Hostile Fire Pay vs. Imminent Danger Pay: Key Differences, Pay Rates, and Eligible Locations

Looking for Expert-Level VA Claim Help?📱Call Us Now! 737-295-2226

Military service members who face dangerous conditions while serving in hostile environments may qualify for Hostile Fire Pay (HFP) or Imminent Danger Pay (IDP).

These special pay entitlements provide financial compensation for those exposed to hostile fire, mines, or other hazards during military service.

Understanding these benefits can help military troops ensure they are properly compensated for their risk and service.

Summary of Key Points

• Hostile Fire Pay (HFP): Provides $225 per month to service members exposed to hostile fire, mines, or injuries from hostile actions, regardless of time spent in the area. Can’t be combined with Imminent Danger Pay (IDP).

• Imminent Danger Pay (IDP): Pays $7.50 per day, up to $225 per month, for service in designated danger zones. Payments are prorated based on days served.

• Eligibility and Extensions: Both HFP and IDP may extend for up to 12 months if injuries occur in qualifying areas. Pay continues during captivity or missing status.

• Differences Between HFP and IDP: HFP is a flat monthly rate for direct hostile exposure, while IDP is prorated for time in designated zones. Both can’t be received simultaneously.

What is Hostile Fire Pay (HFP)?

HFP compensates service members exposed to hostile actions, including:

• Hostile Fire or Mine Explosions – Direct exposure to enemy attacks or explosions.

• Proximity to Hostile Fire – Serving in areas where hostile fire or mine explosions are a threat.

• Wounds or Injuries from Hostile Action – Being killed, injured, or wounded due to hostile fire or other hostile actions.

Pay Rate and Eligibility

• Flat Rate: $225 per month.

• Non-Prorated: Service members exposed to hostile fire, or a hostile mine explosion are eligible for the full $225, regardless of the number of days spent in the area.

• Cannot be combined with IDP in the same month.

Special Situations

HFP applies in unique cases such as:

• Captured or Missing Status: HFP continues while a service member is missing, interned, or captured by hostile forces.

• Hospitalization Due to Hostile Action: HFP may be extended for up to 12 months if the service member is hospitalized due to injuries sustained in a hostile incident.

• Absence from Area: HFP is not payable for months when the member is absent from the designated area for the entire calendar month.

What is Imminent Danger Pay (IDP)?

IDP provides compensation for service members assigned to areas designated as Imminent Danger Zones by the Department of Defense (DoD).

These areas are listed in Volume 7A, Chapter 10, Figure 10-1 of the DoD Financial Management Regulation.

Pay Rate and Eligibility

• Daily Rate: $7.50 per day.

• Maximum Monthly Rate: $225 per month.

• Prorated: Service members receive pay based on the number of days served in an IDP zone.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for IDP, service members must:

• Be entitled to basic pay.

• Perform official duty in an IDP-designated area.

Special Circumstances

• Hospitalization: IDP may be extended for up to 12 months if injuries were sustained in an IDP area.

• Captured or Missing: Members continue to receive IDP while in missing or captured status.

• Temporary Absence: Members who leave an IDP area temporarily may not be eligible for pay unless their absence is due to military orders.

Restrictions

IDP is not payable for service members:

• Traveling through an IDP zone for personal reasons.

• On leave from outside the IDP area.

• Entering the zone for personal convenience.

Hostile Fire Pay (HFP) vs. Imminent Danger Pay (IDP)

Feature	Hostile Fire Pay (HFP)	Imminent Danger Pay (IDP)
Rate	$225 flat per month	$7.50 per day (max $225)
Prorated Payment	No, always $225	Yes, based on days served
Exposure Requirement	Hostile fire, mines, injuries	Designated IDP zones only
Eligibility Overlap	Cannot combine with IDP	Cannot combine with HFP
Special Status Extension	Up to 12 months for injury	Up to 12 months for injury

Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)

It is important for military service members to review their LES to verify correct payments:

• Full Month Eligibility: $225 listed.

• Partial Month Eligibility: Payment based on days served.

• Report errors immediately to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).

