Deployment OIF/OEF Military Pay Entitlements
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Military Pay entitlements change when Service Members deploy. For
more Military Pay information check out our
Military Pay section. The following
information is provided to help Service Members arrange their finances in
preparation for deployment: |
a. Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS). Soldiers will
deploy in a TCS status. All deploying Soldiers will receive BAS / Separate
Rations. BAS will continue for Soldiers who are receiving it at the time of
deployment and will be started for Soldiers who are on meal cards.
b. Per Diem. All deployed Service Members who are in a Temporary Change
of Station (TCS) or TDY status are entitled to OCONUS incidental per diem at $3.50 a
day or $105 a month. Most
contingency areas have check cashing functions, but no ATMs; so take your
checkbook and/or a cash advance on your government travel card, before you
depart.
c. Hostile Fire Pay (HFP)/Imminent Danger Pay (IDP). HFP/IDP is payable
to all Service Members in the total land and air space of Iraq. Service Members
receive $225.00 a month for each month, or part of a month, in which the Service
Member is present in the HFP/IDP area. Entitlement starts upon arrival to the
authorized location and terminates upon departure.
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d. Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE). Public Law authorizes CZTE for all
Service Members receiving HFP in Iraq and Afghanistan. A Service Member who is
present, however brief, in this area, including airspace, and is on official
duty qualifies for CZTE for that month. All pay for both enlisted personnel and
warrant officers is tax exempt for the months spent in the CZTE area.
All enlisted pay,
allowances, and leave, earned in a TDY location, designated for
'Combat Zone Tax Exemption' (CZTE), are tax free. Bonuses are paid, based on
rank when earned. Bonus money remains tax free, even if paid in
installments over the next several years. When tax exempt leave is taken,
taxable wages are reduced on W-2 wage & tax statements at end of tax year, based
on the number of days members earned while in combat zone.
Commissioned officer pay is tax exempt at an amount equal to the Sergeant Major
of the Army’s Basic Pay plus HFP. For calendar year 2004, this is equal to
$6,315.90 per month (6,090.90 + 225.00).
Combat zones and the
applicable dates are determined by Presidential Executive Order. Currently,
members assigned to the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, part of the Arabian
Sea that is north of 10o N latitude and west of 68o E
longitude, Gulf of Aden, total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman,
Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan are in a designated
combat zone.
e. Hardship Duty Pay-Location (HDP-L). Indicated as Save Pay on the Leave
and Earnings Statement (LES), is payable to all Service Members on a monthly
basis according to location and living conditions. Currently, HDP-L is payable
at a rate of $150 per month for all Service Members
assigned to Area-I in Korea. Deployed Service Members will continue to
receive HDP-L.
f. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). Service Members drawing BAH at
their permanent duty station (PDS) will continue to draw BAH during the
deployment.
g. Family Separation Allowance (FSA). FSA is paid when a Service Member
is involuntarily separated from his/her dependents or active duty spouse for
more than 30 days. It is payable at $250.00 per month, or $8.33 per day. Service
Members currently drawing FSA will continue to do so upon deployment. Service
Members who reside with their Command Sponsored or Non Command Sponsored Family
members will receive FSA the day they depart for the OIF Theater.
The purpose of Family Separation Allowance (FSA)
is to defray minor costs incurred due to enforced separation over 30 days.
Separation must begin with a continuous 30 day separation. Temporary visits are
authorized after the member is separated from the Permanent Durty Station (PDS). The supporting document for payment of FSA is
DD Form 1561 (Statement to Substantiate Payment of Family Separation Allowance).
Ensure the certifying officer signs this form before submission.
Reference: DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A, Chaper 27.
h. Selective Re-enlistment Bonus (SRB). The SRB is entirely tax-exempt
when a Service Member re-enlists in a CZTE area. Accrued leave sold by enlisted
Service Members while in a CZTE area, whether earned in that area or not, is tax
exempt. Leave accrued by any Service Member
while serving in the CZTE area, which remains unused at separation, is tax
exempt.
i. Savings Deposit Program (SDP). All Service Members deployed at least
30 consecutive days may contribute to this risk free program. Service Members
may make any number of deposits in any amount each month, provided the total
deposited in a one month period does not exceed the Service Member’s monthly net
pay and allowances. Interest is paid at the guaranteed rate of 10 percent per annum,
compounded quarterly (calendar quarter). Contributions are limited to
$10,000, so the most someone could earn is $500 in interest over a six-month
deployment or $1,000 for a one-year deployment. The money must be withdrawn
within 90 days of returning from the deployment region. This is a great opportunity for service members to
accrue at a higher interest rate than at an average interest rate of two or
three percent.
