The Pentagon has enacted the first increase in hostile fire and imminent danger pay for all troops since 2002, officials announced Oct. 1. The new rates took effect Thursday, the start of the new fiscal year.
A memo from Timothy Dill, Assistant Secretary of War for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, raises hostile fire pay to $450 per month from its previous top rate of $250, and imminent danger pay to $275 monthly, or $9.16 per day, up from the prior cap of $225 or $7.50 per day. The memo is dated July 14 and was released by the Pentagon.
The memo cites a Department of War Instruction updated in 2024 that gives the assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs the authority to determine hazard pay amounts.
The Marine Corps had already announced in September that it was updating its pay caps to the amounts set in the memo, but did not describe the move as a military-wide change.
Troops can receive hostile fire pay if their base or unit is attacked by hostile forces, or if they are wounded by hostile fire or explosions. If a commander authorizes it, troops are given a lump sum of $450 for the month. Imminent danger pay is given to troops in a location 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. Under the new rates, it is prorated to $9.16 per day. As in the past, troops cannot receive both types of combat pay in the same month.
Undersecretary of Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata said in a statement on Oct. 1: “Those who face combat deserve higher compensation that reflects the risks that they willingly undertake on behalf of our nation. Raising imminent danger and hostile fire pays for the first time in two decades is a step toward recognizing that sacrifice.”
The change comes as the Iran conflict is in its seventh month. Tens of thousands of U.S. personnel remain deployed in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The military has rotated out some units, most notably carrier strike groups on extended tours, and extended the deployments of other forces.
Sources: Army Times · Navy Times