Special Pay is additional monthly and/or annual pay given to eligible active duty service members who perform certain specific duties, serve in specific geographic locations, occupy specific Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC), or are given certain specific assignments.

An Airman or Guardian, who is eligible for basic pay for active duty, in a given month, may also be eligible for special pays if various requirements are satisfied.

A service member entitled to Special Pay, who is hospitalized for a wound or injury incurred as a result of hostile action, or while in the line of duty, incurs a wound, injury or illness in a combat operation or combat zone designated by the Secretary of Defense and is hospitalized outside of the theater for treatment is entitled to receive the Special Pay for 12 months.

Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP): AIP is a compensation tool that provides a monetary incentive to encourage Airmen and Guardians to volunteer for select difficult-to-fill or less desirable assignments, locations, or units designated by, and under conditions of service specified by the Secretary of the Air Force.

AIP may not be paid after the date listed on the Duration of Authority table unless the AIP agreement was entered into prior to the date on the table

Aviation Incentive Pay (AVIP) (Officers):AVIP is restricted to regular officers, who hold, or are in training leading to, an aeronautical rating or designation and who engage and remain in aviation services on a career basis. Entitlement to AVIP may be on a continuous or conditional (month-to-month) basis. Monthly payments are based on rank and years of service and range from $150 to $1000 per month.

Diving Duty Pay: A service member who is a rated diver and assigned to a Skill Classification/ Military Occupational Specialty or a position designated as diving duty. Monthly payments are based on the Airman’s diver rating (e.g. SCUBA Diver or Para rescue Diver). Enlisted divers can receive from $110 to $150 per month, while officer divers receive from $150 per month.

Hardship Duty Pay: Hardship duty pay is additional compensation for service members assigned to locations or performing missions where conditions are substantially below conditions in the continental United States.

• Hardship Duty Pay for Location Assignment (HDP-L) is payable to service members for either permanent change of duty station or temporary/deployed/attached duty in specified locations for more than 30 consecutive days. HDP-L is payable on a monthly basis in the amount of $50, $100 or $150 depending on the location.
• Hardship Duty Pay Mission (HDP-M) is payable to service members for performing designated hardship missions. HDP-M is payable to both officers and enlisted personnel of the active and reserve component, at the full monthly rate of $150 whenever any part of the month is served fulfilling a specific mission. The combined maximum HDP-L and HDP-M payable is $300.00 per month.
• Hardship Duty Pay Tempo (HDP-T) is designed to recognize extended or excessive amounts of time outside of a service member’s permanent duty station (PDS). The Secretary of the Air Force will establish eligibility criteria based on service-specific needs but will consider retention, quality of life, family separation, and other factors that contribute to a service member’s dissatisfaction when spending extended or excessive amounts of time away from the service member’s PDS.
• Hardship Duty Pay – Restriction of Movement (HDP - ROM) is designed for service members ordered by their command to restriction of movement for self-monitoring due to exposure or suspected exposure to COVID-19. HDP-ROM will be paid at the rate of $100 per day not to exceed $1,500 per month. Effective March 13, 2020, service members ordered by their command:
  • To restriction of movement for self-monitoring due to exposure or expected exposure or COVID-19; or
  • To restriction of movement for self-monitoring due to travel to, from or through a Center for Disease Control and Prevention Level 3 Travel Notice country
  • That are directed to do so at a facility that is neither provided by the U.S. government nor is their personal residence at the service member’s PDS
  • Are required to pay for the cost of their lodging without full or partial reimbursement.

Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay (HDIP): Service members under orders to participate in regular and frequent aerial flights as crew or non-crew members may be entitled to flying pay for that duty. Monthly payments for crewmembers vary by rank and range from $150 to $250 for Officers and $150 to $240 for Enlisted. The monthly HDIP for non-crew members is $150 regardless of rank. Officers entitled to aviation incentive pay (AVIP) are not eligible for HDIP.

Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay: Service members subjected to hostile fire or explosion of a hostile mine or on duty in an area in close proximity to a hostile fire incident and in danger of being subjected to the same dangers may be entitled to hostile fire pay (HFP) of $225 per month. HFP is payable in the full amount for each month a service member qualifies. Service members on official duty in a designated imminent danger pay area may be eligible for IDP. IDP is payable on a monthly basis in the amount of $225.

Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP): Special duty pay is for enlisted Service members in jobs that have been designated as extremely difficult or involve an unusual degree of responsibility. Examples of these jobs include specialized roles such as Military Training Instructors, recruiters, and First Sergeants. Monthly amounts range from $75 to $450 depending on the Special Duty Assignment designation.

Special Pay for Health Professions Officers (HPOs): HPOs in Air Force Medical Service, who is on active duty under a call or order to active duty for a period of at least one year, is eligible for additional compensation in accordance with 37 USC, Section 355.

• Board Certification Pay (BCP): An Officer in the Air Force Medical Service certified by an approved specialty board may be eligible for payment up to $8,000 per year, paid out monthly.
• Incentive Pay (IP): An Officer in the Air Force Medical Service who is fully-qualified in an approved specialty may be eligible for payment up to $102,000 per year, paid out monthly. The officer must sign a written agreement to remain on active duty for a period of one year.
• Retention Bonus: An Officer in the Air Force Medical Service who is fully-qualified in an approved specialty may be eligible for an annual bonus up to $150,000. The officer must sign a written agreement to remain on active duty for a period of two, three, four, or six years. The bonus rates vary based on specialty and length of service agreement.
• Accession Bonus: An individual who executes a written agreement to accept a commission as an officer in the Air Force Medical Service to serve on active duty for a period of three or four years may be eligible for an accession bonus of up to $700,000

For information on other special pay benefits, please visit:

https://comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/Volume_07a.pdf

https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Special-and-Incentive-Pays/

Duration of Authority Table:
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/DofAuth/