The big pay boost is part of a $842 billion Defense Department spending plan unveiled by the White House on Thursday. Promotion rates for sergeants and staff sergeants are in freefall, so Army Times crunched the numbers and found out why. The $858 billion measure also includes a 4.6% pay raise for troops next year and plans to backfill munition stockpiles depleted by the war in Ukraine. The basic allowance for housing issue affected roughly 175 sailors but has since been fixed, officials said. The group wants military leaders to resume paying 100% of the housing allowance formula, instead of the current 95%. Some instructors say swimming is major weakness for the Corps — especially as the service focuses back to the sea. By Hope Hodge Seck
19 months ago DoD has unveiled a number of initiatives to improve quality of life for service members, including a boost in Basic Allowance in Housing for some troops. Leaders hope to give noncommissioned officers a pay raise and change how the military calculates benefits like housing stipends. Amid record-breaking spikes in rent, service members and activists say the Department of Defense has not adequately increased housing allowances. The Air Force has spent the past four years making a concerted push to ready its planes for war. It’s gained almost no ground. Load More