White House/Department of Defense Proposal
The White House wants to boost pay by 4.5% across the board for all ranks. If this happens, uninformed military members will receive their third-highest pay raise since 2003 (2024: 5.2%, 2023: 4.6%). It would also mean military members saw a roughly 15% pay increase since 2022.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)
The proposal also requests a 4.5% increase in the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), in addition to increasing military pay.
Impact on You
Let’s examine that proposal on a budget. For the following example, we’ll take a soldier who has been on active duty for 6 years, is at an E-5 rank, is married with one child, and lives in Huntsville, Alabama. To keep this example simple, there will be no other allowances or qualifying incentives such as Basic Needs Allowance, Clothing Allowance, CONUS COLA, overseas stationing or deployment, etc.
In 2024, a rough monthly breakdown would look like:
MIlitary Pay (pre-tax): $3,601.80
BAH with Dependents (Huntsville, AL): $1,800.00
BAS (Enlisted): $460.25 Total pay (pre-tax): $5,862.05
Under the proposal for 2025, the following same individual’s monthly breakdown would look like:
Military Pay (pre-tax): $4,080.52
BAH with Dependents (Hunstville, AL): $1,881.00 [4.5% increase from 2025]
BAS (Enlisted): $480.96 [4.5% increase from 2025] Total Pay (pre-tax): $6,442.48
Under the proposed plan from the Biden Administration and the Department of Defense, this is a rough estimate of your military pay if passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
House Committee on Armed Services Proposal
If we stick to the military pay component of the proposal, many things regarding allowances and pay raises stay the same. The bipartisan committee approved the 4.5% increase; however, it did add one substantial difference.
The HCAS-approved plan also includes a 15% increase in pay for Junior Enlisted uniformed members (E1-E4) in addition to the 4.5%. This means they would receive a whopping jump in pay of 19.5%. The boost in pay is rooted in efforts to incentivize more people to enlist.
The idea of boosting pay for newer and younger servicemembers isn’t necessarily bad. In 2023, the Department of Defense reported numbers showing a failure to meet specific recruitment goals. After the report, many discussions around this topic touched on potential recruits being able to find better-paying jobs in the civilian workforce instead of joining the military. Also, those discussions tended to avoid the glaring issue that the most significant issue hurting recruitment is the shrinking number of people who are actually eligible to enlist. (Now at roughly 23% nationwide)
White House Pushback
It’s unlikely that this plan will make it to the President’s desk because the White House is against the committee’s plan. The White House wanted to avoid the proposal’s outstanding cost to the country’s budget.
It also discussed a process known as the “Fourteenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation (QRMC).” Basically, it’s a review of military pay and compensation done at least every four years. The goal is to review and improve the processes of paying military servicemembers. The White House spoke out against the plan, saying such a sizeable permanent baseline pay increase shouldn’t be passed before the QRMC is completed. The review could show that such a large salary increase is unnecessary to enhance the quality of life for military families.
Finally, the White House pushed back on how it could affect salaries, saying, “The House proposed changes would lead to pay compression in some parts of the enlisted military basic pay table.”
Pay compression is when salaries, in this instance, baseline military pay by rank, converge, regardless of experience and job duties. An example of this would be if a company hired a new employee who just received their college degree and paid them $50,000. However, their supervisor, who’s also college-educated but has worked for 5 years, makes $51,500. The supervisor with more responsibilities, experience, and legacy at the company may likely feel undervalued.
Comparing Proposed 2025 Military Pay Plans
To bring this concept closer to the topic, let’s examine the proposal’s impact on current uniformed servicemembers.
