Imminent Danger Pay -- Who Gets It

WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES

07.08.1999

Courtesy Story

Defense.gov         

To tell us what you think about this article, go to the feedback section following the imminent danger pay chart.

Many U.S. service members supporting NATO's Balkan operations are receiving imminent danger pay -- while others supporting combat operations wonder why they're not getting the money.

Navy Capt. Elliott Bloxom, military compensation director in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, said service members qualify for imminent danger pay if they are on duty outside the United States area and are subject to physical harm or imminent danger due to wartime conditions, terrorism, civil insurrection or civil war.

The fact service members may support combat operations is not enough to earn imminent danger pay, he said. The conditions where members serve determine the danger. For instance, ground crews in Germany don't qualify even though they may have supported strike missions over Yugoslavia, he said.

Military personnel serving in 43 areas qualify for imminent danger pay (see chart). Two areas are further designated combat zones: Yugoslavia and the Persian Gulf. Service members in the combat zones receive not only imminent danger pay, but an income tax benefit.

Two separate sets of pay-related decisions are in use for Operation Allied Force-Operation Joint Guardian.

On April 13, President Clinton declared the area around Yugoslavia a combat zone retroactive to March 24, the first day of Operation Allied Force. The zone consists of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Kosovo), Albania, the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian Sea above the 39th parallel and the airspace above these areas. At the same time, the Defense Department declared military personnel serving in the zone to be eligible for imminent danger pay.

Service members included in the president's order became eligible for combat-zone income tax benefits retroactive to March 24 and eligible for imminent danger pay starting April 13.

The second set of decisions occurred May 31. Then, Frank Rush, acting assistant secretary of defense for force management policy, extended imminent danger pay to service members at certain locations in Italy, Greece and Hungary, as requested by Army Gen. Wesley Clark, head of U.S. European Command. Clark then extended combat zone tax benefits to these service members by immediately declaring they directly supported combat zone operations.

The Internal Revenue Service says service members can receive the tax benefits even though on duty outside a combat zone if they both directly support operations in the zone and receive imminent danger pay. Imminent danger pay and tax benefits began May 31.

Bloxom said danger pay process starts with a recommendation of the regional commander in chief, endorsement by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and then approval by DoD force management policy.

The combat zone tax benefit can be retroactive. While they are eligible, all enlisted members are exempt from income taxes on their pay. Allowances, such as those for quarters, subsistence and clothing, are already exempt. Officers must pay taxes on any amount over $4,653.

Imminent danger pay, $150 per month, is a "discretionary allowance" the U.S. comptroller general has ruled cannot be paid retroactively without an act of Congress, Bloxom said. Eligible service members on duty even one day in a designated area receive the full month's $150.

Bloxom said service members often confuse imminent danger pay with hostile fire pay. The latter goes to anybody exposed to hostile fire or mine explosion and is also $150 per month. Service members cannot receive imminent danger pay and hostile fire pay at the same time.

The following areas are designated for imminent danger pay:

NOTES:

Story by Jim Garamone, National Guard Bureau

• Date Taken: 07.08.1999
• Date Posted: 07.04.2025 00:14
• Story ID: 528307
• Location: WASHINGTON, US