Armed Forces to get 6% pay rise – more than most other public sector workers
The Government says it has accepted the recommendation of the independent pay review body for a 6% headline pay rise for the Armed Forces.
The salary increase for serving personnel is higher than the 5.5% for NHS workers and teachers and the 4.75% for police.
Defence Secretary John Healey announced the 2024 Pay Award recommendations made by the independent Armed Forces' Pay Review Body (AFPRB) and Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) would be accepted in full.
The 6% uplift will apply for ranks starting at pay point OR2-04 and above.
Senior personnel with two-star ranks and higher are to receive a 5% consolidated increase to base pay.
There will be no change to the current pay differential arrangements for senior Medical and Dental Officers.
The increase in military pay will be paid in September and backdated to April 2024.
There are also some changes to accommodation, with charges for Service Families Accommodation Combined Accommodation Assessment Band A increasing by 6% from 1 April 2024.
This will, according to a statement from the Defence Secretary, affect the rents of lower bands differently, as they are set in descending increments of 10% of the Band A rate.
Single Living Accommodation rent for Grade 1 will increase by 6%, while there will be increases of 4% for Grade 2 and 2% for Grade 3 – with no increase for Grade 4 accommodation.
There will also be an increase of 2.4% for furniture charges.
And Single Living Accommodation rental charges for Grade 1 will increase by 6% from 1 April 2024, with increases of 4% to Grade 2, 2% to Grade 3 and no increase to Grade 4 accommodation.
In a written statement, Mr Healey said that these were "serious times" and the "Armed Forces are vital to protecting the nation, supporting our allies, and meeting operational commitments".
"The Government recognises that our service personnel make extraordinary sacrifices as they continue to work tirelessly at home and abroad, and we are proud of their professionalism and bravery."
Minister for Veterans and People Al Carns told Forces News the pay rise is "significant".
"We are seeing an increase in pay for those joining from £18,000 up to £25,200 – that's huge and fantastic for those wanting to join the military," the former Royal Marines colonel said.
"Secondly, we're seeing an increase of 6% all the way up to one-star and then from two-star onwards a 5% increase which is the biggest pay increase in 22 years."
The MOD says accepting the pay recommendations represents an annual increase of around £2,800 in the nominal 'average' salary in the Armed Forces as well as an annual increase of around £1,880 in the starting salary for an officer.
The AFPRB report 2024 says: "The current round has been conducted against the backdrop of a difficult and evolving geo-strategic environment and an uncertain economic situation.
"In addition, we have seen that the Armed Forces face an acute problem in recruiting and retaining sufficient, trained and motivated personnel."
The complete recommendations of the AFPRB for Pay Round 2024 are as follows:
Main pay award
- Recommendation 1: That rates of base pay increase by 6% for members of their remit group at pay point OR2-04 and above from 1 April 2024.
- Recommendation 2: That rates of base pay for members of their remit group at pay point OR2-01 remain at £25,200, as already implemented from 1 April 2024, a 7.25% increase on 1 April 2023 rates.
- Recommendation 3: That rates of base pay for members of their remit group at pay points OR2-02 and OR2-03 increase to £25,864 from 1 April 2024. This equates to a 6% uplift on 1 April 2023 rates.
- Recommendation 4: That the rate of Initial Pay be increased to £25,200 from 1 April 2024.
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