Basic Pay

Start Here If You Are New to Basic Pay

You see a number on your LES every payday under "Basic Pay." That number is the foundation of your military compensation. Every special pay, every allowance, every retirement calculation flows from it. Get the basic pay number right and the rest of your pay falls into place. Get it wrong and the corrections cascade through every line on the LES.

This page walks you through basic pay from your seat as a General Marine. By the end you will know.

• What basic pay is and the framework that governs it
• The pay grade structure that drives the rate tables (with the cross-service comparable grades reference)
• Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD) and creditable service
• When pay starts on active duty
• Pay increases on promotion
• Pay reductions on demotion or separation
• Leave and pay interactions, including the unauthorized-absence rules that cost you money
• Military paydays and direct deposit
• How to verify your basic pay

Every fact on this page comes from DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 1 "Basic Pay" (May 2024 revision), the Comparable Grades chapter (April 2024), Title 10 U.S. Code, Executive Order 14132 (January 1, 2025 basic pay rates), Public Law 118-159 section 601 (April 1, 2025 basic pay rates), and current MMPB-3 and DFAS guidance.

What Basic Pay Is

Per DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 1 paragraph 1.1, basic pay is the foundational compensation paid to a Service Member based on pay grade and years of creditable service. The chapter prescribes.

• The criteria for determining creditable service for military members
• Examples for computing valid creditable service
• Periods of service that are not creditable for pay purposes
• Conditions for the payment of military pay entitlements
• Computation of leave and conditions for leave accrual
• Situations where enlistments are not valid

Per paragraph 1.2, the policies and requirements derive primarily from Title 10 U.S. Code. Specific statutes are listed in the chapter's reference section.

Basic pay is one of three primary entitlements on a Marine's LES. The other two are Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), each covered on its own page in Pay and Entitlements.

Why Basic Pay Matters to You

Three reasons basic pay carries weight beyond the dollar amount on the LES.

• Pay grade and years of service drive the rate. The published rate tables (Tables 1-7 through 1-10B in the May 2024 revision) calculate basic pay by pay grade and "over X years" of creditable service. A Sergeant with 4 years of service receives a different rate than a Sergeant with 6 years of service. The same Sergeant promoted to Staff Sergeant changes pay grade and the rate adjusts.
• Basic pay drives downstream calculations. Special and incentive pays often calculate as percentages or multiples of basic pay. Retirement pay calculations use a formula based on basic pay. The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contribution percentages apply to basic pay.
• Errors compound. A wrong PEBD ripples through every promotion-cycle pay table. A missed pay increase on promotion means months of underpayment. Catching basic pay errors early saves the cleanup later.

The Pay Grade Structure

Per the Comparable Grades chapter of Volume 7A, basic pay is published by pay grade. Service-specific titles vary, but the underlying pay grade is the same across the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.

Marine Corps Officer Pay Grades (O-1 to O-10)

Marine Corps Warrant Officer Pay Grades (W-1 to W-5)

Marine Corps Enlisted Pay Grades (E-1 to E-9)

Cross-Service Equivalents

Three commonly confused cross-service pairs.

• Navy Captain (O-6) is equivalent to Marine Corps Colonel (O-6), not Marine Corps Captain (O-3).
• Navy Lieutenant (O-3) equals Marine Corps Captain.
• Air Force Staff Sergeant is E-5. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant is E-6.

Per the Comparable Grades chapter, pay grade is the cross-service constant. Two Service Members at the same pay grade with the same years of service receive the same basic pay regardless of their specific service titles.

The Marine Corps E-9 grade has two paths at the same pay grade. Sergeant Major (command-billet leadership track) and Master Gunnery Sergeant (technical-MOS subject matter expertise track). The E-8 grade splits the same way (First Sergeant and Master Sergeant). Both pay at the same rate within the grade.

Note. The W-5 grade is not used by the Coast Guard. The Air Force and Space Force do not use the warrant officer grade structure at all.

The Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD)

Per DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 1 paragraph 2.1.1, the Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD) is the date that denotes how much creditable service a member has for the purpose of determining longevity pay rates. The Marine Corps refers to this as "pay entry base date." Marine Corps computation procedures sit under PAA 04-25PAA 04-25, which standardizes PEBD computation across the force.

Why it matters. Your years of creditable service is the second axis of the basic pay table (the first being your pay grade). Two Sergeants in the same fiscal year with the same TIS but different PEBDs receive different basic pay rates because their longevity counts differently.

