For the first time since 1998, the U.S. Army is increasing monthly jump pay for paratroopers. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the pay raise during the 82nd Airborne Division’s annual All American Week, held at Fort Bragg. The event brings together current and former paratroopers for four days of competitions, ceremonies, and camaraderie.
Effective immediately, hazardous duty incentive pay for airborne-qualified soldiers will increase from $150 to $200 per month. In addition, jumpmasters — the senior non-commissioned officers responsible for managing airborne operations — will receive an additional $150 monthly incentive.
The increase marks the first adjustment to jump pay in over 25 years, despite inflation and increased operational tempo. The hike aims to recognize the added risk and responsibility airborne soldiers take on to maintain their qualifications and readiness.
What wasn’t mentioned in the Pentagon announcement is that even with the increase, the Army is still spending less overall on paratroopers than on their non-airborne peers — at least when it comes to injury-related medical costs.
A 2019 military health study comparing injury rates and costs between over 31,000 active-duty paratroopers and more than 170,000 non-paratroopers over a three-year period found that while paratroopers experienced a slightly higher rate of injuries per soldier, their medical treatment costs were consistently lower. The study, conducted between 2016 and 2018, found that the average annual injury-related cost per soldier was $822 for paratroopers compared to $944 for non-paratroopers.
Paratroopers had more acute traumatic injuries, particularly to the head and shoulders, likely related to their unique exposure to airborne operations. However, the majority of injuries in both groups were due to cumulative overuse — such as low back and knee injuries — which are common across the Army.
The cost difference is primarily due to a lower average per-injury treatment cost for paratroopers: $837 versus $1,000 for non-airborne soldiers. Despite assumptions that airborne operations result in more expensive medical care, the data shows that paratroopers are actually less expensive to treat, on average.
The recent jump pay raise, while welcomed by troops and long overdue, doesn’t even make up the cost savings the Army has enjoyed by maintaining a large airborne force.
The move to increase jump pay is part of broader efforts by the Department of Defense to restore readiness, morale, and the warrior ethos under current leadership. Hegseth emphasized during his remarks that the Trump administration remains committed to rebuilding the military and reestablishing American deterrence abroad. Among his stated priorities are ensuring elite formations like the 82nd Airborne Division are the best-equipped and best-prepared fighting force in the world.
Units already benefiting from the new weapons and pay changes include the 1st Brigade, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and select Army Reserve and National Guard infantry units. Additional airborne units are expected to see these improvements in the near future.
The pay raise is a welcome nod to the risks airborne soldiers take every time they exit an aircraft in flight. But when weighed against the Army’s own financial data, it still feels like a small reward for those who continue to jump into danger, month after month.
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