Beginning Sept. 3, same-sex couples will be able to reap federal benefits from their spouses serving in the military, The Department of Defense announced on Wednesday.

NBC reported that come fall, lesbian and gay couples who have been legally married in the United States will have access to the same governmental services as heterosexual partners in civil unions, including health benefits, residence assistance, and family separation allowance-payment given to families that cannot live in the same place as their serving members of kin.

"The Department of Defense remains committed to ensuring that all men and women who serve in the US military, and their families, are treated fairly and equally as the law directs," the Pentagon announced during its statement given on Wednesday.

The military has also taken yet another step to ensure coverage for those serving in the US Army that don't live in states where same-sex marriage is legal: partners have been allotted up to 10 days of absence so they can be married in a state that does offer LGBT civil unions.

"We recognize that same-sex military couples who are not stationed in a jurisdiction that permits same-sex marriage would have to travel to another jurisdiction to marry," the Pentagon stated. "That is why the department will implement policies to allow military personnel in such a relationship non-chargeable leave for the purpose of travelling to a jurisdiction where such a marriage may occur."

According to NBC, 13 states have currently legalized gay marriage, while in the 37 other states, same-sex unions remain illegal.

This change in the military's benefit offerings is not only functionally powerful-it is also symbolically significant. Each of the programs newly given to same-sex couples are retroactive to June 26, 2013, the day that the Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, was unconstitutional. 

According to Military.com, the Navy decided to include same-sex domestic partners as eligible for benefits in June, with a projected instatement date of August 31.

Rear Adm. and director of military plans and policy Tony Kurta noted the importance of including all those serving in the armed forces.

"Extending these benefits reinforces the principle that all those who volunteer to serve are treated with dignity and respect and ensured fairness and equal treatment," he said.