Throughout history war veterans have received compensation. Roman soldiers were given rewards at the end of their service including cash or land (praemia). Augustus fixed the amount in AD 5 at 3000 denarii and by the time of Caracalla it had risen to 5000 denarii. [1] US Military personnel receive death benefits after retirement from active military duty [2], retirement compensation, educational reimbursement, and access to substitutionary insurance otherwise unavailable to civilians.