Deploying? Your pay, free benefits & a checklist
A deployment is one of the few times the pay and benefits system actually works in your favor — if you know what to claim. Combat-zone pay is tax-free, there's a savings account that pays a guaranteed 10%, and a stack of free legal, tax, and counseling help sits unused because nobody mentions it. Here's the whole picture, in plain language.
The pay & allowances you earn
Exactly which of these you get depends on where you deploy (a designated combat zone / imminent-danger area triggers the big ones) and your family status. Check your LES on myPay to confirm they're actually being paid.
| Pay / allowance | Amount (2026) | When you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE) | Varies — it's your pay, tax-free | Any month you serve even one day in a designated combat zone. Enlisted & warrants: all pay is federal-income-tax-free; officers are capped at the top enlisted pay rate + HFP. |
| Hostile Fire / Imminent Danger Pay (HFP/IDP) | $225 / month | Serving in a designated IDP area (paid for the whole month even for one day of exposure). |
| Family Separation Allowance (FSA) | $250 / month | You have dependents and are away from them for more than 30 days. You must apply (DD Form 1561). |
| Hardship Duty Pay – Location (HDP-L) | up to $150 / month | Assigned to a designated hardship location; amount is set per location. |
| Per diem / incidentals | Location-based | For incidental expenses in-theater; rules vary by operation. |
Add these up for your situation with the deployment budgeter, and see how much more tax-free pay is worth with the tax-free pay tool.
Two wealth-builders you shouldn't skip
Free help & legal protections to claim
None of these cost anything — most people just never hear about them:
- Free will & power of attorney — your base legal / JAG office drafts wills, general and medical powers of attorney, and family-care documents at no cost. Do this before you leave.
- SCRA protections — the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act caps interest on pre-service debts at 6%, lets you terminate a lease, phone, or cable contract without penalty on deployment/PCS orders, and blocks certain foreclosures, evictions, and default judgments. You have to notify the creditor in writing with a copy of your orders.
- Free tax filing + automatic extension — serving in a combat zone extends your IRS filing/payment deadline by at least 180 days after you leave, and MilTax (via Military OneSource) files free.
- Military OneSource — free, confidential non-medical counseling, financial counseling, and deployment resources for you and your family, 24/7.
- Red Cross emergency messages — free, verified emergency communication to reach you (or your command) fast if something happens at home.
- Free active-duty credit alert — place an active-duty fraud alert on your credit file so identity thieves can't open accounts while you're gone.
- USO — free lounges, wifi, food, and programs at airports and overseas.
- Absentee voting help — the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) helps you vote from anywhere, free.
Your pre-deployment checklist
- Update DEERS & your SGLI beneficiary — make sure the right people are covered and listed.
- Get a will + general and medical POA from JAG (free).
- Family Care Plan — required for single parents and dual-military couples.
- Set your budget & allotments — direct deposit, bills on autopay, an allotment to savings. Use the deployment budgeter.
- Increase TSP % to capture tax-free contributions, and plan your SDP deposit.
- Confirm myPay access & check your LES in-theater so every combat pay is actually posting.
- Notify creditors/landlord in writing to trigger SCRA benefits.
- Emergency contacts — give family the Red Cross number and your command's rear-detachment contact.
MilDeck's savable deployment checklist tracks all of this on your device.
When you get back
Complete your post-deployment health assessment (PDHA/PDHRA) honestly — it's the paper trail that later connects deployment exposures to a VA disability claim. If you develop conditions tied to your deployment (including burn-pit and other toxic exposures under the PACT Act), a free VSO can help you file. Take the reintegration and mental-health resources seriously — using them is a strength, not a mark against you.
Related tools: deployment budgeter, SDP calculator, tax-free pay, military pay calculator, and Space-A travel for R&R.
General information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Pay amounts and eligibility are set by DoD/DFAS and change; combat-zone tax rules are set by the IRS, and SCRA rights by federal law. Confirm your specifics with your finance office, JAG, and myPay. Sources: DoD/DFAS, IRS (combat zone), TSP.gov, DoD SDP, and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
Frequently asked questions
Is deployment pay tax-free?
Pay earned in a designated combat zone is exempt from federal income tax under the Combat Zone Tax Exclusion. For enlisted members and warrant officers all of it is tax-free; commissioned officers are capped at the highest enlisted pay rate plus hostile-fire pay. You still owe Social Security and Medicare taxes.
What is the Savings Deposit Program (SDP)?
SDP lets deployed service members in an eligible combat zone deposit up to $10,000 and earn a guaranteed 10% annual interest — much higher than a bank. You qualify after 30 consecutive days deployed (or one day in each of three consecutive months), and interest keeps accruing up to 90 days after you return. Sign up through finance in-theater.
What free benefits can I get before deploying?
Your base legal/JAG office prepares wills and powers of attorney for free. You can also claim SCRA protections (6% interest cap on pre-service debts, penalty-free lease/phone termination), free MilTax filing with an automatic IRS extension, free Military OneSource counseling, and an active-duty credit alert.
How much is Family Separation Allowance?
FSA is $250 per month when you have dependents and are away from them for more than 30 days. It is not automatic — you apply with DD Form 1561.
What is hostile fire / imminent danger pay?
HFP/IDP is $225 per month for serving in a designated imminent-danger area, and it is paid for the entire month even if you were only exposed for part of it.