From Rod Powers,
Your Guide to US Military.
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Apr 13 2008

The 2008 Defense Authorization Act has been passed into law, and includes an across-the-board increase in military basic pay of 3.5 percent.

The Bush administration had submitted their proposed 2008 Military Budget request to Congress, asking for a flat 3.0 percent across-the-board raise. Congress felt it wasn't enough. This 3.5 percent raise is 0.5 percent greater than the average increases in private sector raises.

Under previous law, time-in-service raises, known as "longivity raises," stopped when one reached 26 years of service. The Fiscal Year 2007 Military Authorization Act established time-in-service raises for senior enlisted, senior warrant officers and senior commissioned officers who have between 28 and 40 years of service.

The below charts show 2008 Basic Pay rates.

Enlisted:

• 20 or Fewer Years of Service
• More Than 20 Years of Service

Warrant Officers:

• 20 or Fewer Years of Service
• More Than 20 Years of Service

Officers:

• 20 or Fewer Years of Service
• More Than 20 Years of Service