What Counts as Creditable Service

Per paragraph 2.1.3, the following service is creditable without restriction.

• Regular service in any of the six Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, Space Force)
• Reserve service across the same six services
• Army of the United States (without component specification)
• Army National Guard, National Guard, Air National Guard
• Public Health Service Nurse Corps and Reserve Corps

Per paragraph 2.1.4, additional categories count with specific restrictions.

• NOAA officer service (deck officer, junior engineer, including the historical Environmental Science Services Administration and Coast and Geodetic Survey)
• Service on a retired list, temporary disability retired list, or honorary retired list
• Service as a cadet or midshipman at a military academy (always creditable for enlisted, with Table 1-1 governing officer cases)
• Service as an officer, Army field clerk, flight officer, aviation midshipman, or enlisted member of a uniformed service
• DEP / Reserve enlistment time (with rules that vary by enlistment date, see paragraph 2.1.4.12)

What Does Not Count

Per paragraph 2.2, several categories are not creditable. Common examples.

• Time as a civilian (other than the narrow categories above)
• Time during which the enlistment was voided for fraud
• Most lost time (unauthorized absence, confinement, disciplinary periods) per Table 1-2

Constructive Service Credit

Per paragraph 2.1.5, certain medical and dental officers receive constructive service credit (4 or 5 years) reflecting time spent in medical or dental school under specific historical conditions. The criteria are tightly scoped and most Marines outside those medical specialties do not encounter constructive credit.

MCTFS PEBD Risk Advisory (MARADMIN 052/26)

Per MARADMIN 052/26MARADMIN 052/26 (19 February 2026), M&RA released an automated MCTFS Advisory Notice labeled "PEBD Risk" that flags potential PEBD errors in personnel records. Anticipated production date FY26 Q2.

How the Advisory Works

The Manpower Analysis Branch (MPA) developed risk criteria based on PEBD-related data and digitized them into a logical framework. The criteria run during the 2nd File Purification Routine (PUREX) each month to scan the MCTFS database and flag potential PEBD errors.

A Marine's PEBD must be supported by periods of creditable service documented in the MCTFS D188 remark. When the service dates listed in the D188 remark do not align with the reported PEBD, the discrepancy is flagged for additional research.

The D188 Remark

The D188 remark is the MCTFS field that documents periods of creditable service supporting the PEBD. PACs use the D188 remark together with the OMPF to validate the PEBD. A complete and accurate D188 remark prevents PEBD advisories.

Action Chain

The advisory creates a three-lane action chain.

Marine Action

Per MARADMIN 052/26MARADMIN 052/26 paragraph 3.a, affected Marines receive a notification through Marine Online (MOL).

• Notify your servicing PAC or reporting unit through Electronic Personnel Admin Request (EPAR) to verify and address the PEBD discrepancy.
• Provide Key Supporting Documents to close service data gaps.
• Follow up until the PAC confirms the discrepancy is resolved.

Command Action

Per MARADMIN 052/26MARADMIN 052/26 paragraph 3.b, command members with one of the following MOL permission templates receive parallel advisory alerts.

• MOL Coordinator.
• Executive Officer.
• Sergeant Major.
• Company Commander.
• Company First Sergeant.
• Platoon Commander.

These individuals track PEBD discrepancies at the command level. Unit-level administrative representatives provide oversight to ensure Marines and PACs comply and take corrective action. Per paragraph 4, units are encouraged to develop local tracking procedures for affected Marines.

PAC and Reporting Unit Action

Per MARADMIN 052/26MARADMIN 052/26 paragraph 3.c, PACs and other reporting units do the following once a Marine's PEBD is flagged.

• Use the OMPF and the MCTFS D188 remark to analyze and validate periods of creditable service within the record.
• If periods of creditable service are missing, update the D188 remark and upload Key Supporting Documents to the Marine's OMPF. This corrective action removes the inconsistencies and prevents further advisories for the same reason.
• Where the PEBD itself is incorrect, follow the PRIUM and forward the case to MMPB-21 at SMB_Pay_Entry_Base_Date_Correction@usmc.mil for validation and correction.

MMPB-21 Action

Per MARADMIN 052/26MARADMIN 052/26 paragraph 3.d, MMPB-21 (Manpower Management, Performance Branch, Records and Performance Section, Research and Reconstruction Unit 21) does the following.

