There is more to the annual defense bill than pay increases and health care changes. Just because a policy change doesn't directly affect personal finance doesn't mean it should be ignored. There are always interesting nuances to the National Defense Authorization Act, and MOAA keeps track.

These provisions tend to affect more specific segments of the military community than the big name issues that make up the preponderance of our headlines. Nonetheless, they highlight the complexity and all-encompassing nature of the NDAA every year.

Here are a few interesting items in the recently signed law that you might not have caught yet.

1. Damaged protective equipment can now be kept as mementos. (Section 623)

Servicemembers love preserving symbols of their time in the military. This provision allows secretaries of military departments to award separating veterans with personal protective equipment (PPE) that was damaged during deployment. Of course, the PPE must be demilitarized prior to the award. PPE includes things such as eye and face protection, hard hats, special purpose shoes, and gloves, among other items.

2. New awards may be given to military dogs and their handlers. (Section 582)

Military dogs and their handlers are now eligible to receive one or more medals in recognition of valor or meritorious achievement. The secretary of each military department is authorized to create a new medal if desired, but may also use one currently in existence. Presentations will be made to the handlers on behalf of the working dogs.

3. New limits to foreign access to technology. (Section 885)

It's no secret that foreign entities are constantly seeking to steal and duplicate American technology, particularly in the military. This provision gives the secretary of defense for research and engineering greater authority to limit access by select persons or organizations to sensitive technology. A new process for writing terms into contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions of interest to national security is to be developed.

4. Security clearance reviews ordered for personnel who commit sex assault, fraud. (Section 542)

Security clearances were a hot topic this year. This provision requires that the defense secretary expeditiously reinvestigate security clearance backgrounds for individuals convicted of sexual assault, sexual harassment, fraud, or other crimes. Targeted individuals are flag officers and senior executive service personnel who have since separated from DoD.

5. Program cut that gave separating troops a leg up on public and community service. (Section 553)

This provision repeals a program which required DoD to assist separated servicemembers who have shown an interest in public service or community service. The definition of such careers includes school teaching and administration, law enforcement, public health care and other public service. Though the repeal of the program was mostly a reduction of bureaucracy, given the lack of popularity, it is an interesting move at a time when military service is increasingly rare in public officials.

6. More scrutiny when servicemembers are asked to perform civilian assignments. (Section 933)

Military personnel are regularly asked to carry out civilian functions, albeit under the purview of DoD. This new rule requires that secretaries of military departments not only consider the cost effectiveness of the assignment, but further, take into account whether the functions to be performed are consistent with the military occupational specialty for which the personnel have been trained. It is important that service secretaries consider the fully-burdened costs of civilian and military workforces, and the career impacts of such assignments.

7. Higher rank for Congress' attending physician. (Section 508)

The Office of Attending Physician is a longstanding position tasked with handling the medical needs of members of congress, staff, Supreme Court justices, visiting dignitaries, and even tourists. The attending physician is paid out of the Navy's budget. This year's defense bill requires that the attending physician must now hold the grade of major general or rear admiral (upper half), whereas such a rank stipulation did not previously exist.