Military members may miss out on significant pay due to LES errors. To avoid this, learn how to use your military LES for budgeting and financial planning, focusing on “Entitlements,” “Deductions,” and “Remarks.” Regularly check for special pays like Hazardous Duty, Flight, or COLA, ensuring they match your orders. Address discrepancies with admin promptly to recover potential losses.
Stop Guessing: What the Hell is Special Pay Anyway?
You’ve probably heard terms like Hazardous Duty Pay, Flight Pay, Imminent Danger Pay… but what do they really mean for your bank account?
Special pay and allowances are exactly what they sound like—extra money on top of your regular base pay. But here’s the catch: not everyone qualifies and not every commander makes sure you’re getting what you’re owed.
- Work in a combat zone? You might be missing Hostile Fire Pay.
- Jump out of planes? Parachute Pay could be slipping through the cracks.
- Get deployed to a high-cost country? Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) better be on your LES.
This isn’t free money. You earn it. But you have to know what to look for—or risk never seeing it.
How Military Special Pay and Allowances Show Up on Your LES
Your LES is the paper trail of your paycheck. It’s where you check if your military special pay and allowances are actually coming through.
But the format? Unless you’ve sat down with someone who knows what they’re looking at, it’s literally a foreign language.
Look at These Sections First:
- Entitlements: This is the section that shows what you’re getting paid for. If you’re getting Jump Pay, Flight Pay, or anything special—it shows right here.
- Deductions: This shows what’s coming out. Debt repayment? Allotments? Good to know.
- Remarks: Sometimes you’ll find key info about your entitlements, dates, or any starts/stops on special pays.
Every month, scroll through these three sections. Don’t just skim. You gotta spot mistakes, zeros where there should be something, or expired dates that never got updated.
Real Example From One of My Guys:
He was deployed to a hazardous duty zone. LES said “HZ Pay”… for two months. Then it stopped. He didn’t leave the area. Turns out his orders didn’t auto-renew in the system. He was shorted $300 a month for five months before catching it.
If that doesn’t light a fire under you to check your LES monthly, I don’t know what will.
What You Might Be Missing Without Even Knowing
I see this all the time—service members on the grind, working their butts off, but never double-checking that all the military special pay and allowances actually hit the LES.
Here’s what could be missing from yours right now:
- Hardship Duty Pay – Are you stationed somewhere rough? That’s worth money.
- Family Separation Allowance (FSA) – Are you away from your spouse/kids for 30 days+? Bingo.
- Flight Pay – You’re aircrew but only your base pay shows up? Red flag.
- COLA – Living in Japan, Guam, or Hawaii? You NEED COLA on the books.
- Imminent Danger Pay / Hostile Fire Pay – If you’re in the zone but not seeing this, someone’s asleep at the wheel.
It’s not always intentional. Admin offices are slammed. But that doesn’t mean you leave money on the table. YOU have to protect your money.
Here’s How You Can Double-Check It
This is your quick mental checklist for scanning your LES like a pro. Takes 5 minutes max:
- Pull your LES on MyPay
- Go to “Entitlements” and look for anything besides Base Pay and BAH—these are usually your special pays
- Check the “Remarks” section for start/stop dates on entitlements
- If you think something’s missing—print LES + your orders. Show it to your Admin/Finance office
- Set a recurring reminder every payday to check your LES
I don’t care if you’re E-1 or O-6—mistakes happen. Systems mess up. Admin forgets. But that doesn’t mean you have to take the loss.
Alright, Let’s Get Tactical
How do you actually make sure you’re getting everything you’re owed?
Start by knowing what you’re eligible for. Then cross-check it monthly.
Here’s a cheat sheet by category of common military special pay and allowances to look out for:
Type of Special Pay | When You Get It | Affects LES? |
|---|---|---|
| Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay | Serving in a combat zone | Yes |
| Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay | Jumping, diving, demolitions, etc. | Yes |
| Flight Pay | Aircrew or pilots | Yes |
| Family Separation Allowance (FSA) | Away >30 days with dependents | Yes |
| COLA | Living in high-cost area overseas | Yes |
| Hardship Duty Pay | Assigned to tough locations | Yes |
This list isn’t everything, but if any of these apply to you—and they’re not on your LES—you’ve got a problem.
Why You Should Care (Like, Today)
If you’re grinding away in the military, you already know—it takes everything you’ve got.
So when your paycheck doesn’t reflect it? That stings. You’re not just clocking in. You’re moving your family, risking your life, saying goodbye to weekends and holidays—this check is more than money. It’s principle.
And let’s be real—military special pay and allowances can make a major difference at the end of the year. That could be an extra $6k – $12k. Tax free. Let that hit.
If you’re planning to buy investment property or build up enough cushion for transition, that extra money ain’t optional. It’s gas on the fire.
Want to put that pay to work? Check this post out on how to build wealth with one property.
FAQs About Military Special Pay and Allowances
1. How do I know if I’m missing special pay on my LES?
If you qualify for special pay but don’t see it listed under “Entitlements” on your LES, you may be missing payments. Also, check the “Remarks” section for start/stop dates of entitlements.
2. What should I do if I notice missing pay?
Print your LES and orders, then take them to your Admin/Finance office to request a correction. Pay issues can often be resolved if addressed quickly.
3. How often should I check my LES?
Check your LES every payday to catch discrepancies early and ensure you’re receiving all entitled compensation.
4. Why do mistakes happen with military pay?
Mistakes occur due to system errors, administrative backlog, or missing paperwork. Since finance offices are often overwhelmed, it’s up to service members to verify their pay.
5. How much could I be missing out on if my special pay isn’t accounted for?
Depending on the type of special pay, you could lose anywhere from $300 to $1,000+ per month, which adds up to thousands of dollars annually.