Hardship Duty Pay (HDP)

Start Here If You Are New to Hardship Duty Pay

Hardship Duty Pay covers four distinct hardship situations Marines encounter. Substandard living conditions at designated locations (HDP-L). Arduous mission assignments like POW/MIA remains recovery (HDP-M). Excessive time away from PDS (HDP-T). COVID-era restriction of movement (HDP-ROM). Each has its own eligibility framework, rate, and qualifying conditions.

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

• HDP-Location framework and the 30-day TDY threshold
• HDP-Mission $150/month for arduous designated missions
• HDP-Tempo up to $500/month for excessive PDS absence
• HDP-Restriction of Movement for COVID-era cases
• The DTMO-published HDP-L locations table

Every fact on this page comes from DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 17 (December 2024) and Title 37 U.S.C. section 352Title 37 U.S.C. section 352.

HDP-Location (HDP-L)

Per Chapter 17 paragraph 2.1.

Purpose

HDP-L is designed to recognize service at locations where living conditions are substantially below those normally found within the continental United States and to provide equity across DoD for Service Members assigned to these locations.

Eligibility

All Marines permanently assigned or serving in TAD/TDY, deployed, or attached status for over 30 consecutive days in a designated area receive HDP-L. Marines on permanent reassignment to the area are eligible for HDP-L from the day of arrival at the new station.

Rates

Vary by location. ASD M&RA promulgates locations and amounts at the rates shown in Chapter 17 Table 17-1. The DTMO publishes the current HDP-L list at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Hardship-Duty-Pay/. Rates typically range from $50 to $300 per month.

Restriction (TAD/TDY First 30 Days)

Marines performing duty temporarily in a designated area are NOT eligible for HDP-L during the first 30 days of consecutive duty in the area. On the 31st day, HDP-L is payable to the Marine retroactive to the date the Marine reported for duty at the location.

Termination

HDP-L entitlement ends on.

• The day the Marine departs the station as a result of PCS reassignment.
• The last day of the effective period as stated in Table 17-1.
• The day specified in Table 17-1 for specific situations.

HDP-Mission (HDP-M)

Per Chapter 17 paragraph 2.2.

Purpose

HDP-M is designed to recognize permanent or temporary assignment of Marines when conditions are deemed particularly arduous or require Marines to perform duties outside of normal military operations.

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria are established by ASD M&RA for Marines permanently or temporarily assigned to a designated mission. Common qualifying missions include the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (formerly DPMO/JTF-FA/CIL-Hawaii) on remains recovery in remote isolated areas (Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, North Korea, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia).

Eligible Marines receive HDP-M for each month in which they perform investigative or remains recovery duty in a remote, isolated area in the recovery of U.S. Service Member remains.

Maximum Amount

HDP-M is payable to all Marines at the rate of $150 per month. HDP-M is payable at the full monthly rate, without prorating or reduction, for each month during any part of which the Marine performs a specified mission.

HDP-Tempo (HDP-T)

Per Chapter 17 paragraph 2.3.

Purpose

HDP-T is designed to recognize extended or excessive amounts of time outside of a Marine's permanent duty station (PDS).

Eligibility

Secretaries of the Military Departments establish eligibility criteria based on Service-specific needs but consider retention, quality of life, family separation, and other factors that contribute to a Marine's dissatisfaction when spending extended or excessive amounts of time away from the PDS.

Amount

Secretaries of the Military Departments establish monthly rates, but the maximum amount of HDP-T per month does not exceed $500.

Restrictions

The Secretary prorates the monthly amount of HDP-T for a Marine who does not satisfy the eligibility requirements for an entire month. For periods of absence, consult Service regulations to determine eligibility.

HDP-Restriction of Movement (HDP-ROM)

Per Chapter 17 paragraph 2.4.

Purpose

HDP-ROM is designed for Marines ordered by their command to restriction of movement for self-monitoring due to exposure or suspected exposure to COVID-19.

Eligibility

Effective 13 March 2020, Marines ordered by their command.

