Figure a Departure from Past Practice

While “parity” between military and civilian raises has been maintained in all but a few years in the last two decades, the 4.1 percent figure represents a departure in the formula used. In recent years, the federal “parity” figure has been set by the base raise indicated for military personnel under a military pay law, not according to the average military raise. Many military personnel, especially in mid-career levels, get additional pay that brings the military average raise well above the base raise. For 2004, military personnel stand to get raises ranging from 2-6.5 percent in a House bill and 3.7-6.5 percent in a Senate bill. In 2002 and 2003, when military raises ranged up to 10 and 6.5 percent, respectively, the federal “parity” figure was not set at the average military raises, but rather at the military base amount. Thus, a switch to the average military raise rather than the base raise as the parity figure could effectively boost federal pay in future years as well, if current practices are continued.