• Receives PEBD adjustment cases.
• Assigns an action officer to review case material.
• Forwards PEBDs requiring adjustment to Manpower Information System Support Office (MISSO) 9 for reporting.

Marine Responsibility for Service Data

Per MARADMIN 052/26MARADMIN 052/26 paragraph 4, the accuracy of PEBD calculations depends on complete and accurate data within MCTFS. Missing data, particularly regarding prior service, can cause calculation errors EVEN WHEN NO PEBD ADVISORY IS ISSUED.

It is the Marine's responsibility to ensure all service data is annotated in the record. Service data gaps are closed by the Marine providing Key Supporting Documents to the servicing PAC for correction. Common Key Supporting Documents include.

• Prior service DD-214s.
• Reserve component documentation (drill records, mobilization orders).
• Active duty orders covering prior periods.
• ROTC and academy contracts where applicable.
• Inter-service transfer documentation.

MISSO and MMPB are available for Requests for Information and coaching.

Computing Basic Pay

Per DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 1 paragraph 3.0, basic pay computation is straightforward in the basic case and complex in the edge cases.

Monthly Basic Pay Tables

Per paragraph 3.2, monthly basic pay is calculated as the rate published in the current basic pay tables (Table 1-7 through 1-10B in the May 2024 revision). The rates are published by pay grade and creditable years of service brackets ("over 2 years," "over 4 years," etc.).

Recent rate updates per the chapter's Summary of Major Changes.

• Table 1-7 through 1-10. Updated with the 2024 Basic Pay rates.
• Table 1-7A through 1-10A. January 1, 2025 Basic Pay rates per Executive Order 14132 dated December 23, 2024.
• Table 1-10B. April 1, 2025 Basic Pay rates per Public Law 118-159 section 601 dated December 23, 2024.

The current authoritative rate tables live at https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/Volume_07a.pdf and on the DFAS Marine Corps Pay website.

Monthly Pay Computation

Per paragraph 3.2, basic pay calculates monthly. A full month of qualifying service produces the full monthly rate. A partial month prorates by the number of days served (typically 1/30 of the monthly rate per day).

Saved Pay and Allowances

Per paragraph 3.3, "Saved Pay" applies when a Service Member is reduced in grade through no misconduct of their own. The member is authorized to keep the higher pay rate of the previous grade in specific circumstances. The chapter details the saved pay computation and eligibility tests.

Increased Basic Pay During Service Essential to the Public Interest

Per paragraph 3.4, the President is allowed to authorize increased basic pay during periods of service deemed essential to the public interest. This authority is rarely invoked but exists in the framework.

When Pay Starts

Per Table 1-3 of Volume 7A Chapter 1, active duty pay begins under specific conditions tied to enlistment, accession, and reporting.

The general rule. Active duty pay begins on the date of initial entry on active duty.

Special cases.

• Travel time to the first duty station after enlistment. Pay begins from the date of muster or from the reporting date, depending on the travel circumstances and contract terms.
• Reserve members called to active duty. Pay begins from the date of activation orders, with allowable travel time per paragraph 3.5.
• Officer accessions. Pay begins from the date of commissioning.

Marines should pull their first LES within 30 days of reporting and verify basic pay starts at the correct date. PEBD on the LES should match the orders or contract.

Pay Increases on Promotion

Per Table 1-4, basic pay increases on promotion or restoration of grade. The increase is effective the date of the promotion (or other action authorizing the increase).

Common examples on the table.

• Promotion from one grade to the next. Pay increase effective the date of promotion.
• Restoration of a grade after a reduction (e.g., post-NJP appeal). Pay increase effective the date of restoration.
• Frocking (assumption of higher rank insignia without the pay grade change). No pay increase. Frocking is a uniform-and-billet change, not a pay grade change.

The Marine's reporting unit submits the change to the Marine's record. Verify the new rate appears on the next LES after the promotion takes effect.

Pay Reductions and Terminations

Per Table 1-5, basic pay terminates or reduces on specific actions.

• Separation. Pay terminates on the date of separation (typically the day after terminal leave ends).
• Reduction in grade. Pay reduces effective the date of the reduction.
• Death. Pay terminates on the date of death, with specific final pay procedures.
• Desertion. Pay terminates on the date of desertion. The chapter has specific recovery rules for the time before desertion was determined.
• Confinement. Lost time accrues per Table 1-2 with specific pay-effect rules.
• Absence Without Leave (AWOL). See the unauthorized absence section below.

