air force special duty assignment pay afi

Air Force releases FY24 special duty assignment pay adjustments

• Published June 23, 2023
• Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

The Air Force has completed its annual review of special duty assignment pay for enlisted members using a new board process to ensure appropriate distribution based off the SDAP definition. The review focused on identifying personnel in extremely demanding positions with unusually challenging responsibilities based on a defendable scoring methodology, and decisions were made agnostic of budgetary funding. When reviewing more than 100 career fields, the board was unaware of the budgeted SDAP funds until after each request was considered if SDAP was warranted. The Air Force approved 70 specialties to receive SDAP in FY24. Of those approved, four were initial requests that were certified for the first time, 48 were recertified at their current rate, 11 increased rate and seven decreased rate to maintain parity with specialties of similar duties, responsibilities and training. The DAF eliminated 33 existing rules because they no longer met the criteria for SDAP and disapproved 15 new requests for the same reason. The changes will take effect Oct. 1. The SDAP board used specific criteria when reviewing each request. To be considered, the specialty and individual assignment must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Duties require extremely demanding personal effort to ensure mission accomplishment.
• Position requires greater responsibility or difficulty beyond what is normally expected for the member’s grade.
• Position/duties require special qualifications met through rigorous screening and/or special schooling.

Members currently serving in a field that will be removed from the SDAP list will continue to receive special duty assignment pay at a rate of one-half their original SDAP through Sept. 30, 2024. Those whose SDAP will be reduced will be given 90 days before the reduced rate will become effective. Personnel receiving an increase in SDAP will see it reflected beginning Oct. 1. Visit here to view the full special duty assignment pay list and program updates.

AF updates enlisted special duty assignment pay effective Nov. 1

Airfield managers are just one of 13 duties added to the Special Duty Assignment Pay table, effective Nov. 1, 2017. Responsible for the maintenance of runways, lighting and other airfield components and systems, airfield management specialists ensure that all takeoffs and landings can proceed without incident. From keeping runways clear of foreign objects to communicating hazards to pilots, these professionals make sure Air Force aircraft maintain their ability to take off at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo)

• Published Aug. 31, 2017
• By Kat Bailey
• Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

The Air Force will update enlisted special duty assignment pay for several career fields , locations or special assignment duties effective Nov. 1, following the most recent Air Force semiannual review .  

SDAP is a monetary allowance that compensates enlisted Airmen serving in extremely demanding positions with unusually challenging responsibilities that differ from the normal demands of their jobs. Airmen receive a minimum of $75 per month up to the maximum of $450 per month.  

The review resulted in 13 additions to the pay table including a number of jobs with special experience identifiers such as flight engineer, special missions aviator, loadmaster and remotely piloted aircraft sensor operator. Other duties added to the pay table include airfield manager, digital network analyst, cyberspace mission forces, RPA cyber technician, special operations surgical teams and Korean cryptologic language analyst.  

Modifications, particularly clarification to eligibility criteria, were made to an additional 23 duties.  

“The Air Force meticulously evaluates this program to ensure we are accurately compensating our Airmen working in rigorous career fields with an unusual degree of complexity, difficulty or responsibility,” said Senior Master Sgt. Joey Williams, Airman Support branch superintendent at the Air Force’s Personnel Center. “We hope to provide an incentive for Airmen to volunteer for and perform duties in critical career fields in order to best support future Air Force missions.”  

The specialty and individual assignment should meet one or more of the following criteria in order for SDAP consideration :  

- Duties require extremely demanding personal effort to ensure successful mission accomplishment  

- Positions are extremely demanding and require an unusual degree of responsibility over and above what would reasonably be expected in a military assignment for members with the same grade and experience  

- The special duty assignment is different from the normal career progression and job description for the Air Force specialty code  

- Duties requiring special qualifications that are met through rigorous screening and/or special schooling above the normal qualifications of the skill or grade to maintain proficiency  

To see the full special duty assignment pay list and a summary of the changes , visit the enlisted compensation landing page on myPers . Alternatively, select “Active Duty Enlisted” from the myPers dropdown menu and search “SDAP.”  

For more information about Air Force personnel programs, go to myPers . Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following these instructions .

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Air Force releases FY24 Selective Retention Bonus list, updates to reenlistment policy

• Published May 23, 2024
• Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

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Air Force releases FY24 special duty assignment pay adjustments

• Published June 23, 2023
• Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

The Air Force has completed its annual review of special duty assignment pay for enlisted members using a new board process to ensure appropriate distribution based off the SDAP definition. The review focused on identifying personnel in extremely demanding positions with unusually challenging responsibilities based on a defendable scoring methodology, and decisions were made agnostic of budgetary funding. When reviewing more than 100 career fields, the board was unaware of the budgeted SDAP funds until after each request was considered if SDAP was warranted. The Air Force approved 70 specialties to receive SDAP in FY24. Of those approved, four were initial requests that were certified for the first time, 48 were recertified at their current rate, 11 increased rate and seven decreased rate to maintain parity with specialties of similar duties, responsibilities and training. The DAF eliminated 33 existing rules because they no longer met the criteria for SDAP and disapproved 15 new requests for the same reason. The changes will take effect Oct. 1. The SDAP board used specific criteria when reviewing each request. To be considered, the specialty and individual assignment must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Duties require extremely demanding personal effort to ensure mission accomplishment.
• Position requires greater responsibility or difficulty beyond what is normally expected for the member’s grade.
• Position/duties require special qualifications met through rigorous screening and/or special schooling.

Members currently serving in a field that will be removed from the SDAP list will continue to receive special duty assignment pay at a rate of one-half their original SDAP through Sept. 30, 2024. Those whose SDAP will be reduced will be given 90 days before the reduced rate will become effective. Personnel receiving an increase in SDAP will see it reflected beginning Oct. 1. Visit here to view the full special duty assignment pay list and program updates.