2026 Military Pay Dates (Official LES Calendar)

Active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserve members receive their military pay twice a month—on the 1st and 15th.

However, if either payday falls on a weekend or holiday, payments are made on the last business day before the 1st or 15th.

Your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) is typically available for download through myPay on the DFAS website about 7 days before the official military pay date for each pay period.

>> View the official 2026 Military Pay Chart

2026 Military Pay Dates and Military LES Dates (Official)

View the official 2026 military pay dates and LES release dates:

2026 Military Pay Dates (Mid-Month & End-of-Month)

• Mid-Month Pay – Covers earnings from the 1st through the 15th of the month.

• End-of-Month Pay – Covers earnings from the 16th through the end of the month.

Pro Tip: Always review your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) from DFAS to confirm your pay, deductions, and entitlements. Staying informed helps avoid surprises and ensures your finances stay on track.

DFAS Military Leave and Earnings (LES) Statements Explained

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) issues Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) twice each month for active duty, National Guard, and Reserve members.

• Mid-Month Military LES Release Dates – Available about 7 days before mid-month pay (around the 7th or 8th of the month).

• End-of-Month Military LES Release Dates – Available about 7 days before the end-of-month pay (around the 23rd or 24th of the month).

Pro Tip: Service members can access their LES statements online through myPay, the DFAS self-service portal. Reviewing your LES regularly helps ensure your pay, deductions, and entitlements are accurate.

Banks That Offer Military Members Early Pay Options in 2026

Certain banks and credit unions offer early direct deposit, giving military members access to their pay 1 to 2 business days early, which is a huge benefit for budgeting and cash flow.

List of popular military friendly banks and credit unions with early direct deposit for military include:

• USAA – Military pay available up to two business days early.

• Service Credit Union – Offers early pay options for military up to two business days early.

• Frontwave Credit Union – Provides early pay options for military up to two business days early.

• Navy Federal Credit Union – Military pay available up to one business day early with a Free Active Duty Checking™ account.

• Armed Forces Bank – Features military early pay, allowing access to funds up to one business day early.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When are the official 2026 military paydays?

For Active Duty (and many members on qualifying active orders), DFAS pay follows the 15th and the 1st schedule. If the 1st or 15th falls on a weekend or federal holiday, DFAS moves payday to the preceding business day (Mon–Fri).

Why do some “end-of-month” paydays happen on the 30th or 31st?

Because “end-of-month pay” is tied to the 1st of the next month. When the 1st isn’t a business day, DFAS pays on the last business day before it—which often lands on the prior month’s 30th or 31st.

Do these pay dates apply to Guard and Reserve too?

They apply cleanly to Active Duty pay cycles and many members on active orders. Traditional drill-status Guard/Reserve pay can post on different timelines (and may not match the 1st/15th rhythm), so it’s best to label your 2026 calendar as Active Duty / on-orders unless you’ve built a separate drill-pay schedule.

What does “LES available” mean on a pay calendar?

DFAS commonly provides two pay-related postings each month in myPay:

• A mid-month Notice of Pay Advice (NPA) (a preview/advice related to mid-month pay), and
• An end-of-month LES (the full Leave and Earnings Statement for the month).

Many calendars loosely call both “LES,” but the most accurate language is NPA (mid-month) and LES (end-of-month).

Are the LES/NPA dates guaranteed in 2026?

No—treat them as typical availability dates, not guarantees. DFAS/myPay posting timing can shift due to holidays, system maintenance, processing delays, or account-specific actions (promotions, PCS, dependency changes, debt collections, etc.). Your calendar is still useful for planning, but it should be framed as “expected availability.”

If my bank offers early pay, does that change the official payday?

No. Early pay is a bank policy, not a DFAS policy. DFAS still has one official payday; banks may choose to make funds available earlier once they receive the deposit information.

How early can USAA post military pay in 2026?

USAA commonly advertises military pay up to two days early. The key phrase is “up to”—the actual timing depends on when USAA receives the DFAS payment file and how it processes it for that cycle. View the 2026 USAA military pay dates calendar.

What time of day will my pay deposit hit?

There’s no universal posting time. Some banks post overnight/early morning, others later. If the exact hour matters (rent, car payment, etc.), plan for variance and set autopay buffers when possible.

What should I do if my pay is missing or incorrect?

Start with the fastest path:

1. Check myPay for the latest NPA/LES and any remarks explaining changes.
2. Check your bank for pending deposits/holds and posting rules.
3. If it still doesn’t reconcile, contact your unit/admin or finance office with the pay period, expected amount, and any supporting documentation (PCS orders, promotion orders, dependency updates, etc.).

What is the $1,776 “Warrior Dividend,” and will it show on my LES?

The Warrior Dividend has been described as a one-time $1,776 payment issued outside the normal 1st/15th cycle. Expect it to appear as a separate line item (often described as a one-time supplement) rather than a permanent change to monthly basic pay. Eligibility and timing can be specific (pay grade/status/orders), so the most accurate blog language is: one-time payment, separate from basic pay, eligibility rules apply, and it may post outside the normal cycle.

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Brian Reese

Brian Reese is a world-renowned VA disability benefits expert and the #1 bestselling author of VA Claim Secrets and You Deserve It. Motivated by his own frustration with the VA claim process, Brian founded VA Claims Insider to help disabled veterans secure their VA disability compensation faster, regardless of their past struggles with the VA. Since 2013, he has positively impacted the lives of over 10 million military, veterans, and their families.

A former active-duty Air Force officer, Brian has extensive experience leading diverse teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour in Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, where he was a National Honor Scholar, ranking in the top 1% of his class.