For separation, the timing matters. Final pay typically arrives within 30 days of separation, including any unused leave sell-back. The Separations and Retirement page on this site covers the separation pay flow in detail.

Authorized Leave and Pay

Per paragraph 4.1 and the leave rules in the chapter, authorized leave does not interrupt basic pay. A Marine on chargeable leave continues to receive basic pay at the full rate.

Specific categories of authorized leave per the chapter.

• Annual leave (the standard chargeable leave Marines accrue at 2.5 days per month).
• Convalescent leave (medical leave, typically not chargeable).
• Emergency leave (chargeable to annual leave balance unless waived).
• Permissive temporary additional duty (PTAD), specific situations like job hunting around separation.
• Terminal leave (chargeable annual leave taken at the end of service).

The Leave and Liberty page on this site covers the leave types and accrual rules in detail.

Unauthorized Absence and Lost Time

Per paragraph 4.2 and Table 1-2, unauthorized absence is the most common driver of pay loss outside of permanent separation.

The general rule. Time the Marine is absent without leave (AWOL), in confinement awaiting trial, or otherwise lost is not creditable for pay or for service.

Specific lost-time categories per Table 1-2.

• AWOL of 24 hours or more.
• Confinement (military or civilian) other than confinement awaiting trial that ends in acquittal.
• Time in a status making the Marine unfit for duty due to misconduct (e.g., alcohol- or drug-related disability).
• Some periods of administrative absence under specific UCMJ proceedings.

Lost time has a compounding cost. Pay is forfeited during the lost-time period AND the PEBD pushes back, delaying future pay raises and longevity-driven entitlements.

The Pay Problems and Fixes page on this site covers the recovery flow when lost time appears in error on the LES.

Voided, Voidable, or Rejected Enlistments

Per paragraph 5.0, when an enlistment contract is voidable, voided, or rejected (most commonly for fraud), specific rules govern the pay paid before the determination.

• Pay and allowances received before the void determination are typically not recoverable from the Marine if the Marine acted in good faith.
• Travel payments are handled separately per paragraph 5.3.
• The disbursing officer is entitled to credit for payments made in good faith per paragraph 5.4.
• Failure of the recruiter to identify a disqualifying physical condition does not automatically void pay made in good faith per paragraph 5.5.

The Help and Resources page on this site covers the escalation flow when an enlistment-validity question arises.

Financial Institution Charges

Per paragraph 6.0, the Marine Corps reimburses some financial institution charges incurred when a pay error causes the Marine's account to bounce.

• Per paragraph 6.1, charges are reimbursable if the bounce was caused by a Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) error.
• Per paragraph 6.2, charges are NOT reimbursable if the bounce was caused by Marine error (e.g., overdraft on the Marine's spending, not on a missing deposit).

Submit financial institution charge reimbursement requests through the Marine's reporting unit (I&I S-1 with direct UD/MIPS access, or a battalion S-1 routing through their PAC) with proof of the charge and the pay record showing the DFAS error.

Military Paydays

Per paragraph 7.0.

Standard Payday

Per paragraph 7.1, military payday is the first and the fifteenth of each month. Both dates are pay deposit dates for the prior pay period (the 1st through the 15th, and the 16th through the end of the prior month).

Exception When the Standard Payday Falls on a Non-Business Day

Per paragraph 7.2, when the standard payday falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the payday shifts to the previous business day. Direct deposits typically post the day before that.

Translation. If the 15th of the month is a Sunday, payday shifts to Friday the 13th. The deposit lands in the Marine's account on Friday morning, often Thursday evening for some banks.

Direct Deposit

DFAS pays Marines via direct deposit (Electronic Funds Transfer, EFT). The Marine designates the deposit bank account through MyPay. Marines pull the LES through MyPay each payday to verify the deposit and the line items.

Verifying Your Basic Pay

A monthly check-in on basic pay catches errors early.

Step 1. Pull Your LES

Through MyPay. The LES shows.

• Your name, rank, pay grade, and PEBD
• Basic pay (the line item)
• Allowances (BAH, BAS)
• Special pays (if any)
• Deductions (taxes, SGLI, TSP, allotments)
• Leave balance
• Year-to-date totals

Step 2. Verify the Basic Pay Number

Compare against the published rate table for your pay grade and years of service.

