War Department Increases Two Hazard Pays for First Time in Nearly Quarter Century

The War Department announced an increase in hostile fire pay and imminent danger pay today for the first time since 2002.

A memorandum released by Tim Dill, assistant secretary of war for manpower and Reserve affairs, states hostile fire pay will be issued at a full monthly rate of $450, which doubles the previous $225 rate, and imminent danger pay will increase to $275 from $225 monthly, effective today.

The memo was authored and signed in mid-July, but the increase in hazard pay appropriations goes into effect at the start of the new fiscal year.

"Those who face combat deserve higher compensation that reflects the risks that they willingly undertake on behalf of our nation," said Anthony J. Tata, undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness. "Raising imminent danger and hostile fire pays for the first time in two decades is a step toward recognizing that sacrifice."

Per the undersecretary of war (comptroller)/chief financial officer's financial management regulation, a service member is entitled to hostile fire pay when the service member "performs duty in a hostile fire area … is exposed to a hostile fire event … is on duty during a month in an area in which a hostile event occurred that placed the member in grave danger of physical injury; or … is killed, injured or wounded by a hostile fire event."

A service member is entitled to imminent danger when "[the service member] is subject to the threat of physical harm or imminent danger based on civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism or wartime conditions in a designated foreign area," according to the same regulation.

The new memo tasks the services with coordinating with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to ensure service members don't receive concurrent hostile fire pay and imminent danger pay for the same period of service.

Under 37 U.S. Code § 351, the War Department is authorized to increase hostile fire pay and imminent danger pay to the new levels, and the secretary of war is authorized to establish any amount up to the statutory ceiling, according to a statement from Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell.

The department always encourages service members and their families to consult local finance offices or their command financial specialists to learn how the changes will appear on leave and earnings statements, and to ask finance personnel questions about individual entitlements and eligibility.

Before the last increase in hazardous pay in 2002, pay rates varied by qualifying duty and the service member's rank/pay grade - typically ranging from $100 to $240 per month.