What is combat pay, and how much is it?
You get a variety of additional entitlements and incentives for being deployed to Iraq. I am going to assume Iraq since entitlements are different depending on the country and/or mission you are deployed to. First, Hostile Fire Pay/Imminent Danger Pay (HFP/IDP) and this is $225/month. This entitlement is paid as a lump sum irregardless of the total number of days in that month you are deployed. So you will get the full $225 whether you arrive in theatre on the 1st or the 30th of the month. Second, Combat Zone Tax Exclusion (CZTE). This is a special provision allowing all enlisted pay to be considered free from withholding of Federal Income Tax. Most states follow this same rule and will not withhold taxes from your pay. You will still however continue to pay Social Security and Medicare. Commissioned Officers are capped on the amount that can be excluded from taxes, up to the amount earned by the Command Sergeant Major of the Army + HFP. Any amount earned over this in a given month is