• Rate table source. DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Tables 1-7 through 1-10B (or current revision).
• Pay grade. Confirm against your current rank.
• Years of service. Calculate from your PEBD to the LES end-of-month date.
• Pull the rate from the row for your pay grade and the column for "over X years" matching your years of service.

The number on the LES should match the table within rounding.

Step 3. Resolve Discrepancies

If the basic pay number on the LES does not match the table.

• Verify your PEBD is correct on the LES. A wrong PEBD throws off years of service.
• Verify your rank reflects the current pay grade. A pending promotion not yet processed produces a one-month lag.
• Check for ongoing pay actions (saved pay, lost time, confinement, etc.).
• Coordinate with your S-1. The S-1 routes the correction through DFAS via the reporting unit.

For older issues outside the standard correction window, the procedures in DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A and DFAS guidance cover beyond-time-limit corrections.

Common Questions Marines Ask

Why does my buddy with the same rank and the same years of service make more than me?

Pay grade and years of creditable service are the two axes. Two Marines in the same rank are allowed to have different PEBDs (driving different years of service) due to lost time, voided enlistment periods, prior-service breaks, or constructive service credit. Pull the LES side by side and check PEBDs. If your PEBD looks wrong, work with the S-1 to route a correction.

I was promoted last week. When does the new rate hit my LES?

Per Table 1-4, the new rate is effective the date of promotion. If the promotion happens mid-month, the LES at the next payday will show a prorated mix (partial month at old rate, partial month at new rate). The full month at the new rate appears on the following LES.

I am being frocked. Will my pay increase?

No. Frocking is a uniform-and-billet change, not a pay grade change. You wear the higher rank insignia but your pay grade and rate stay the same until the formal promotion takes effect.

I was on terminal leave when the basic pay tables updated. Do I get the new rate for the leave period?

Yes. Terminal leave is chargeable annual leave where you continue to receive basic pay at the full rate. If a pay table update takes effect during your terminal leave, your basic pay reflects the new rate for the days after the effective date.

I had 30 days of unauthorized absence. How does that affect my basic pay?

Per Table 1-2, AWOL of 24 hours or more is lost time. The 30 days are not creditable for pay or for service. Your basic pay for those 30 days is forfeited, AND your PEBD pushes back by 30 days, delaying your next pay raise and longevity-driven entitlements.

What is "saved pay"?

Per paragraph 3.3, saved pay applies when a Service Member is reduced in grade through no misconduct of their own (e.g., a temporary administrative reduction during a board adjudication). The Marine continues to receive the higher pay rate of the previous grade in specific narrow circumstances. The chapter details the eligibility tests.

My direct deposit did not arrive on payday. What do I do?

Pull your LES through MyPay to confirm the LES processed correctly. If the LES shows the deposit was sent but the bank does not show it, contact your bank first. If the LES does not show the deposit, contact your reporting unit S-1 immediately to investigate the DFAS payment record. Per paragraph 6.0, financial institution charges from the bounced deposit are reimbursable if the cause was a DFAS error.

Why are Air Force Staff Sergeants paid less than Marine Staff Sergeants?

They are not paid less at the same pay grade. Per the Comparable Grades chapter, an Air Force Staff Sergeant is at pay grade E-5, while a Marine Corps Staff Sergeant is at pay grade E-6. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant (E-6) and Army Staff Sergeant (E-6) are at the same pay grade and receive the same basic pay rate.

How do I find the current basic pay rate for my grade?

The current rate tables are at https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/Volume_07a.pdf in Tables 1-7 through 1-10B. DFAS also publishes the rates at the Marine Corps Pay portal. Both sources reflect any pay raises authorized by Executive Order or by Public Law within the calendar year.

I received a PEBD Risk advisory in MOL. What do I do?

Per MARADMIN 052/26MARADMIN 052/26 paragraph 3.a, contact your servicing PAC or reporting unit through Electronic Personnel Admin Request (EPAR) to verify and address the discrepancy. Provide Key Supporting Documents (prior service DD-214s, Reserve component records, active duty orders for prior periods, ROTC or academy contracts) to close any service data gaps. The PAC validates against the OMPF and the MCTFS D188 remark, updates the D188 if periods are missing, and routes incorrect PEBD cases to MMPB-21 at SMB_Pay_Entry_Base_Date_Correction@usmc.mil.

