HOSTILE FIRE/IMMINENT DANGER PAY

As stated in Chapter 10 of the DoD Financial Management Regulations. Hostile Fire Pay (HFP) is paid when certified by appropriate commanders to military members subjected to:
  • Subjected to hostile fire or explosion of a hostile mine
  • On duty in an area in close proximity to a hostile fire incident and the member is in danger of being exposed to the same dangers actually experienced by other Service members subjected to hostile fire or explosion of hostile mines
  • Killed, injured, or wounded by hostile fire, explosion of a hostile mine, or any other hostile action
Members are eligible for Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) when serving on official duty within a designated IDP area.

IDP rules change Dec. 31, 2011

Prior to Dec. 31, 2011, members eligible for IDP were paid the full monthly rate of $225 for any complete or partial month they served in a qualifying area. The 2012 National Defense Authorization Act modified IDP payments, limiting eligibility to only the actual days served in a qualifying area. Now service members will receive $7.50 for each day they are on official duty in an IDP area up to the maximum monthly rate of $225. The monthly rate is paid to members who serve an entire calendar month in an IDP area regardless of the number of individual days in that month.

Members who are exposed to a hostile fire or hostile mine explosion event are eligible to receive non-prorated Hostile Fire Pay (HFP) in the full monthly amount of $225. Members cannot receive both IDP and HFP in the same month.

The law required proration to begin on Dec. 31, 2011; however, implementing guidance and military pay processes were not in place to begin prorating the pay on that date.  DoD began paying the prorated payments Feb. 1, 2012. Some members may have been overpaid between the date the NDAA was signed on Dec. 31, 2011, and Feb. 1, 2012, when the pay systems began proration.  The military services are working to waive or remit debts for members who may have been overpaid during this period. The intent is that you will not be liable for any overpayment during this period.

Reading your Leave & Earnings Statement

If you serve an entire calendar month in a designated IDP area, your LES will reflect the maximum monthly amount of $225. If you are in the area less than a month, your LES will reflect payment for only the period you were eligible for IDP. It is important that you review your LES to make sure you have received the correct entitlement.

Contact your finance office if you have any questions.

Some examples:

For Marines: A member arrives in Afghanistan on February 1 and departs the country on February 10. The member earns $7.50 per day for 10 days, for a total of $75.00. The Entitlement section of the LES will reflect a payment of $75.00 for 'IMMINENT DGR PAY" with the dates of entitlement. If there are multiple periods of entitlement in the same month, the LES will show each period separately.

For Army, Navy, Air Force active duty/Army, Navy, Air Force Reserve/ Air & Army National Guard: A member arrives in Afghanistan on February 1 and departs the country on February 10.  The member earns $7.50 per day for 10 days, for a total of $75.00. The Entitlement section of the LES will reflect a payment of $75.00 for IDP for February. If there are multiple periods of entitlement in the same month, the LES will show one amount for total IDP.