Hostile Fire Pay and Imminent Danger Pay (HFP/IDP)

Start Here If You Are New to HFP and IDP

Hostile Fire Pay and Imminent Danger Pay are the two combat-related compensation programs every Marine should know. HFP pays $225 per month full rate when you experience a hostile fire event during a month. IDP pays on a prorated daily basis up to $225 per month when you serve in a designated IDP area. The two are mutually exclusive in any given month. Non-taxable for enlisted and warrant officers (and capped non-taxable for officers) per CZTE rules. Marines deployed to combat zones qualify automatically through commander certification.

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

• The $225 per month rate for both HFP and IDP
• HFP full-month vs. IDP prorated daily framework
• The "single hostile fire event triggers full-month HFP" rule
• The HFP-or-IDP (not both concurrent) rule
• The 31st-of-the-month treatment for AC and RC over-30-day deployments
• The unit certification requirement for HFP

Every fact on this page comes from DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 10 (October 2024) and Title 37 U.S.C. section 310Title 37 U.S.C. section 310.

What HFP and IDP Are

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 1.1, the chapter establishes DoD policy for payment of Hostile Fire Pay and Imminent Danger Pay and lists the areas where Marines are authorized to receive these entitlements.

Per paragraph 2.1, a Marine is paid HFP or IDP for any month when the Marine is entitled to basic pay for Active Duty or compensation for Inactive Duty AND meets the qualifying criteria.

A Marine is NOT authorized to receive concurrent HFP and IDP payments for the same month. The two programs are mutually exclusive within any given month.

Hostile Fire Pay (HFP)

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 2.1.1, HFP is paid at the rate of $225 per month when the appropriate commander certifies that the Marine.

• Performs duty 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 Marine in grave danger of physical injury.
• Is killed, injured, or wounded by a hostile fire event.

What Counts as a Hostile Fire Event

A hostile fire event includes.

• Hostile fire from a small-arms or crew-served weapon.
• Explosion of hostile mines.
• Other hostile action targeting the Marine, the unit, or U.S. forces.

HFP Full Month Rate (No Proration)

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 2.2, HFP will NOT be prorated. The Marine receives the maximum monthly rate of $225 for the month in which the hostile fire event occurred.

A single qualifying hostile fire event during a month triggers the full $225 HFP for that month, regardless of how many days the Marine was in the area.

Imminent Danger Pay (IDP)

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 2.1.2, IDP is paid on a daily prorated basis, not to exceed $225 per month, when a Marine is on official duty in a designated IDP area. IDP applies when the Marine is subject to the threat of physical harm or imminent danger based on.

• Civil insurrection.
• Civil war.
• Terrorism.
• Wartime conditions in a designated foreign area.

IDP Designated Areas

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs designates IDP areas through memos. Recent additions include the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden (December 2024), and the Gaza Strip and Israel's Mediterranean coast (May 2025).

The current IDP list is published at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Imminent-Danger-Pay/.

IDP Daily Proration

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 2.2, IDP is payable on a prorated daily basis not to exceed a monthly rate of $225. The daily rate is approximately $7.50 ($225 / 30 days).

A Marine who serves 15 days in a designated IDP area receives 15 × $7.50 = $112.50 IDP for that month.

31st-of-Month Rule

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 2.2, the proration does NOT apply to the 31st of a month for AC and RC Marines on Active Duty for 30 days or more. The 30-day standard month is the basis. IDP for the 31st rolls forward to the next month.

For Marines on AD for less than 30 days, daily proration applies including the 31st.

IDP Examples (Per Chapter 10 paragraph 2.2)

Example 1. A Marine on AD for more than 30 days in an IDP area from March 31 through April 29 receives IDP only for April 1 through 29 (30 days, full $225 rate).

Example 2. A Marine on AD for more than 30 days in an IDP area from March 31 through April 29, and exposed to hostile fire on March 31, receives full HFP $225 for March AND IDP for April 1 through 29.

Example 3. A Marine on AD for less than 30 days in an IDP area from March 29 through April 20 receives daily IDP for March 29-31 and April 1-20 (23 days).

Example 4. A Marine on AD for less than 30 days in an IDP area from March 29 through April 20, exposed to hostile fire on March 31, receives full HFP $225 for March AND daily IDP for April 1-20.

HFP Eligibility (Determination of Fact)

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 3.1, the appropriate commander certifies that the Marine has met the requirements for HFP for a given month. A death certificate or injury report may be substituted if the document establishes the cause of death or injury was due to hostile fire.

Certification at Lowest Command Level

Per paragraph 3.1.1, certification is made at the lowest level of command that includes all the vessels, aircraft, or units subjected to the hostile fire incident. The certification.

• For a single vessel. The vessel's commanding officer certifies for all members on board.
• For multiple vessels or units. The commanding officer of the encompassing unit certifies for all affected members.

Certification Forwarding

Per paragraph 3.1.2, certification includes the name and payroll identification number of each Marine entitled, a brief description of the incident, and when and where it occurred. The certification routes through the geographic Combatant Commander to the servicing financial support office.

IDP Eligibility (Determination of Fact)

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 3.2.

Airspace Coverage

When the airspace is specifically included in an IDP area designation, Marines flying over the area receive IDP even without landing. When airspace is not specifically designated, Marines must land in the area to qualify.

Vessel Operations

A Marine performing duty on a vessel in operational status while in an IDP-designated area is eligible for IDP.

