U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 7th Army Training Command hold security during exercise Saber Junction 26 at the Hohenfels Training Area, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Germany, Aug. 30, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Ky'Ron James)
The Pentagon announced increases Thursday in hostile fire pay and imminent danger pay for the start of the new fiscal year for some service members.
By the numbers:
Hostile fire pay will be issued a full monthly rate of $450, which doubles the previous $225 rate. Imminent danger pay will increase by $50 from $225 to $275 per month, according to a memorandum released by Tim Dill, the assistant secretary of war for manpower and Reserve affairs.
It is the first time since 2002 that the rates have increased.
What we know:
Regulations specify that a service member is entitled to hostile fire pay when he or she "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 Pentagon release states.
Imminent danger pay is due to service members who are "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," the release states.
What they're saying:
"Those who face combat deserve higher compensation that reflects the risks that they willingly undertake on behalf of our nation," Anthony J. Tata, the undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness, said. "Raising imminent danger and hostile fire pays for the first time in two decades is a step toward recognizing that sacrifice."
The document tasks the services with making sure service members do not receive hostile fire pay and imminent danger pay at the same time, but Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said if an imminent danger-designated area escalates into active combat, commanders can transition personnel from imminent danger pay to hostile fire pay immediately, which he says provides "a clear and timely mechanism to acknowledge heightened risk levels."
The memo was signed in mid-July, but the increase in hazard pay appropriations goes into effect at the start of the new fiscal year, the Pentagon said.
The Source: Information in this story came from the Pentagon. This story was reported from Orlando.