Service members use the program by making deposits with their
deployed finance unit. Service members may begin making deposits on their 31st
consecutive day in the designated area. Eligibility to make deposits terminates
on the date of departure from theater. Active duty members may make deposits by
cash, personal check, traveler's check, money order or allotment. Reserve
component members may make deposits by cash, personal check or money order only.
Standing policies regarding personal check acceptance and regulatory
restrictions regarding number and type of allotments apply.
j. Special-Leave Accrual (SLA). SLA accrues when a Service Member
serves in an area in which he or she was entitled to Hostile Fire/Imminent
Danger Pay for at least 120 continuous days. Special Leave Accrual authorizes
Service Members to carry up to 90 days of leave at the end of a Fiscal Year.
Accrued Special Leave must be used before the end of the third fiscal year after
the fiscal year in which the qualifying service ended.
k. Leave and Earnings Statements (LESs). LESs and Mid-month Net Pay
Advice forms will be sent to the Service Members at their deployed locations. In
addition, Service Members with access to the Internet will be able to access
their LESs through “myPay” online at
www.dod.mil/dfas.
With a general power of attorney, Service Members can grant their spouse access
to their LES. Spouses with power of attorney should request the LES from the
unit’s rear detachment commander or NCOIC. By law, spouses are not authorized to
have Service Members “myPay” PIN.
l. Power of Attorney (POA). With a special power of attorney, the Service
Member can grant their spouse the right to establish, change, or stop an
allotment. The special power of attorney must specifically state the authority
to establish, change, or stop allotments. In addition, a special power of
attorney can be used to establish, change, or stop transactions involving the
Thrift Savings Plan and the Savings Deposit Program.
m. Dependent Support. Service Members must ensure their families have
access to adequate financial support in their absence. This may include access
to checking and/or savings accounts or establishment of allotments. Checking
accounts are generally preferred in order to maximize access to funds by both
the Service Member and their dependent(s).
n. Pay Adjustments. The manifest will be used to start, stop and adjust
numerous pay entitlements. It is critical that Service Members
returning prior to the main body (ie. emergency leave, etc.) are reported
to finance and are followed up on by the rear detachment commander to ensure the
necessary adjustments are made. Failure to make the adjustments will result in
overpayments and cause unnecessary and extreme hardships on the Service Member.
Military Spouse Finance Guide
A Military Spouse Finance Guide: Financial Advice for the Homefront provides
real-world information and easy-to-implement solutions for those who want to
effectively manage their family's finances. With tips and examples that can be
used throughout a person's military and civilian life, the Military Spouse
Finance Guide is a comprehensive look at how to control your money, rather than
having your money control you.
o. Deployment Locations and Benefits. Below are
deployment locations and the entitlements and benefits per location.
KUWAIT: Hardship Duty Pay -$100, Hostile Fire Pay, Savings
Deposit Program, CZTE, FSH-II, BAS, Per Diem, SLA
SAUDI ARABIA: Hardship Duty Pay - $100 (Ar’ar Airport & Tabuk Air Base only),
Hostile Fire Pay, Savings Deposit Program, CZTE, FSH-II, BAS, Per Diem, SLA
AFGHANISTAN: Hardship Duty Pay - $100, Hostile Fire Pay, Savings Deposit
Program, CZTE, FSH-II, BAS, Per Diem, SLA
UZBEKISTAN: Hardship Duty Pay - $100, Hostile Fire Pay, Savings Deposit Program, CZTE, FSH-II, BAS, Per Diem, SLA
PAKISTAN: Hardship Duty Pay - $100, Hostile Fire Pay, Savings Deposit Program, CZTE, FSH-II, BAS, Per Diem, SLA
IRAQ: Hardship Duty Pay - $100, Hostile Fire Pay, Savings Deposit Program, CZTE,
FSH-II, BAS, Per Diem, SLA
p. Other Reimburseable Expenses for TDY Travel.
When submitting TDY travel vouchers,
claim conference fees, lodging costs,
taxes on lodging, CTO airfare and service fees (charged to GTC), and rental car
amounts in the "Reimbursable Expenses" column.
Attach original and one
copy of receipts for these items. Military members and "disabled" civilian
employees may claim personal baggage handling tips at the airport. All personnel
may claim taxi fares (no receipt required if under $75); ATM fees ($2.00 or 3%
of ATM withdrawal-whichever is greatest), and baggage handling for "government
property".
It is always a good idea to save money for "a rainy day."
Take a look at our Military Emergency Savings
Plan article for advice on setting money aside for emergencies and
contingencies that come up - an especially good idea to accomplish before a
service member deploys.
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