A Look at Cash Compensation for Active-Duty Military Personnel
Abstract
Every four years, the Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC) examines the level and structure of military compensation to ensure that it continues to enable the armed services to meet its manpower requirements in a timely and cost-effective manner. An area of interest to the ninth QRMC is the degree to which military pay varies among personnel and the extent to which special and incentive (S&I) pays contribute to total military pay. These pays are the key tool the services have to manage personnel flexibly and to vary pay in response to internal and external factors, such as the civilian economy, that affect their ability to attract and retain personnel. Because military compensation consists of a large array of pays and allowances, it is unclear the degree to which total cash compensation differs among military personnel. All military personnel receive basic pay. Basic pay is based on a pay table common to all personnel, regardless of occupation and branch of service. The services also make extensive use of the various S&I pays. In addition to providing the services with the flexibility to vary pay among personnel, these pays also enable them to recognize unusual duties and hazards and to provide individuals an incentive to enlist or reenlist in hard-to-fill skill areas. The common pay table, and the relative importance of basic pay in total cash compensation, would argue for substantial similarity in pay among military personnel. But the diversity and differential use of S&I pays by the services would argue for substantial pay differences among servicemembers and a substantial role for S&I pays.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA407477
Entities
People
- Beth J. Asch
- Craig W. Martin
- James R. Hosek
Organizations
- RAND Corporation