Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a financial boost for U.S. Army paratroopers during a May 22 address at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
News of the pay raise came during the 82nd Airborne Division’s All American Week, an event that brings active-duty and veteran paratroopers together over four days to celebrate the service of parachutists.
“For the first time in [decades], here [as] the secretary of defense, through the secretary of the Army, we are increasing jump pay,” Hegseth told soldiers, according to a DOD release.
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Jump pay is considered hazardous duty incentive pay, which is paid to service members who engage in an activity that poses inherent dangers, the DOD website states.
Rank-and-file paratroopers will now see their jump pay increase to $200 a month, up from the previous $150 each month.
Additionally, jumpmasters, the senior paratroopers who train soldiers who jump from aircraft, will see their hazardous duty incentive pay climb from $150 to $300 a month.
“Here’s to our paratroopers, our jumpmasters, who do the difficult things in difficult places that most Americans can never imagine,” Hegseth said.
The defense secretary praised the 82nd Airborne Division for being a pivotal source of deterrence — a key tenet of his vision for the department — and promised continued investments in formations to ensure they remain equipped for the fights ahead.
Hegseth concluded his address by emphasizing a commitment to peace through strength and thanked past and present paratroopers in attendance for their service.
“When I look out at this formation, the eyes of the men and women and these flags, I see the eyes of deterrence; I see the eyes of American strength; I see the eyes that will deter the wars that we don’t want to fight,” he said. “Those who long for peace must prepare for war.”
Riley Ceder is a Navy reporter at Military Times, where he covers issues directly affecting service members and their families, as well as breaking news.
