The compromise National Defense Authorization Act that both chambers plan to vote on soon would give America’s lowest-ranking military personnel one of the largest raises in U.S. history targeted at a particular category of servicemembers, experts said.
The compromise version of the fiscal 2025 NDAA, released Saturday, would authorize a 14.5 percent raise for the lowest-ranking enlisted personnel. It is one of many enhancements the bill would make to servicemembers’ lives, from improving the quantity and quality of housing to augmenting childcare for military families.
But it could also create a problem for the Pentagon if Congress does not intervene this month.
The Defense Department will almost certainly be operating for the first few months of the fiscal year on another stopgap spending law. Unless that measure contains additional billions for military pay increases, the armed services will have to cover the raises by moving funds from other programs with “potentially damaging” consequences for U.S. military strength, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III warned lawmakers in September.
High inflation has made life harder in recent years for junior enlisted personnel in the U.S. military, thousands of whom have reported trouble adequately feeding themselves and their families. The armed forces have also faced recruiting challenges that are made more difficult if military pay is not considered competitive.
“Servicemember quality of life concerns are a major cause of low morale and family stress, which are undermining recruitment, retention and military readiness,” said a House Armed Services Committee fact sheet summarizing the NDAA’s newly unveiled “quality of life” provisions.
The newly released compromise NDAA would not only give enlisted personnel in ranks E-1 through E-4 the 14.5 percent raise in the coming year, it would give the rest of the force a 4.5 percent raise, which is also higher than usual.
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, the president and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America, said via email that the boost in junior enlisted pay is the largest targeted military pay raise in a quarter-century.
“Congress’ proposed pay raise for junior enlisted personnel is a life-changing amount at a critical time,” Kelly said. “As we face unprecedented threats abroad, ensuring we recruit those willing to answer the call and join the uniformed services is vital to our national defense.”
The final NDAA was a compromise that gave the House more than two-thirds of what it wanted for a junior enlisted pay raise.
The House-passed NDAA had recommended a 19.5 percent raise for junior enlisted personnel, including the 4.5 percent pay increase that all service members would get, and the Senate Armed Services Committee’s companion measure responded with a 5.5 percent pay raise for low-ranking troops (and it covered fewer people: E-1 through E-3 instead of E-1 through E-4.)
The legislation includes the large pay increase despite the fact that the White House, in a June statement of administration policy on the House bill, had “strongly opposed” its junior enlisted raise as too costly.
The House Armed Services Committee’s Quality of Life Panel first proposed the substantial junior enlisted raise.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., chairs that panel, and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., is its ranking member.
Houlahan said in an interview that she is pleased with the final NDAA outcome on military personnel matters.
Investing in servicemembers is not just a matter of providing housing, health care or spousal employment opportunities, Houlahan said.
“It also comes with making sure that people have competitive pay with the outside community and the outside environment,” said Houlahan, a former Air Force captain who comes from a military family. “So I’m very glad that we came to an agreement on significantly raising the salaries of the E1 through E4.”
The House of Representatives made history this week by passing a defense bill that includes the largest military pay raise for junior enlisted troops in decades. This pay raise aims to address serious financial struggles faced by many lower-ranking service members in recent years
Background on the Pay Raise
The Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed by the House contains two key provisions related to military pay
- Funding a 4.5% pay raise for all military personnel
- Providing $2.5 billion for an additional 15% pay increase specifically targeting junior enlisted service members in grades E-1 to E-4
Together, this amounts to nearly a 20% pay boost for the most junior enlisted troops, who currently start at just over $20,000 per year at the E-1 rank
This initiative originated from a bipartisan House panel that spent months studying military quality of life issues this year. Their findings showed that inflation and private sector wages have far outpaced military pay, especially for lower ranking service members. In response, the House Armed Services Committee proposed the substantial targeted pay raise for junior troops in their version of the NDAA.
Why a Pay Raise is Needed
While service members have received regular pay increases in recent years, they have not kept up with the skyrocketing cost of living. This has led to real economic hardship among military families. Surveys have found:
- Over 25% of military families have struggled to put food on the table in the past year
- Many junior enlisted troops rely on food banks and aid programs to feed their families
- Younger service members report being unable to afford basic household necessities
Furthermore, all branches of the military have faced recruiting challenges lately. Pay that is not competitive with the private sector makes it more difficult to attract talented recruits. Focusing this pay raise on the most junior troops will help address both quality of life and recruiting issues.
Pushback on the Pay Raise
Despite clear evidence military pay has lagged behind, the House pay raise provision faced objections from both the Pentagon and Senate.
The White House strongly opposed it as too costly, arguing the Defense Department is constrained by budget caps. Senators also cited budget concerns, proposing a more modest 5.5% targeted raise for lower ranking troops.
However, House lawmakers across the political spectrum argued boosting pay for junior enlisted members should be a top priority. The chamber overwhelmingly approved the full 20% pay hike for these troops as part of the NDAA.
