Defense Department introduces new hardship duty pay

Military personnel assigned to areas where the living conditions are arduous may now be eligible for new hardship duty pay allowance. The new Hardship Duty Pay for designated locations took effect on Jan. 1, and replaces the Certain Places Pay (CPP) that was implemented in 1949. Both reserve and active military workers working in 110 designated countries are eligible to receive the new pay supplement if they are permanently assigned to the areas or temporarily assigned for more than 30 days. CPP paid $8 to $22.50 a month, whereas the new hardship duty pay will be $50, $100 or $150 a month, depending on the location. The largest amount will be paid to people living in South Korea's demilitarized zone, Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, Johnston Island, in the Pacific Ocean and Antarctica. Not all the CPP-designated areas will qualify for the new hardship duty pay, but military personnel based in those areas are eligible for the pay until Dec. 31. During that time, unit commanders will have an opportunity to apply for permanent hardship duty pay status. The criteria used to determine designation as a hardship duty area include the physical environment, such as isolation or climate; living conditions, such as sanitation, housing, food and disease; and personal security, such as political violence, harassment and crime.