Pentagon announces same-sex spouse benefits  for military couples/Operation Confidence  Pentagon announces same-sex spouse benefit for military couples The Department of Defense announced a plan Wednesday to extend a range of  federal benefits to same-sex spouses of military service members starting Sept. 3. The Pentagon will extend to legally married same-sex couples the same privileges  and programs that are provided to legally married heterosexual couples, including  benefits tied to health care, housing, and family separation allowance, compensation  paid to military members when their dependents can't live with them at their  permanent duty station. "The Department of Defense remains committed to ensuring that all men and  women who serve in the U.S. military, and their families, are treated fairly and  equally as the law directs," the Pentagon said in its announcement Wednesday. Operation Confidence supports the wounded and disabled veterans.