The first thing you have to understand is that you are paying a monthly "fee" to protect income for your surviving spouse. It is not an investment or a fund for your retirement if you should live. You want to get the maximum protection for the smallest fee. Secondly, after 20 or 30 years will your surviving spouse need your military retirement to live on? Once you get that big airline job and start banking part of your retirement check, would that fund be all that would be needed to replace the retirement check? Third, when you are figuring this out, remember to use after tax dollars. Life insurance is paid for with after tax dollars so the benefit is not taxable. And finally, a quality civilian insurance company is a lot less likely to make any major changes to a term policy. With the U.S. Government all bets are off. They could make changes to your SBP after 10 or 15 years and you may not be able to get a term policy due to your age or health. Everyone's needs will vary. Do what works for you.