I know that after you retire and get a pention out or the armed forces.
For the spouce to be eligable for the listed memebers pention all they need to be is married for 4 years while active duty.

Thats it from a military perspective.

I understand that the judge can award someone with half of the pension, but if they withdraw it and spend it right away you are so out of luck.

I have spent 29 years with my husband. During that time I gave him two beautiful children. I spent many days taking children to school, helping with home work for both of my children and one had ADD,(that he never did) preparing meals and I mean real meals. I cooked almost every night. I washed his clothes and the childrens, cleaned up after them all. When we got our two cute puppies, I was the one who trained them and fed them and bathed them. Before I had back problems, I mowed the yard and weeded the flower beds so he could have his week-ends free. Not to mention the times I had sex (for him) when I didn't feel like it, because I was supposed to and that is how I was raised. It was the right thing to do. The many times I pleased him and he didn't please me. I better get half!

the two of them are correct...

pensions etc are huge negotiation tools in a divorce - if you want to hold onto it - if there is something else she wants, that is cloe to equal in value - say full ownership of the home if it is owned outright - then consider offering it as a tradeoff.

Even if part of it was aquired before you were married, your x would be entitled to the portion from the time you were married to the time you divorced.

I think that if it was acquired during the marriage yes. My ex put away 10% of his pay check, close to $700.  I felt it was too much and it took away from the home. He did it anyway, and at times things where tight my whole check went into the home. I feel entitled to that.

Depends on the state you live in. In my state, not only CAN he get half of it, the court REQUIRES IT!