| Rank | Years of Service | White House | HCAS | Salary (Annual) – WH Plan | Salary (Annual) HCAS Plan |
| E1 | < 2 – 40 years | $2,107.97 | $2,410.55 | $25,295.64 | $28,926.60 |
| E2 | < 2 – 40 years | $2,362.85 | $2,702.01 | $28,354.20 | $32,424.12 |
| E3 | < 2 years | $2,484.49 | $2,841.11 | $29,813.88 | $34,093.32 |
| E3 | 2 or More years | $2,640.61 | $3,019.65 | $31,687.32 | $36,235.80 |
| E3 | 3 – 40 years | $2,800.81 | $3,202.84 | $33,609.72 | $38,434.08 |
| E4 | < 2 years | $2,752.22 | $3,147.27 | $33,026.64 | $37,767.24 |
| E4 | 2 or More years | $2,892.98 | $3,308.24 | $34,715.76 | $39,698.88 |
| E4 | 3 or More years | $3,049.73 | $3,487.49 | $36,596.76 | $41,849.88 |
| E4 | 4 or More years | $3,204.28 | $3,664.23 | $38,451.36 | $43,970.76 |
| E4 | 6 – 40 years | $3,341.28 | $3,820.89 | $40,095.36 | $45,850.68 |
| E5 | < 2 years | $3,001.45 | $3,001.45 | $36,017.40 | $36,017.40 |
| E5 | 2 or More years | $3,203.66 | $3,203.66 | $38,443.92 | $38,443.92 |
| E5 | 3 or More years | $3,358.84 | $3,358.84 | $40,306.08 | $40,306.08 |
| E5 | 4 or More years | $3,517.16 | $3,517.16 | $42,205.92 | $42,205.92 |
| E5 | 6 or More years | $3,763.88 | $3,763.88 | $45,166.56 | $45,166.56 |
| E5 | 8 or More years | $4,021.89 | $4,021.89 | $48,262.68 | $48,262.68 |
| E5 | 10 or More years | $4,234.44 | $4,234.44 | $50,813.28 | $50,813.28 |
| E5 | 12 – 40 years | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 | $51,118.08 | $51,118.08 |
So, as you can see, the starting salaries for junior enlisted members are considerably higher in the HCAS plan than in the White House’s proposal. But what do the numbers also tell us? It also shows that a sergeant in the Army (E-5) during his fourth year of serving will make nearly the same as a corporal or specialist who’s served three years. (E5, $42,205.92; E4, $41,849.88)
Now, I want everyone to make as much money as possible, so I have no opinion on who receives what. I only bring up those numbers to say I believe it is possible that a reaction to the HCAS proposal could be one of resentment, particularly among some enlisted uniformed members who feel as though they, too, deserve a raise, because their work is also valuable to the service of this country. Check your VA home loan eligibility with today’s top lenders
Proposed 2025 Military Pay Charts
The following charts will show the pay according to just the White House plan of adding a 4.5% increase to base pay for all ranks.
Enlisted Pay Chart (Less than 2 Years to Over 6 Years of Service)
| Pay Grade | 2 years or less | Over 2 | Over 3 | Over 4 | Over 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-7 | $3,788.02 | $4,134.44 | $4,293.07 | $4,502.17 | $4,666.45 |
| E-6 | $3,276.70 | $3,605.88 | $3,765.14 | $3,919.69 | $4,080.52 |
| E-5 | $3,001.45 | $3,203.66 | $3,358.84 | $3,517.16 | $3,763.88 |
| E-4 | $2,752.22 | $2,892.98 | $3,049.73 | $3,204.28 | $3,341.28 |
| E-3 | $2,484.49 | $2,640.61 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 |
| E-2 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 |
| E-1 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 |
| E- 1 Less than 4 months | $1,948.93 | $1,948.93 | $1,948.93 | $1,948.93 | $1,948.93 |
Enlisted Pay Chart (8 Years to Over 16 Years of Service)
| Pay Grade | Over 8 | Over 10 | Over 12 | Over 14 | Over 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-9 | N/A | $6,657.17 | $6,807.97 | $6,997.95 | $7,221.47 |
| E-8 | $5,449.57 | $5,690.65 | $5,839.88 | $6,018.57 | $6,212.00 |
| E-7 | $4,947.66 | $5,106.29 | $5,387.18 | $5,621.37 | $5,781.25 |
| E-6 | $4,443.86 | $4,585.25 | $4,858.94 | $4,942.64 | $5,003.46 |
| E-5 | $4,021.89 | $4,234.44 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 |
| E-4 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 |
| E-3 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 |
| E-2 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 |
| E-1 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 |
Enlisted Pay Chart (18 Years to Over 26 Years of Service)
