The U.S. military is preparing to "raise salaries": combat pay in dangerous theaters will increase from $7.5 per day to $15.
On the 6th, the U.S. Military Times reported that, considering the U.S.-Iran war "has not yet ended," the Pentagon has proposed in its 2027 fiscal year budget that monthly combat pay for U.S. troops deployed in combat zones be raised from a maximum of $225 to $450.
According to the Military Times, U.S. service members deployed in "dangerous environments" can receive additional allowances monthly, with amounts varying by location, capped at $225 (a figure last adjusted back in 2003, originally $110 per month), equivalent to $7.5 per day.
After years of implementation, the Pentagon has finally recognized that this allowance rate is too low and plans to increase it to $450 per month—equivalent to $15 per day (officially dubbed "the first adjustment since 2003"). However, this proposal has not yet been approved by Congress.
Naturally, if we speak frankly, individual military personnel compensation is certainly much higher than this. In addition to basic pay, there are hardship duty allowances, tax exemptions, retention bonuses, and other benefits. But if we focus solely on the pure "special payment for daily risk exposure in combat zones," the current amount remains only $7.5 per day.
Even American media acknowledge that similar forms of compensation have existed since World War II, with amounts long remaining low, frequently criticized by U.S. troops as "insufficient"—especially when compared to today's U.S. defense spending approaching one trillion dollars. Now, due to ongoing conflicts with Iran, multiple regions in the Middle East have been designated as high-risk areas, prompting renewed discussion within the Pentagon about raising these payments.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864707416934400/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.