• To restriction of movement for self-monitoring due to exposure or suspected exposure to COVID-19.
• To restriction of movement for self-monitoring due to travel to, from, or through a Center for Disease Control and Prevention Level 3 Travel Health Notice country.
• That are directed to restrict movement at a facility that is neither provided by the U.S. Government nor is the Marine's personal residence at the PDS.

Application

HDP-ROM was a COVID-era pay primarily relevant during 2020-2022. Verify current applicability with your S-1 against the controlling DoD memorandum.

Multiple HDP Categories

A Marine in a designated HDP-L location performing an HDP-M qualifying mission is allowed to receive both. A Marine in HDP-Tempo status assigned to an HDP-L location is allowed to receive both. The categories are distinct and do not double-count for the same purpose.

Verifying HDP on the LES

A monthly LES check confirms HDP entries are correct.

Step 1. Pull Your LES

Through MyPay each payday.

Step 2. Verify the HDP Line(s)

The LES shows HDP as line items under Entitlements. Common abbreviations.

• HDP-L (location).
• HDP-M (mission).
• HDP-T (tempo).
• HDP-ROM (restriction of movement).

Step 3. Verify the Rate Against the DTMO Table

For HDP-L, cross-reference your duty location against the DTMO HDP-L table for the published rate.

Step 4. Resolve Discrepancies

Coordinate with your S-1. Standard correction routes through the reporting unit to DFAS Marine Corps Pay.

Common Questions Marines Ask

I am on TAD to a designated HDP-L location for 25 days. Do I get HDP-L?

Per Chapter 17 paragraph 2.1.4, no. Marines performing duty temporarily in a designated area are not eligible for HDP-L during the first 30 days. On the 31st day, HDP-L is payable retroactive to the date you reported.

I am on TAD to the same HDP-L location for 60 days. When does HDP-L start?

The 30-day threshold means HDP-L starts payable on day 31 (the first day after 30 consecutive days). The retroactive application makes HDP-L payable for all 60 days when the threshold is crossed.

I am on a remains recovery mission with DPAA. Do I get HDP-M?

Per Chapter 17 paragraph 2.2.2, yes if the mission is in a designated remote isolated area listed in paragraph 2.2.2. HDP-M is paid at $150/month for each month during any part of which you perform the qualifying duty.

I am at an HDP-L location AND I am performing DPAA remains recovery. Do I get both?

Yes. Multiple HDP categories are allowed if the Marine independently qualifies under each.

I am on HDP-T for excessive PDS absence. Does HDP-T continue when I return to PDS?

Per Chapter 17 paragraph 2.3, HDP-T is for time outside the PDS. When you return to PDS and the eligibility ends, HDP-T stops. Proration applies if the eligibility period does not cover an entire month.

Where to Go for Help

Routing by Issue

• HDP-L location verification. The DTMO HDP-L table at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Hardship-Duty-Pay/.
• HDP-M qualification for designated remains recovery missions. Coordinate with the DPAA POC and your S-1.
• HDP-T eligibility under Marine Corps directives. Coordinate with your S-1 against the controlling Marine Corps directive.
• HDP-ROM applicability. Largely historical (COVID era). Verify with your S-1 if a current case applies.
• 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.
• Hostile Fire Pay and Imminent Danger Pay covers HFP/IDP. Family Separation Allowance covers FSA. Combat Zone Tax Exclusion covers CZTE.
• Pay Problems and Fixes covers the LES error recovery flow.

Related Roles

• Leaders identify Marines deploying to HDP-L locations and ensure HDP-L starts on time (immediate for permanent assignments, day-31 retroactive for TAD/TDY).
• Admin at S-1 documents HDP qualification and routes starts/stops through the reporting unit.
• Commanders certify HDP-M qualifying missions and HDP-T eligibility within Marine Corps directives.

HDP recognizes the conditions Marines deal with at remote locations and on arduous missions. Verify the rate against the DTMO table monthly. The 30-day TAD threshold for HDP-L is the most common eligibility gate.