| Pay Grade | Over 18 | Over 20 | Over 22 | Over 24 | Over 26 | Over 28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-9 | $7,447.82 | $7,808.34 | $8,114.63 | $8,435.97 | $8,928.48 | $8,928.48 |
| E-8 | $6,561.87 | $6,739.31 | $7,040.58 | $7,207.68 | $7,619.30 | $7,619.30 |
| E-7 | $5,951.17 | $6,017.01 | $6,238.34 | $6,356.84 | $6,808.91 | $6,808.91 |
| E-6 | $5,074.94 | $5,074.94 | $5,074.94 | $5,074.94 | $5,074.94 | $5,074.94 |
| E-5 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 |
| E-4 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 |
| E-3 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 |
| E-2 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 |
| E-1 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 |
Enlisted Pay Chart (30 Years of Service)
| Pay Grade | Over 30 | Over 32 | Over 34 | Over 36 | Over 38 | Over 40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-9 | $9,373.96 | $9,373.96 | $9,843.27 | $9,843.27 | $10,336.41 | $10,336.41 |
| E-8 | $7,771.98 | $7,771.98 | $7,771.98 | $7,771.98 | $7,771.98 | $7,771.98 |
| E-7 | $6,808.91 | $6,808.91 | $6,808.91 | $6,808.91 | $6,808.91 | $6,808.91 |
| E-6 | $5,074.94 | $5,074.94 | $5,074.94 | $5,074.94 | $5,074.94 | $5,074.94 |
| E-5 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 | $4,259.84 |
| E-4 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 | $3,341.28 |
| E-3 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 | $2,800.81 |
| E-2 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 | $2,362.85 |
| E-1 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 | $2,107.97 |
Enlisted Notes:
According to the Allowances of the Uniformed Services, noncommissioned officers holding positions such as the following receive a fixed basic pay, no matter the number of years of service.
- Sergeant Major of the Army
- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy\Coast Guard
- Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
- Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
- Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Space Force
- Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau
Officer Pay Chart (Less than 2 Years to Over 6 Years of Service)
| Pay Grade | 2 Years or Less | Over 2 | Over 3 | Over 4 | Over 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-8 | $13,379.87 | $13,818.77 | $14,109.38 | $14,190.26 | $14,553.61 |
| O-7 | $11,117.65 | $11,633.99 | $11,873.19 | $12,063.48 | $12,407.08 |
| O-6 | $8,430.96 | $9,262.04 | $9,869.92 | $9,869.92 | $9,907.85 |
| O-5 | $7,028.36 | $7,917.44 | $8,465.44 | $8,568.58 | $8,910.92 |
| O-4 | $6,064.34 | $7,019.58 | $7,488.89 | $7,592.34 | $8,027.17 |
| O-3 | $5,331.69 | $6,043.97 | $6,522.68 | $7,112.37 | $7,453.78 |
| O-2 | $4,606.88 | $5,246.74 | $6,043.03 | $6,247.11 | $6,375.34 |
| O-1 | $3,998.38 | $4,162.03 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 |
| O-3E | N/A | N/A | N/A | $7,112.37 | $7,453.78 |
| O-2E | N/A | N/A | N/A | $6,247.11 | $6,375.34 |
| O-1E | N/A | N/A | N/A | $5,031.36 | $5,372.45 |
| W-4 | $5,510.39 | $5,926.72 | $6,096.95 | $6,264.36 | $6,552.78 |
| W-3 | $5,032.30 | $5,241.41 | $5,457.09 | $5,527.01 | $5,752.10 |
| W-2 | $4,452.64 | $4,873.67 | $5,003.15 | $5,092.49 | $5,380.91 |
| W-1 | $3,908.09 | $4,329.44 | $4,441.98 | $4,681.18 | $4,963.65 |
Officer Pay Chart (8 Years to Over 16 Years of Service)
| Pay Grade | Over 8 | Over 10 | Over 12 | Over 14 | Over 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-8 | $15,159.29 | $15,300.68 | $15,876.27 | $16,042.11 | $16,538.07 |
| O-7 | $12,747.22 | $13,140.04 | $13,531.60 | $13,925.04 | $15,159.29 |
| O-6 | $10,332.33 | $10,388.76 | $10,388.76 | $10,979.08 | $12,022.73 |
| O-5 | $9,115.01 | $9,564.89 | $9,895.94 | $10,322.61 | $10,974.38 |
| O-4 | $8,493.66 | $9,074.88 | $9,526.32 | $9,840.45 | $10,021.03 |
| O-3 | $7,827.78 | $8,069.18 | $8,466.69 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 |
| O-2 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 |
