The Pentagon said Thursday that it is increasing hostile fire pay and imminent danger pay for troops in combat zones for the first time in over 20 years.

Tim Dill, assistant secretary of war for manpower and reserve affairs, released the memorandum which doubles the monthly hostile fire pay from $225 to $450, and increases imminent danger pay to $275 a month, effective immediately. 

The boost marks the first time the War Department has increased the hostile fire and imminent danger pay since 2002.

"Those who face combat deserve higher compensation that reflects the risks that they willingly undertake on behalf of our nation," Anthony Tata, undersecretary of war for personnel and readiness, said in a statement. "Raising imminent danger and hostile fire pays for the first time in two decades is a step toward recognizing that sacrifice." 

Department regulations state that a service member is entitled to the hostile fire bonus when they perform duties "in a hostile fire area … is exposed to a hostile fire event … is on duty during a month in an area in which a hostile event occurred that placed the member in grave danger of physical injury; or … is killed, injured or wounded by a hostile fire event."

The service member is entitled to imminent danger pay when they are "subject to the threat of physical harm or imminent danger based on civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism or wartime conditions in a designated foreign area."

The War Department is allowed to increase hostile fire pay and imminent danger pay to the new levels under section 37 of the United States Code. Before the 2002 increase in hazardous pay, pay rates varied by qualifying duty and the service member's rank and pay grade. The rates typically ranged from $100 to $240 per month.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.