Officers and enlisted soldiers who perform maritime duties are entitled to special pay, provided they are performing those services aboard an Army vessel with a primary mission that is accomplished while underway at sea.
Career Sea Pay, which varies from one service to another, is a taxable special pay based on rank and years of sea service.
Monthly rates for the Army range from $50 to $730.
An additional $100 career sea pay premium is incorporated into the sea pay chart at three years for officers and career soldier-mariners in the ranks of specialist through sergeant major. Privates and privates first class must have 36 months of consecutive sea service duty to be eligible for an additional $100 career sea pay premium.
The pay is available to active-component and Active Guard and Reserve soldiers who are drawing basic pay, and Army National Guard and Army Reserve members who are on active duty and drawing basic pay for such activities as annual training, active duty for training and active duty for special work.
To qualify, soldiers must be assigned to and serve on a vessel as a primary place of duty. Soldiers must report "to" and "from" the vessel on a daily basis.
Soldiers who serve in a permanent vessel position cannot serve in a duty position ashore at the same time and qualify for sea pay.
The Army projects annual spending of less than $1 million for sea pay in 2016 and 2017. Fewer than 450 officers and enlisted soldiers are projected to qualify for the entitlement annually.
