Hey all, I'm looking into joining the military after high school. Something I haven't been able to figure out is how military personnel get paid while on deployment. Does anyone know the ins and outs of this? Thx!
Hi there!
Military personnel continue to receive their regular base pay while they are on deployment. The base pay is determined by their rank and length of service. For instance, a private (E1) with fewer than two years of service would earn a base monthly pay of circa $1845, and a major (O4) with six years of service would earn a base monthly pay of around $6591.
However, there are various forms of special pay and allowances that can increase a service member's salary during deployment.
1. Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay (HFP/IDP): If you are stationed in an area that qualifies for hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay, you can receive these additional pays. The current rate is about $225 per month.
2. Family Separation Allowance (FSA): If you are separated from your family due to military orders, you may be eligible for FSA. The rate for FSA is $250 per month.
3. Hardship Duty Pay (HDP): Some service members may receive hardship duty pay if they are stationed in locations with extraordinarily harsh conditions. These rates vary.
4. Tax Benefits: Generally, all of the pay you earn while serving in a combat zone is excluded from your income for tax purposes (called Combat Zone Tax Exclusion), potentially saving you a significant amount of money in taxes.
5. Housing and Cost of Living Allowances, depending upon the specific terms of your deployment, you may still be eligible for allowances like Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) to help with the cost of living.
6. Savings Deposit Program (SDP): Deployed service members may also take advantage of the Department of Defense's Savings Deposit Program, which allows you to deposit up to $10,000 and earn 10% interest annually.
Of course, each service member’s situation is unique, so this isn't a comprehensive list. You can find the most current military pay chart and more details about allowances/bonuses on the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) website.
I hope this helps you better understand potential earning during deployment! Best of luck with your future decisions.
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