Examples of Marines Who Qualify

• Marines on a MEU CE deployed to a CZ aboard a Navy ship in IDP waters.
• Marine pilots on combat sorties over a designated IDP airspace.
• Embedded advisors at U.S. Embassy in a designated country.
• Marine Forces deployed to a Joint Special Operations Task Force in a CZ.

CZTE Interaction

Per Chapter 44 paragraph 2.2.1, HFP and IDP are non-taxable for enlisted and warrant officers when received during a month of active service in a Combat Zone or Qualified Hazardous Duty Area. The full HFP/IDP amount is excluded from taxable wages.

For commissioned officers, the CZTE caps the total non-taxable amount at the senior enlisted basic pay rate plus HFP/IDP for the month. The portion of pay above the cap remains taxable.

The Combat Zone Tax Exclusion page on this site covers the full framework.

Concurrent with Other Pays

HFP and IDP are paid in addition to all other pays and allowances. Common Marine combinations include.

• HFP/IDP plus FSA (when separated from dependents 30+ days).
• HFP/IDP plus HDA (after the 191-consecutive-day or 401/730-day thresholds).
• HFP/IDP plus AvIP for combat aviator pilots.
• HFP/IDP plus AvB for combat aviation specialties.
• HFP/IDP plus PAC continuation if hospitalized for combat-related wounds.

Verifying HFP and IDP on the LES

A monthly LES check during deployment confirms HFP/IDP entries are correct.

Step 1. Pull Your LES

Through MyPay each payday during deployment.

Step 2. Verify the HFP or IDP Line

The LES shows the entitlement under Entitlements. Common abbreviations.

• HFP. Hostile Fire Pay (full $225/month).
• IDP. Imminent Danger Pay (prorated daily up to $225/month).

The LES should show one or the other, not both, for any given month.

Step 3. Verify Days Counted (For IDP)

For IDP, verify the number of days in the designated area matches the LES proration. The DTMO IDP table at https://www.travel.dod.mil/ confirms the area is currently designated.

Step 4. Resolve Discrepancies

Coordinate with your S-1. The reporting unit (I&I S-1 with direct UD/MIPS access, or a battalion S-1 routing through their PAC) routes through DFAS Marine Corps Pay. For HFP, ensure the unit commander has submitted the certification through the geographic Combatant Commander.

Common Questions Marines Ask

I deployed to Iraq for 6 days in March. Will I get HFP or IDP?

If you experienced a hostile fire event during the 6 days, you receive full HFP $225 for March. If no hostile fire event occurred, you receive IDP at 6 × $7.50 = $45 (since you were on AD less than 30 days, daily proration applies). Verify your AD orders duration and whether the unit certified an HFP event.

I am at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti for 12 months. Do I get IDP?

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 2.1.2 and the DTMO IDP table, yes if Djibouti is a current IDP-designated area. Verify the current designation. The IDP rate is $225 per month. Since you are on AD for more than 30 days, daily proration does not apply for the 31st of any month.

I was exposed to indirect fire (mortar or artillery attack) on my deployment. Do I get HFP?

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 2.1.1, yes if the unit commander certifies the hostile fire event. Indirect fire (mortar or artillery attack) qualifies as a hostile fire event. The full $225 HFP applies for the month regardless of how many such events occurred. The unit commander submits the certification through the geographic Combatant Commander.

I am dual-eligible for HFP and IDP in the same month. What happens?

Per Chapter 10 paragraph 2.1, you cannot receive concurrent HFP and IDP for the same month. The Service determines which to pay (typically HFP since it is the full $225 with no proration). For most Marines in a designated CZ where a hostile fire event occurs, HFP is paid for that month.

Are HFP and IDP taxable?

For enlisted and warrant officers, HFP/IDP are tax-free under CZTE for any month of CZ service. For commissioned officers, the CZTE caps the total non-taxable amount at the senior enlisted basic pay rate plus HFP/IDP. The Federal Tax Withholding and Combat Zone Tax Exclusion pages cover the framework in detail.

Will my LES show "HFP" or "IDP" or "HFP/IDP"?

The LES typically shows whichever applies for the month. You see HFP for months with hostile fire events. You see IDP for months in a designated area without HFP. Some LES formats consolidate the line item label as "HFP/IDP" but the underlying entitlement is one or the other for any given month.

Where to Go for Help

Routing by Issue

• HFP certification status. Coordinate with your unit commander and the geographic Combatant Commander.
• IDP designated area verification. The DTMO IDP table at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Imminent-Danger-Pay/.
• LES corrections for HFP or IDP entries. Your S-1 routes through DFAS Marine Corps Pay.
• 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.
• Family Separation Allowance covers the parallel separation pay during deployment.
• Combat Zone Tax Exclusion covers the tax-free treatment.
• Pay Problems and Fixes covers the LES error recovery flow.

Related Roles

• Leaders track HFP/IDP eligibility for Marines deploying and submit the certification through the chain.
• Admin at S-1 supports HFP/IDP processing through the reporting unit.
• Commanders certify hostile fire events at the lowest level of command per paragraph 3.1.1.

HFP and IDP are the two combat-related compensation pays. $225 per month covers the financial recognition of the danger. HFP pays for hostile fire event months at full rate. IDP pays for designated-area months at the prorated daily rate. Non-taxable for enlisted and warrant officers under CZTE. The unit commander certification drives HFP eligibility.