The Department of Defense announced last week the implementation of traumatic injury protection insurance under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program.

The program, which will be known as TSGLI, is designed to provide financial assistance to servicemembers during their recovery period from a serious traumatic injury.

On December 1, 2005, all members eligible for SGLI became insured for traumatic injury protection of up to $100,000 unless they decline SGLI coverage.

A flat monthly premium of $1 will be added to the monthly SGLI deduction, regardless of the amount of SGLI coverage that the member has elected effective December 1, 2005.

The retroactive provision of TSGLI provides that any servicemember who suffers a qualifying loss between Oct. 7, 2001, and Dec. 1, 2005, will receive a benefit under the TSGLI program if the loss was a direct result of injuries incurred in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.