Secretary of the Army, Hon. Christine Wormuth, prepares for an aerial orientation of Guam, July 26, 2023. Secretary Wormuth met with soldiers and their leadership to discuss the mission and quality of life of soldiers in Guam and had a meeting with the Governor of Guam, Ms. Lou Leon Guerrero. (Army photo by Sgt. David Resnick) The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Image: Kishore Newton/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffService members and civilian personnel would see a 5.2-percent hike in their basic pay beginning Jan. 1, under the $842 billion 2024 Defense Authorization Act. The measure recently cleared both the House and Senate and becomes law with President Biden’s signature.
The pay raise is the highest in decades. The measure also calls for more than $58 billion for military health-care delivery operations. Family oriented programs such as Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), childcare, youth initiatives, warfighter and family services, commissaries, and Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools would garner more than $10 million. Other provisions would focus upon leadership accountability. Prevention of suicide and mitigation of sexual harassment issues are included, as are insider threat programs and those that foster diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
“This budget reflects our strategy of directing resources to critical investments that allow us to maintain a combat credible force to defend the homeland, marshal America’s next generation of technology, effectively maintain readiness, and take care of the men, women and family members of the U.S. military,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin.
From a mission-oriented perspective, service members will see a continued focus on countering and deterring aggression by China and Russia. Intelligence-related operations in the Middle East would continue as well. And damaged and aging munitions that were damaged or destroyed during overseas combat operations will be replaced.
The bill also set end strengths for each service. The Army – to include active, reserve and National Guard components, would be set at 951,800 – down from 954,000 in 2023. The active-duty and reserve-component Navy would increase to 404,200 – up from 397,953 in 2023. Marine Corps active and reserve strength is set at 205,900 – slightly up from the 2023 level of 205,217. Air Force active, reserve and National Guard strength also would grow slightly – to 502,700, up from 495,700 in 2023. The Space Force will continue to grow, with strength set at 9,400 guardians in 2024 – an increase of 1,200 over the prior year. The strength level for U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in 2024 is set at 73,855, down slightly from the 2023 level of 73,926.
Joint training capabilities, aimed at fostering modernization and increasing advantages over potential and real adversaries, would gain as well. Included are: the Joint Integrated Training Center (JITC); Pacific Maritime Training and Experimentation Capability (PMTEC); Joint Live, Virtual and Constructive (JLVC) Modernization and Integration; and Persistend Cyber Training Environment (PCTE) programs.
The pay raise is intended to address significant issues with recruitment in a tight labor market, concerns about inflation, and other economic factors that weigh heavily upon the ranks and their families. Dislocation allowances for enlisteds in pay grades E-1 through E-6 are increasing. Temporary lodging expenses have been increased by 40 percent. Meanwhile, DoD officials are reviewing tour lengths with the intent of extending them whenever possible, thus mitigating the need to move so often. The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) has also increased by 20 percent, reflecting the increase in rental-housing costs.
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