources Command or any branch of the Armed Forces. This page is general information, not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. Your branch's CRSC board decides every claim; we do not guarantee approval, a rating, a payment amount or back pay.