Armed Forces News

Service members who involuntarily serve more than 365 days in Iraq or Afghanistan could be drawing as much as $1,000 more a month during their extensions, according to Pentagon officials. To be eligible, a member must have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan for either 12 consecutive months or 12 months in a 15-month period. The pay breakdown: an increase of $200 in hazardous-duty pay coupled with $800 a month in assignment incentive pay. However, instead of the $800, a member could opt for a stabilized tour after leaving the war zone. For example, a member with a cumulative time of 15 months in the theater would be guaranteed a stabilized tour of 15 months before any subsequent deployment. If the rotation schedule succeeds, the plan would affect no more than about 1,500 troops, but if it falters, as many as 20,000 could qualify, according to officials.