Career Sea Pay (CSP)

Start Here If You Are New to CSP

Career Sea Pay recognizes the rigors of sea duty assignment. CSP rates depend on Service, pay grade, and total Cumulative Sea Duty (CSD). After 36 consecutive months of sea duty, CSP-Premium adds an additional pay layer for the 37th and subsequent consecutive months.

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

• The eligibility framework and what counts as sea duty
• CSP rates and how Cumulative Sea Duty drives the rate progression
• CSP-Premium for 36+ consecutive months
• Marine-specific eligibility patterns
• The PDS rules for ship-based assignments

Every fact on this page comes from DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 18 (May 2024) and Title 37 U.S.C.Title 37 U.S.C.

What CSP Is

Per Chapter 18 paragraph 2.2.1, CSP is special pay for recognition of the greater than normal rigors of assignment to sea duty.

Per paragraph 2.2.2, CSP-Premium (CSP-P) is special pay in addition to CSP, paid for unusually long periods of continuous sea duty. A Marine entitled to CSP who has served 36 consecutive months of sea duty is also entitled to CSP-P for the 37th consecutive month and each subsequent consecutive month of sea duty.

Eligibility

Per Chapter 18 paragraph 2.1, a Marine entitled to basic pay is entitled to CSP and CSP-P while serving on sea duty under regulations.

What Sea Duty Means

Per Chapter 18 paragraph 2.2.3, sea duty for CSP and CSP-P purposes is duty performed by a Marine under orders.

• While permanently assigned for duty to a ship, ship-based staff, or ship-based aviation unit and serving on a ship with a primary mission accomplished underway (paragraph 2.2.3.1).
• While temporarily assigned to a ship, ship-based staff, or ship-based aviation unit and serving on a ship with a primary mission accomplished underway (paragraph 2.2.3.2).
• While permanently or temporarily assigned for duty to a ship or ship-based staff and serving on a ship with a primary mission accomplished in port, only during periods the ship is away from homeport (more than 50 miles) (paragraph 2.2.3.3).
• While serving as off-crew of a two-crewed vessel (paragraph 2.2.3.4).

Ships Designated as Destroyers or Submarine Tenders

The chapter notes specific ship classifications (destroyers, submarine tenders) as primary-mission-underway ships qualifying under paragraph 2.2.3.1 even when in port.

Periods of TDY, Leave, Hospitalization, or Absence

Per paragraph 2.2.3.1, periods when the Marine is on TDY, on leave, hospitalized, or otherwise temporarily absent under orders, not to exceed the first 30 consecutive days of each occurrence, count toward sea duty.

Cumulative Sea Duty (CSD)

Per Chapter 18 paragraph 2.2.4, CSD is the total time a Marine has been assigned to qualifying sea duty during the service career, regardless of pay grade.

CSD includes all time during which the Marine is assigned to a ship or ship-based staff and served on a ship with a primary mission accomplished in port, regardless of whether the ship is at sea or away from homeport.

Higher CSD generally produces a higher CSP rate. The DTMO publishes CSP rate tables by Service, pay grade, and CSD.

CSP Rates and Eligibility by Grade

Per Chapter 18 paragraph 3.1, CSP rates depend on Service, pay grade, and total CSD. All Marines in pay grades E-1 through O-6 are eligible (with Army and Air Force exceptions for some grades not relevant to Marines).

The DTMO publishes current CSP rates at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Career-Sea-Pay/. Rates progress by years of CSD (typical brackets at 3+, 5+, 8+, 10+, 14+ years).

CSP-Premium (37th+ Consecutive Month)

Per Chapter 18 paragraph 3.2, the conditions of entitlement to CSP-P require the Marine to first be entitled to CSP. CSP-P is in addition to CSP.

For certain pay grades, CSP-P is included in the CSP rate tables (built into the standard CSP rate at certain CSD thresholds). When payable as a separate item, CSP-P accrues from the first day following completion of the 36th month of consecutive sea duty.

Example

A Marine starting sea duty on 15 January 2026 accrues CSP-P beginning 15 January 2029. CSP-P is payable for the 37th and each subsequent consecutive month of sea duty regardless of pay grade when the sea duty began, provided the Marine is concurrently entitled to CSP.

CSP-P as a Separate Item for Marines

Per Chapter 18 paragraph 3.2.1, the following Marine categories qualify for CSP-P as a separate item.