| O-1 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 |
| O-3E | $7,827.78 | $8,069.18 | $8,466.69 | $8,802.45 | $8,995.26 |
| O-2E | $6,578.17 | $6,920.83 | $7,186.05 | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 |
| O-1E | $5,571.21 | $5,774.36 | $5,973.74 | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 |
| W-4 | $6,838.06 | $7,127.11 | $7,560.99 | $7,941.90 | $8,304.30 |
| W-3 | $6,195.70 | $6,657.49 | $6,875.06 | $7,126.80 | $7,385.43 |
| W-2 | $5,829.53 | $6,052.43 | $6,271.25 | $6,538.98 | $6,748.40 |
| W-1 | $5,379.97 | $5,574.34 | $5,847.09 | $6,114.19 | $6,324.55 |
Officer Pay Chart (18 Years to Over 26 Years of Service)
| Pay Grade | Over 18 | Over 20 | Over 22 | Over 24 | Over 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-10 (Note 1) | N/A | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 |
| O-9 (Note 1) | N/A | $18,910.32 | $19,183.38 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 |
| O-8 (Note 1) | $17,255.98 | $17,917.15 | $18,359.19 | $18,359.19 | $18,359.19 |
| O-7 (Note 1) | $16,201.99 | $16,201.99 | $16,201.99 | $16,201.99 | $16,285.38 |
| O-6 (Note 1) | $12,635.30 | $13,247.57 | $13,596.18 | $13,949.18 | $14,632.93 |
| O-5 | $11,285.06 | $11,592.29 | $11,940.90 | $11,940.90 | $11,940.90 |
| O-4 | $10,125.11 | $10,125.11 | $10,125.11 | $10,125.11 | $10,125.11 |
| O-3 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 |
| O-2 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 |
| O-1 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 |
| O-3E | $9,257.66 | $9,257.66 | $9,257.66 | $9,257.66 | $9,257.66 |
| O-2E | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 |
| O-1E | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 |
| W-5 | N/A | $9,797.50 | $10,294.40 | $10,664.96 | $11,074.07 |
| W-4 | $8,601.50 | $8,891.17 | $9,315.65 | $9,664.89 | $10,063.04 |
| W-3 | $7,851.92 | $8,166.36 | $8,354.46 | $8,554.47 | $8,827.22 |
| W-2 | $6,937.76 | $7,164.73 | $7,313.64 | $7,431.83 | $7,431.83 |
| W-1 | $6,518.29 | $6,753.73 | $6,753.73 | $6,753.73 | $6,753.73 |
Officer Pay Chart (Over 28 Years of Service)
| Pay Grade | Over 28 | Over 30 | Over 32 | Over 34 | Over 36 | Over 38 | Over 40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-10 (Note 1) | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 |
| O-9 (Note 1) | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 | $19,323.83 |
| O-8 (Note 1) | $18,359.19 | $18,818.78 | $18,818.78 | $19,288.71 | $19,288.71 | $19,288.71 | $19,288.71 |
| O-7 (Note 1) | $16,285.38 | $16,611.11 | $16,611.11 | $16,611.11 | $16,611.11 | $16,611.11 | $16,611.11 |
| O-6 (Note 2) | $14,632.93 | $14,925.11 | $14,925.11 | $14,925.11 | $14,925.11 | $14,925.11 | $14,925.11 |
| O-5 | $11,940.90 | $11,940.90 | $11,940.90 | $11,940.90 | $11,940.90 | $11,940.90 | $11,940.90 |
| O-4 | $10,125.11 | $10,125.11 | $10,125.11 | $10,125.11 | $10,125.11 | $10,125.11 | $10,125.11 |
| O-3 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 | $8,674.55 |
| O-2 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 | $6,375.34 |
| O-1 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 | $5,031.36 |
| O-3E | $9,257.66 | $9,257.66 | $9,257.66 | $9,257.66 | $9,257.66 | $9,257.66 | $9,257.66 |
| O-2E | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 | $7,382.93 |
| O-1E | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 | $6,247.11 |
| W-5 | $11,074.07 | $11,628.97 | $11,628.97 | $12,209.26 | $12,209.26 | $12,821.21 | $12,821.21 |
| W-4 | $10,063.04 | $10,263.68 | $10,263.68 | $10,263.68 | $10,263.68 | $10,263.68 | $10,263.68 |
| W-3 | $8,827.22 | $8,827.22 | $8,827.22 | $8,827.22 | $8,827.22 | $8,827.22 | $8,827.22 |
| W-2 | $7,431.83 | $7,431.83 | $7,431.83 | $7,431.83 | $7,431.83 | $7,431.83 | $7,431.83 |
| W-1 | $6,753.73 | $6,753.73 | $6,753.73 | $6,753.73 | $6,753.73 | $6,753.73 | $6,753.73 |
NOTE 1. Military basic pay for O-7 through O-10 is limited by the Level II of the Executive Schedule. The actual figures will be released at a later date.
