Hello everyone, I am a rising junior and I'm super interested in enlisting after high school. I understand that military pay changes when you're deployed. Can someone explain this in detail? I'm guessing it goes up, but by how much and why? Is the increase consistent across different branches of the military?
When you're deployed in the military, your pay can indeed change due to various allowances and special pays that get activated. Some of these allowances might include Family Separation Allowance, Hardship Duty Pay, and Hostile Fire Pay/Imminent Danger Pay.
Family Separation Allowance (FSA) is allotted when service members are separated from their dependents due to military orders, typically when deployed for over 30 days. The current rate is $250 per month.
Hardship Duty Pay (HDP) is compensation for service members assigned to locations where living conditions are substantially below those conditions in the continental U.S. (CONUS). This pay varies depending on the location, but it can potentially add up to $150 per month.
Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay (HFP/IDP) is paid to service members who are in an area subjugated to hostile fire or explosion of hostile mines, or those on duty in an area in close proximity to hostile fire. This pay is $225 per month.
This represents a general overview and does not account for all possible allowances and special pay that may occur during deployment. Each of these allowances typically does not vary across different branches of the military, though different assignments and situations may warrant other or additional allowances.
It's also worth noting that while deployed in a combat zone, enlisted personnel and warrant officers can benefit from a provision that makes their military pay exempt from federal income tax with a maximum exclusion amount up to the highest rate of enlisted pay, plus any hostile fire or imminent danger pay received.
It is recommended that you consult with a military career counselor or similar advisor to get the most accurate and up-to-date information tailored to your specific circumstances.
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