• All officers in pay grades O-1 through O-6.
• All warrant officers.
• All enlisted in pay grades E-1 through E-4.
• All enlisted in pay grades E-5 through E-9 with not more than 8 years of CSD.

For senior enlisted Marines (E-5 to E-9 with more than 8 years of CSD), CSP-P is built into the CSP rate table.

Marine-Specific Eligibility Patterns

Marines on sea duty typically fall into these categories.

• MEU Command Element. Officers and senior enlisted in MEU CE billets serve sea duty during the deployed cycle.
• Battalion Landing Team (BLT). The infantry battalion attached to the MEU serves sea duty during the cruise.
• ACE / LCE / CLB. Aviation Combat Element, Logistics Combat Element, and Combat Logistics Battalion attached to the MEU.
• Marine Detachments (Mar Dets). Marines assigned to specific Navy ship Marine detachments.
• Recon and Force Recon detachments aboard ships.
• Marine Corps Embassy Security Group (MSG) when assigned to designated postings near maritime patrol routes.

The Sea Duty assignment is documented in the orders. Verify with your S-1 against the specific orders if uncertain.

Verifying CSP on the LES

A monthly LES check during sea duty catches errors fast.

Step 1. Pull Your LES

Through MyPay each payday during sea duty.

Step 2. Verify the CSP Line

The LES shows CSP as a line item under Entitlements. CSP-P (when payable as a separate item) shows on a separate line.

Verify the rate against the DTMO CSP table for your Service, pay grade, and current CSD.

Step 3. Verify CSD Total

The Marine's CSD total drives the rate progression. Verify the CSD total is accurate by reviewing prior sea duty assignments documented in your service record.

Step 4. Resolve Discrepancies

Coordinate with your S-1. Standard correction routes through the reporting unit (I&I S-1 with direct UD/MIPS access, or a battalion S-1 routing through their PAC) to DFAS Marine Corps Pay.

Common Questions Marines Ask

I am a Sergeant on a 7-month MEU. Do I get CSP for the whole deployment?

Per Chapter 18 paragraph 2.2.3, sea duty includes time when the ship is underway plus the first 30 consecutive days of TDY, leave, or temporary absence. The 7-month MEU produces about 7 months of CSP eligibility. Verify with your S-1.

I served 36 consecutive months on a sea-going billet. Do I get CSP-P now?

Per Chapter 18 paragraph 3.2, yes. CSP-P kicks in at the 37th consecutive month of sea duty. The first day following the 36th month is the start of CSP-P.

I am dual-CSP eligible (Marine Det aboard ship + a separate sea duty PCS billet). Is that allowed?

CSP is paid for the active sea duty assignment. Concurrent CSP entitlements typically do not stack. Verify with your S-1 against the specific assignment orders.

What happens to CSP when the ship is in port for maintenance?

Per Chapter 18 paragraph 2.2.3.3, CSP continues when permanently or temporarily assigned to a ship or ship-based staff during periods the ship is away from homeport (more than 50 miles). For ships at homeport during maintenance, CSP typically pauses unless the ship's primary mission is underway-classified.

Where to Go for Help

Routing by Issue

• CSP rate verification. The DTMO CSP table at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Career-Sea-Pay/.
• CSP starts and stops on sea duty assignment changes. Your S-1 routes through DFAS Marine Corps Pay.
• CSD total verification. Pull prior sea duty assignments from the service record.
• CSP-P 36-month tracking. Coordinate with your S-1 to confirm consecutive sea duty days.
• DFAS Marine Corps Pay direct contact. Phone 1-888-332-7411 (DSN 312-571-9450 from overseas).

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Pay and Entitlements landing page lists all the pay topics.
• BAS covers BAS treatment during sea duty (mandatory pay-account collection).
• Pay Problems and Fixes covers the LES error recovery flow.

Related Roles

• Leaders track Marines' sea duty milestones and surface CSP-P eligibility as Marines approach the 37th consecutive month.
• Admin at S-1 processes CSP starts and stops through the reporting unit.
• Commanders verify sea duty assignment documentation for the Marines under command.

CSP rewards the rigors of sea duty. The CSD total drives the rate. The 37th-month threshold for CSP-P is a meaningful pay bump for Marines on extended sea-going billets.