NOTE 2. Basic pay for pay grades O-6 and below is limited to the rate of basic pay for Level V of the Executive Schedule. The actual figures will be released at a later date.
2025 Military Pay Increase Timeline:
Spring 2024: The DOD released its 2025 budget proposal for Congressional Appropriations Committees to review.
Spring/Summer 2024: Congressional Appropriations Committees evaluate the defense budget and propose any changes they want to see. Congress agrees upon a budget and passes it as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), awaiting President Biden’s signature. This process can also trickle into early Autumn.
Autumn/Winter 2024: If Congress presents the budget in time, the President signs the NDAA into law, including the defense budget and military pay raise details. If Congress misses their October 1st deadline, it must pass a continuing resolution. This ensures the military operates on last year’s budget until the President can agree and sign the NDAA.
Please note that 2025 military pay increases apply to all branches of the United States military, including the Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force, Navy, Space Force, and Reserve forces.
Military Pay Rate History
| Year | Military Pay Raise |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 5.20% |
| 2023 | 4.60% |
| 2022 | 2.70% |
| 2021 | 3.00% |
| 2020 | 3.10% |
| 2019 | 2.60% |
| 2018 | 2.40% |
| 2017 | 2.10% |
| 2016 | 1.30% |
| 2015 | 1.00% |
| 2014 | 1.00% |
| 2013 | 1.70% |
| 2012 | 1.60% |
| 2011 | 1.40% |
| 2010 | 3.40% |
| 2009 | 3.90% |
| 2008 | 3.50% |
| 2007 * | 2.70% |
| 2006 | 3.10% |
| 2005 | 3.50% |
| 2004 * | 4.20% |
| 2003 * | 4.70% |
| 2002 * | 6.90% |
| 2001 | 4.10% |
| 2000 | 6.20% |
| 1999 | 3.60% |
| 1998 | 2.80% |
| 1997 | 3.00% |
| 1996 | 2.40% |
| 1995 | 2.60% |
| 1994 | 2.20% |
| 1993 | 3.70% |
| 1992 | 4.20% |
| 1991 | 4.10% |
| 1990 | 3.60% |
| 1989 | 4.10% |
| 1988 | 2.00% |
| 1987 | 3.00% |
| 1986 | 3.00% |
| 1985 | 4.00% |
| 1984 | 4.00% |
| 1983 | 4.00% |
| 1982 | 14.30% |
| 1981 | 11.70% |
| 1980 | 7.00% |
| 1979 | 5.50% |
| 1978 | 7.10% |
| 1977 | 4.80% |
| 1976 | 5.00% |
| 1975 | 5.52% |
| 1974 | 6.20% |
| 1973 | 6.70% |
| 1972 | 7.20% |
| 1971 | 7.90% |
| 1970 | 8.10% |
| 1969 | 12.60% |
| 1968 | 6.80% |
| 1967 | 5.60% |
| 1966 | 3.20% |
| 1965 | E: 11% O: 6% |
| 1964 | 2.5% – 8.5% |
| 1963 | 12.60% |
| 1962 | None |
conclusion
Military Pay is undoubtedly going to go up this year. It’s also very likely, given the discussion topics surrounding military pay, that it will be one of the more considerable pay increases we’ve seen in the last 20 years. Will it be as big as last year? Likely not. Last year’s increase came on the heels of one of the largest COLA increases in decades. The real sticking point is going to be how lawmakers and the White House can come together to merge those desires of boosting pay, and thus recruitment, and being fiscally responsible.
The one thing that can’t arise is resentment among the ranks. I’m not saying it will happen, but it’s conceivable that if Junior Enlisted members get as much pay or more as their counterparts who are ranked higher and have served longer, tension could rise.
As we wait, I think it’s fair to say that at least a 4.5% pay raise is coming since both sides seem to agree. Could we likely see a higher raise across all ranks as a deal not to raise E1-E4 pay? I think that’s a possibility. But for now, I think it would be safe to say that a 4.5% increase is on the horizon. The NDAA, or defense budget, is usually passed in the late summer or fall with bipartisan support.