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In addition to Basic Pay, Basic Allowance for Housing, and Basic Allowance for Subsistence, members of the military may receive special or incentive pays, depending upon individual circumstances.

Medical & Dental Officer Pay. Depending on their years of service, medical and dental officers receive a variable special pay, ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per year. Additionally, Board-Certified medical officers and dental officers receive ranging from $4,000 to $31,000 per year. The directive governing Medical Officer Pay is the Defense Pay Regualtion, Volume 7A, Chapter 64. The directive governing Dental Officer Pay is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 6.

Veterinarians and Optometrists. Vets and eye-doctors only get an extra incentive pay of $100 per month. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 7.

Enlisted Special Duty Pay. The Secretary of the particular service concerned may authorize special duty pay to enlisted members performing designated special duties. This pay ranges from $55.00 per month to $375.00 per month, depending on the level of the special duty. Examples of some jobs which qualify for this special pay are military recruiters, and (in the Air Force), First Sergeants. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 8.

Diving Pay. Individuals who are qualified to dive, and who are placed on special orders to perform diving duties as a part of their normal military duties are entitled to diving pay. The pay varies significantly depending on experience level, type of duty, and the branch of service, but ranges from $110 to $300 per month. It's not surprising that the maximum amount is received by Navy SEALS. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 11.

Nuclear Officer Pay. Naval nuclear officers receive both an initial bonus, ranging from $2,000 to $6,000, and a yearly incentive pay for extending their service commitment. The yearly incentive pay is determined by the Secretary of the Navy, and may not exceed $12,000 per year. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 12.

Navy Commanders. Navy officers in the paygrade of O-6 and below receive a monthly special pay, in amounts ranging from $50.00 per month to $150 per month, when assigned duties as a commanding officer over a ship or unit designated by the Secretary of the Navy. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 13.

Overseas Extension Pay. Enlisted members, depending on location and occupation, may be authorized to receive $80.00 per month for voluntarily extending their duty in an overseas area. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 14.

Aviation Continuation Pay. This pay, available to aviation (flying) officers, below the paygrade of O-6, who extend their service obligation, may receive an annual incentive pay ranging between $4,000 and $6,000 per year. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 15.

Engineering and Scientific Officer Continuation Pay. Commissioned officers, serving as engineers or scientists may receive a continuation pay up to $3,000 per year for extending their service commitment. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 16.

Foreign Duty Pay. Enlisted members assigned to areas outside of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, are authorized to receive foreign duty pay. The amount of pay is based on rank and ranges from $8.00 per month for an E-1, to $22.50 per month for an E-9. It's interesting to note that an individual cannot receive this pay if they are stationed in a state or country of which they are a resident. So, for example, a member of the military who is a legal resident of Hawaii, would not receive this pay if stationed in that State, but another military member, who is not a resident of Hawaii, would receive the pay. Certain designated locations have been designated "hardship duty" pay locations, and members stationed there can receive up to $150.00 per month. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 17.

Sea Pay. Military members embarked on a ship are authorized sea pay, ranging in amounts from $50.00 per month to $535 per month. The amount of entitlement is based on rank and number of years of logged sea-duty. Additional amounts may also be awarded to personnel who have been embarked on a vessel for over 36 consecutive months. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 18.

Foreign Language Proficiency Pay. Military members who have received training in a foreign language and are assigned to a job requiring foreign language skills, receive a monthly Foreign Language Proficiency Pay. Depending upon the level of proficiency maintained, the pay may be between the amounts of $25 to $100 per month. Additionally, other military members who are proficient in a language that the Department of Defense considers to be "critical," may also receive this monthly pay, as long as they maintain proficiency in the language. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 19.

Aviation Retention Bonus. An aviation officer, who makes a written commitment to remain on active duty beyond their commitment, may be authorized to receive an Aviation Retention Bonus, ranging from $6,000 to $25,000 per year, depending upon the number of additional years they commit to. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 20.

Flight Pay. Flight pay is authorized for military members who are required to participate in "frequent and regular" aircraft flights. The pay ranges from $150 per month to $250 per month, depending on duty status and rank. Officers receiving Aviation Career Incentive Pay, are not authorized to receive flight pay. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 22.

Submarine Pay. Naval personnel assigned duty on a submarine are authorized to be paid Submarine Pay. Depending on rank, this pay ranges from $75.00 per month to $355.00 per month. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 23.

Hazardous Duty Pay.This is commonly confused with "Hostile Fire Pay," but in actually, the pays are two entirely separate things. Hazardous duty pay is paid to personnel who perform duties, which by their very nature may be hazardous. Payments are authorized for those performing duties concerning parachuting, flight deck duties, demolition duty, experimental stress volunteers (acceleration, low pressure, high pressure, etc.), duty involving toxic fuels or pesticides, and duties involving dangerous viruses, bacteria, or chemical weapons. Hazardous duty pay is $150 per month, except for HALO parachutists, in which case it is $225.00 per month. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 24.

Family Separation Allowance. Military members who are separated from their legal dependents for a period in excess of 30 days to a location where the dependent(s) are not authorized to accompany him or her at government expense is authorized to receive family separation allowance. There are two types of allowance: FSA-1 and FSA-2. A member may receive both. Type 1 is payable when a member may not reside on-base in their new location. It's equal to Basic allowance for Housing (BAH) at the "without dependent" rate. It's designed to help pay for rent and utilities for the additional household. FSA-2 is payable when the member is apart from legal dependents for a period in excess of 30 days. It's designed to provide assistance in paying for the incidental expenses incurred for maintaining a separate household away from family members. The amount of FSA-2 authorized is $100 per month. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 27.

Clothing Allowance. There are two types of clothing allowances: initial and annual maintenance. The initial clothing allowance is paid when, for some reason, the service is unable to issue a military member's initial allotment of uniforms. The allowance is based upon the retail cost of uniform items, and differs for each service, and for males and females. Additionally, there are numerous supplemental clothing allowances for special duties (such as band), or for those required to wear civilian clothing on duty. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 29. (Chapter 30 for Officers).

Special "Personal" Allowances. Here's an interesting "tidbit." Military members in certain "special" positions, receive a special personal allowance to help with incidentals and entertainment expenses. Here are some examples: The Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: $333.33 per month; Senior Members of the Military Staff Committee of the U.N.: $225.00 per month; Admirals and Generals (4 Star): $183.33 per month; Vice Admirals and Lieutenant Generals (3 Star): $41.67 per month. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 31.

Severance Pay. Members with over six years, but less than 20 years of service, who receive an honorable discharge, while being separated from the service involuntarily (draw down, "up-or-out system," etc.) receive a severance pay equal to 10 percent of their annual basic pay, times the amount of years service they have completed. There are several minor restrictions on this pay, and instances of what covers "voluntary," or "involuntary" separations, which are too numerous to cover in this article. Specific questions should be directed to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 35.

Hardship Duty Pay. Military members assigned to certain "hardship" assignment locations can receive Hardship Duty Pay, ranging from $50.00 to $150.00 per month. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 17.

Retirement Pay. Military members who serve for 20 or more years, and retire and receive a portion of their base pay each month for the rest of their lives. For details about military retirement pay, see Understanding Military Retirement Pay.

Taxes. In general, unless earned in a designated combat zone, all military *PAY* items are taxable. Military *allowances* (such as housing allowance [BAH], overseas housing allowance [OHA], family separation allowance [FSA], basic allowance for substinance [BAS]), are not taxable by either the Federal or State Governments. Different states have different rules for taxing military pay. The governing directive is the Defense Pay Regulation, Volume 7A, Chapter 44.

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