Retention, Incentives, and DoD Experience Under the 40-Year Military Pay Table
Abstract:
The military basic pay table is the foundation of military compensation for currently serving members. Until 2007, basic pay increases associated with additional years of servicecalled longevity increasesoccurred only up to year of service YOS 26 in the basic pay table. In 2007, this so-called 30-year pay table was replaced with a 40-year table that added longevity increases beyond YOS 26 and additional increases beyond YOS 30 to the highest-ranked personnel. Specifically, the 40-year table added longevity increases for officers in grades O6 and above, warrant officers in grades W4 and W5, and enlisted personnel in grades E8 and above. The major objective of the 40-year table was to provide incentives for longer careers, especially to the most senior-ranked officers, but also to more-junior officers aspiring to higher ranked positions