{"id":20265,"date":"2018-02-13T20:04:19","date_gmt":"2018-02-13T20:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/02\/13\/army-considering-special-pay-for-soldiers-who-deploy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T14:03:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T14:03:27","slug":"army-considering-special-pay-for-soldiers-who-deploy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/02\/13\/army-considering-special-pay-for-soldiers-who-deploy\/","title":{"rendered":"Army considering special pay for soldiers who deploy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Army\u2019s got a big problem: About 10 percent<\/a> of its 1 million-plus force is not able to deploy<\/a> at any given time, officials say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service is looking at an initiative that would begin the separation process for soldiers who are on non-deployable status<\/a> for more than a year, but leadership is also coming at the issue from the other side, mulling a proposal to offer a pay bump to soldiers who deploy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust recently, we\u2019ve regenerated the conversation with the new secretary of the Army<\/a>,\u201d Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey told Army Times on Thursday. \u201cIt\u2019s something he wants to explore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dailey first floated the idea of deployment pay<\/a> in 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I want every soldier deployable in the Army,” Dailey said at the time. “It’s about building readiness in the United States Army, doing what’s right, taking care of soldiers and getting them healthy \u2014 but cracking down on it, too.”
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposal would somewhat model the Navy\u2019s sea pay<\/a> program, which adds a monthly boost of $50 to $750 to sailors serving on ships. The amount is based on rank and cumulative time at sea, so a brand new E-1 earns $50 a month, while an E-6 with over four years earns $375.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey makes a few remarks after being sworn-in as the 15th SMA at a ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Friday, January 30, 2015. (Mike Morones\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The special pay is meant to incentivize sailors to seek out and accept seagoing billets, rather than prioritizing shore commands. In the Army, that program could translate to extra pay for deployments, as a bonus for keeping up with medical appointments and and injury recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe think there\u2019s an opportunity to explore the cost-benefit analysis of that for the future,\u201d Dailey said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t