Benefits for Military Families
This pay raise will provide a much-needed financial boost for military families who need it most. With the extra income:
- An E-1 would see their annual salary jump from around $20,000 to nearly $27,000
- An E-4 could earn up to $45,000 per year with the raise, versus around $38,000 now
This will help these service members better afford basic necessities to support their families. It also brings their compensation more in line with civilian wages for comparable roles.
In addition, the NDAA includes other quality of life improvements like increased funding for housing, childcare, and medical care. Investing in military families ensures a ready and resilient fighting force.
Outlook for Final Passage
Now that the NDAA has passed the House, the Senate is expected to approve a final compromise version before the end of December. While the pay raise provision may change slightly in negotiations, both chambers and both parties agree junior enlisted troops deserve a significant bump.
Once passed and signed into law, the military pay changes would take effect starting next year. This would provide urgent financial relief to the many junior service members and families struggling to make ends meet. It’s a rare example of swift bipartisan action in Congress to address an important issue like military family readiness.
‘Quality of Life’ enhancements
The bicameral compromise version of the fiscal 2025 NDAA was released on Saturday. The House plans to vote on it this week, and the Senate intends to follow suit before the holidays.
A version of the bill has become law annually for more than six decades.
The junior enlisted pay raise was the most dramatic of several NDAA changes aimed at improving servicemembers’ lives.
The measure would also authorize more than $2 billion for construction of military housing and barracks and for ensuring the quality of those residences.
The compromise legislation would also authorize construction of more Defense Department schools and child care centers and increased medical staffing.
Congress will need to appropriate those additional funds, as well as the money for higher pay, in a fiscal 2025 Defense spending measure, which will probably not be enacted until March at the earliest.
The NDAA also makes it easier for military spouses to keep their professional licenses as they move from state to state — an effort to address the estimated 20 percent spousal unemployment that is hurting the pocketbooks of military families.
“I’m gratified that Congress has recognized the importance of military family quality of life and included vital provisions to support families’ well-being in this year’s NDAA,” said Eileen Huck, acting director of government relations at the National Military Family Association. “Increasing junior enlisted compensation, supporting spouse employment and making child care more accessible and affordable will help ease the challenges of military life and provide much-needed support to military members tasked with the job of defending our country.”
$768 billion defense bill passed by House includes pay increase for military members
FAQ
Is the military getting a pay raise in 2024?
Military pay will increase 5. 2% for 2024, compared to 2023 levels. Active members of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force can use the pay charts linked below. The tables below report 2024 monthly pay based on the 5. 2% raise as published Dec. 26, 2023, in the Federal Register.
Did the house pass a military bill?
Is the military pay raise approved for 2025?
Junior enlisted troops will see a 14. five percent pay raise in 2020 as part of a deal negotiated by House and Senate leaders in this year’s defense authorization bill. This move will add between three and six thousand dollars to the basic pay of younger service members next year.
What is the military bill passed in 2024?
Operation and Maintenance – The fiscal year 2024 bill provides $287. 2 billion, an increase of $9. 1 billion above fiscal year 2023. This includes: $32. 5 billion to the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force for depot maintenance, which is an extra $1 billion. 8 billion above fiscal year 2023.
Does a must-pass defense bill increase military pay?
Related: Must-Pass Defense Bill Includes 4. Rebecca Keel is an expert in covering Congress for the Military and recently got a 5% pay raise on top of a 2015 raise for junior enlisted troops. com, holding lawmakers accountable for how their decisions affect military personnel and veterans.
What is a military pay raise?
The sweeping legislation authorizes a 5. a 2% pay raise for military members; this is the biggest raise for service members in more than 20 years; it’s part of a wide range of changes to service members’ pay and benefits, housing, and child care.
Will junior enlisted service members get a pay hike next year?
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) A 19. Five percent pay raise for junior enlisted service members next year is one step closer to becoming a reality after the House Armed Services Committee advanced its must-pass defense policy bill Wednesday night.
Will NDAA raise pay for junior troops?
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala. , touted the significant pay raise for junior troops. He also said that the NDAA “puts our service members first by increasing pay, improving housing, helping service members’ spouses, making child care easier to get, and making sure they can get medical care.” “.
How much would a military raise if a barracks reopens?
Under the bill, E-1s through E-3s would get a 5. 5% raise, while every other service member would get a 4. 5% raise. Also included in the amendment is about $2. 5 billion for facilities maintenance, some of which is intended for fixing dilapidated barracks, staffers said.
Can enlisted soldiers get a pay raise if they have gender dysphoria?
It includes a 14. 5% pay raise for junior enlisted troops, according to the Republican leader’s office. Another part of the law says that “medical interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria that could lead to sterilization may not be provided to a child under the age of 18.” This is a reference to transgender children in the U.S. S. service members.
