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By: FEDweek StaffService members and civilian employees will get a 4.6-percent raise in basic pay Jan. 1, under the $857.9 billion 2023 National Defense Authorization Act President Biden signed Dec. 16.
Personnel-related provisions include:
• Funding to address the effects of inflation on compensation.
• More money for impact aid, which compensates local school districts for educating military children whose parents may not be residents and as such are not subject to local taxes. This includes $70 million in total — $50 million for the program itself, and an additional $20 million for military children with severe disabilities.
• An increase in the eligibility threshold service members need to meet in order to qualify for the basic need allowance (BNA), to 150 percent of the federal poverty baseline – up from 130 percent. In some cases, the threshold can increase to 200 percent.
• Higher bonuses and special pays for service members with some certain critical skills.
• Extension of the temporary authority service have to provide recruitment incentives.
• More financial reimbursement for military spouses who incur relicensing fees and business costs during permanent-change-of-station (PCS) moves.
• Creation of an open season in 2023, during which eligible retired and former service members can opt to participate in or decline the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).
• Several provisions that would address improving accessibility to quality housing. The basic allowance for housing (BAH) is increasing in high-cost areas.
The measure also sets end strength: 452,000 for the Army; 354,000 for the Navy; 325,344 for the Air Force; 177,000 for the Marine Corps; and 8,600 for the Space Force. Reserve-component strength would be set “in line with [the White House’s] request, with the exception of Air National Guard military technicians and full-time reserve and Guard personnel.” These would remain at 2022 funding levels.
Provisions affecting personnel policy include:
• Extension of a plan to temporarily adjust BAH rates in areas where actual costs of adequate housing exceed current rates by more than 20 percent.
• Special duty pay for service members based in cold-weather climates.
• Constructive service credit for warrant officers with advanced training or special experience.”
• Reimbursement of travel expenses for service members based in Alaska who wish to travel to their homes of record.
• Rescinding the Covid-19 vaccination mandate.
• More pay and incentives for certain acquisition and technology experts who work in science and technology laboratories.
• A review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of officer-performance evaluations.
• Back-dating of reserve officers’ effective rank dates in cases of “undue delays” in federal recognition of their promotions.
• Establishment of an Army remote-personnel processing pilot program.
• Issuance of better information regarding the award of the Purple Heart medal “on a publicly available internet site.”
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