I never received a PEBD Risk advisory. Is my PEBD definitely correct?

Not necessarily. Per MARADMIN 052/26MARADMIN 052/26 paragraph 4, missing data (particularly regarding prior service) can cause PEBD calculation errors even when no advisory is issued. The advisory only flags inconsistencies the automated criteria detect. It is your responsibility to ensure all service data is annotated in your record. Audit your PEBD against your service history and provide Key Supporting Documents to your PAC for any gaps.

What is the D188 remark?

The D188 is the MCTFS field that documents the periods of creditable service supporting your PEBD. PACs use the D188 together with the OMPF to validate the PEBD. A complete D188 prevents PEBD advisories from triggering against your record.

Where to Go for Help

Routing by Issue

• LES errors on basic pay rate, PEBD, or pay grade. Your S-1 routes the correction through DFAS via the reporting unit.
• PEBD Risk MOL advisory per MARADMIN 052/26MARADMIN 052/26. Contact your servicing PAC through EPAR. PAC routes incorrect PEBD cases to MMPB-21 at SMB_Pay_Entry_Base_Date_Correction@usmc.mil.
• PEBD service data gaps (prior service, Reserve, ROTC). Provide Key Supporting Documents to your servicing PAC.
• PEBD Risk advisory coaching for PACs and units. MISSO and MMPB are available for Requests for Information.
• Ongoing pay-rate verification questions. The published Volume 7A rate tables and the DFAS Marine Corps Pay portal.
• Promotion not yet reflected on the LES. Your S-1 verifies the Unit Diary entry posted correctly and routes a corrected entry if needed.
• Lost time on the LES that should not be there. Your S-1 reviews the lost-time entries and routes corrections.
• Saved pay eligibility questions. Your S-1 with backup from DFAS Marine Corps Pay if the case is complex.
• Financial institution charge reimbursement. Your reporting unit with proof of the DFAS error and the bank charge.
• Beyond-correction-window issues (older LES errors). DFAS Marine Corps Pay through your S-1, with potential routing through the Board for Correction of Naval Records (BCNR) for the oldest cases.
• DFAS Marine Corps Pay contact. Phone 1-888-332-7411 (DSN 312-571-9450 from overseas).

Cross-Service Pay Questions

• Joint duty assignments where pay-grade equivalence matters. The Comparable Grades reference above and the Joint Service Awards page on this site.
• Foreign-liaison pay-grade questions. The Foreign Awards page for the cross-service framework.

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Pay and Entitlements landing page lists the six pay topics including BAH, BAS, deployment pays, special pays, and pay problems.
• BAH (Housing Allowance) covers the rate tables and dependent-status rules.
• BAS (Food Allowance) covers the officer-versus-enlisted distinction and meal-card rules.
• Hostile Fire Pay and Imminent Danger Pay covers HFP/IDP. Family Separation Allowance covers FSA. Combat Zone Tax Exclusion covers CZTE.
• Special Pays covers jump, dive, flight, and other incentive pays.
• Pay Problems and Fixes covers LES error recovery and the most common pay disputes.

Related Roles

• Leaders verify Marines' LES monthly during command checks, identify pay errors during the first 90 days at a new unit, and route corrections to the S-1 quickly.
• Admin at S-1 builds the documentation packages for pay corrections, posts updates to the reporting unit for UD/MIPS entry, and coordinates with DFAS Marine Corps Pay for complex cases.
• Commanders certify pay-action recommendations (saved pay, special-circumstances PEBD adjustments) and ensure the unit's pay-record integrity through monthly reviews.

Basic pay is the foundation. The pay grade and years of creditable service drive the rate. Verify the rate every month, work pay errors through your S-1 promptly, and keep the PEBD accurate. Per MARADMIN 052/26MARADMIN 052/26, MCTFS runs an automated PEBD Risk advisory each month through the 2nd PUREX. Marines flagged through MOL contact the PAC via EPAR. PACs validate using the OMPF and the D188 remark, update the D188 for missing periods, and route incorrect PEBD cases to MMPB-21 at SMB_Pay_Entry_Base_Date_Correction@usmc.mil. Marine responsibility extends beyond the advisory. Provide Key Supporting Documents for any prior service or Reserve gaps even when no advisory triggers. The rest of your compensation flows from this foundation.