List of Imminent Danger Pay Locations

Locations	Province (State), City, or Region	Air	Land	Water	Effective Date (From)	Effective Date (To)
Afghanistan		X	X		Nov 1, 1988
Algeria			X		Mar 7, 1995
Azerbaijan			X		Jun 9, 1995
*Burkina Faso			X		Feb 1, 2022
*Burma (Myanmar)	Rangoon		X		June 22, 2022
Burundi			X		Nov 29, 1996
Cameroon	Far North		X		Jun 7, 2017
	North		X		Jun 7, 2017
Chad			X		Aug 11, 2008
Colombia			X		Jun 1, 1985
Congo, Democratic Republic of (formerly Zaire)			X		Nov 29, 1996
Cote D’Ivoire			X		Feb 27, 2003	May 31, 2020
Cuba	(Note 5)				Dec 26, 2006
Djibouti			X		Jul 31, 2002
Egypt			X		Jan 29, 1997
Eritrea			X		Jul 31, 2002	May 31, 2020
Ethiopia			X		Sep 13, 1999
Greece	(Note 6)		X		Mar 27, 2007	Dec 1, 2017
Haiti			X		Jan 8, 2020
Indonesia (City)	Jakarta		X		Jun 1, 2014	May 31, 2020
Indonesia (Provinces)	Central Java		X		Jun 1, 2014	May 31, 2020
	East Kalimantan		X		Jun 1, 2014	May 31, 2020
	Central Sulawesi		X		Jun 1, 2014
	Papua		X		Jun 1, 2014
	Aceh		X		Jun 1, 2014	May 31, 2020
Iran			X		Nov 4, 1979
Iraq		X	X		Sep 17, 1990
Israel			X		Jan 31, 2002
Jordan			X		Jan 29, 1997
Kenya			X		Jul 31, 2002
Kosovo		X	X		Jun 22, 1992
Lebanon			X		Oct 1, 1983
Libya		X	X		Mar 19, 2011
Malaysia	Sabah		X		Jun 1, 2014
Mali			X		Jun 7, 2017
Mediterranean Sea	(Note 7)			X	Mar 19, 2011
Niger			X		Jun 7, 2017
Pakistan			X		Nov 29, 1996
Philippines	Mindanao		X		Oct 5, 2017
	Sulu Archipelago		X		Oct 5, 2017
Saudi Arabia			X		Sep 14, 2019
Somalia		X	X		Sep 28, 1992
Somalia Basin	(Note 8)			X	Dec 26, 2006
South Sudan		X	X		Jul 9, 2011
Sudan		X	X		Oct 4, 1993
Syria			X		Jul 31, 2003
		X			Sep 21, 2014
Tunisia		X	X		Mar 19, 2011
Turkey	(Note 9)		X		Jan 29, 1997
	(Note 10)	X			Mar 1, 1998
Uganda			X		Jan 19, 2000
*Ukraine		X	X		Apr 24, 2022
Yemen			X		May 25, 1999

Important Notes:

• The designation of a land area encompasses all internal waters, unless otherwise noted.  For HFP and/or IDP purposes, the term “internal waters” is defined as waters landward of the baseline, drawn in accordance with international law.

• The designation of a water area (such as the Persian Gulf) includes the territorial seas of those waters, but not the internal waters of the coastal lands.  For example, all waters of the Persian Gulf seaward of the baseline of the coastal states, drawn in accordance with international law, would be included in the Persian Gulf designation.

• Unless otherwise specifically indicated, airspace is NOT part of the included area.  When airspace is specifically included, it will normally be that space directly vertically above the approved land or sea area.

• This figure reflects all designated areas, which were active within the last six years.

• Limited to Service members performing duties within the Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay Detention Facilities.

• Land area within a 20-km radius from the center of Athens (38° 01’ N, 23° 44’ E).

• Water area of the Mediterranean Sea extending from the North African Coast northward into Mediterranean Sea, bounded on the east at: 26° 00’ E longitude; extending north to: 34° 35’ N latitude; and extending west to: the East Coast of Tunisia.

• Water area of the Somalia Basin with coordinates:
        – 11°10’N-51°15’E;
        – 06°00’N-48°30’E;
        – 05°00’N-50°30’E;
        – 11°30’N-53°34’E;
        – 05°00’N-50°30’E;
        – 01°00’N-47°00’E;
        – 03°00’S-43°00’E;
        – 01°00’S-41°00’E; and
        – 06°00’N-48°30’E.

• Excluding Izmir and the Turkish Straits (i.e., the Dardanelles; the Sea of Marmara; and the Bosporus Straits).

• Airspace: south of 37°45’N; and east of 43°00’E

About the Author