While Operation New Dawn signals the official end of combat operations in Iraq, it’s not the end of combat pay for the airmen and other military personnel still operating there. Troops deployed to Iraq are eligible for hostile fire/imminent danger pay, hardship-duty pay, and incidental expenses, according to Defense Department spokeswoman Eileen Lainez. Pay for enlisted troops will still be tax exempt, while pay for officers remains tax exempt up to $7,611.30 a month, as was the case during Operation Iraqi Freedom, which ended on Tuesday. “These pays compensate a member for the arduous conditions and additional burdens and dangers associated with being deployed to a combat zone,” said Lainez. Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula were designated combat zones back in January 1991. (AFPS report by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden)
Now Enlisted Airmen Can Stay in Uniform Longer
Dec. 8, 2023
The Air Force is extending the amount of time Airmen can spend at most enlisted ranks by two years, as the service looks to combat sluggish recruiting and balance its force structure. The High Year of Tenure (HYT) program sets limits on how long service members can spend in each grade…