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Pay
and Allowances
There are various types of pay. Basic pay is received by all and is the main
component of an individual's salary. The other pays, often referred to as
special pays, are for specific qualifications or events. For example, there are
special pays for aviators and parachutists; special pays are also paid for
dangerous or hardship duties. Only basic pay is discussed on this website.
Allowances are the second most important element of military pay. Allowances
are moneys provided for specific needs, such as food or housing. Monetary
allowances are provided when the government does not provide for that
specific need. For example, the quantity of government housing is not
sufficient to house all military members and their families. Those who
live in government housing do not receive full housing allowances. Those
who do not live in government housing receive allowances to assist them
in obtaining commercial housing.
The most common allowances are Basic Allowance for Subsistence
(BAS) and Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). A majority of the force receives
both of these allowances and, in many cases, these allowances comprise
a significant portion of the member's total pay.
Most allowances are not taxable, which is an additional imbedded
benefit of military pay.
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