| 2009
clothing allowances The military provides a complete set of uniforms for enlisted members when they first enter service. They are then paid annual allowances based on how long it takes each item to wear out, dividing the cost by how many years the item is expected to last. For example, a duffel bag might be expected to last 10 years or more, while T-shirts would be expected to be replaced after a few months. The clothing allowance typically is paid on the anniversary of the day members entered the military. People with fewer than three years of service receive a basic clothing allowance to begin replacing items from their initial issue as they wear out. Also, at the end of the first year of active duty, enlisted troops receive only half of the yearly allowance because it is assumed they do not need to replace any clothing in their first six months. After enlisted troops complete three years on active duty, they begin receiving the standard clothing allowance, which is higher than the basic allowance. Clothing allowance rates for fiscal 2009, which began Oct. 1, and the changes from fiscal 2008: |
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| Initial clothing allowances | ||||||||
| Enlisted men | Change | Enlisted women | Change | |||||
| Army | $1,346.95 | +$17.81 | $1,626.40 | +$11.86 | ||||
| Navy | 1,597.88 | +379.39 | 1,793.14 | +340.65 | ||||
| Air Force | 1,349.84 | +27.74 | 1,531.32 | +35.33 | ||||
| Marine Corps | 1,658.20 | +61.77 | 1,711.15 | +65.20 | ||||
| Coast Guard | 1,292.92 | +150.56 | 1,346.40 | +102.12 | ||||
| Enlisted men | Enlisted women | |||||||
| Basic | Change | Standard | Change | Basic | Change | Standard | Change | |
| Army | $381.60 | +$10.80 | $543.60 | +$14.40 | $442.80 | $10.80 | $633.60 | +$18.00 |
| Navy | 464.40 | -- | 662.40 | -- | 460.80 | -14.40 | 658.80 | -21.60 |
| Air Force | 266.40 | +64.80 | 381.60 | +93.60 | 298.80 | +57.60 | 428.40 | +86.40 |
| Marine Corps | 381.60 | +31.80 | 554.40 | +46.20 | 399.60 | +33.30 | 583.20 | +48.60 |
| Coast Guard | 351.98 | +14.20 | 502.84 | +24.58 | 359.56 | +13.09 | 513.69 | +18.82 |
| Special initial and replacement allowances | ||||
| Special initial | Change | Annual standard | Change | |
| allowance | replacement allowance | |||
| Navy Band, Naval Academy Band members | ||||
| Men below E-7 | $1,066.30 | -$105.90 | $864.00 | -$7.20 |
| Men above E-7* | 1,066.30 | -105.90 | 864.00 | -7.20 |
| Women below E-7 | 956.40 | -85.70 | 925.20 | -14.40 |
| Women above E-7* | 956.40 | -85.70 | 925.20 | -14.40 |
| Naval officer candidates** | ||||
| Men | $1,358.26 | -$36.39 | ||
| Women | 1,613.41 | +59.07 | ||
| Officer and enlisted permanent duty civilian clothing allowance |
| Initial: $920.88 (change from fiscal 2008: +$18.36) |
| Annual replacement: $306.96 (change from fiscal 2008: +$6.06) |
* Except band members who previously received the allowance.
** Includes candidates in the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) Program, Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP) and Seaman to Admiral Program, as well as those attending aviation officer’s candidate schools in Pensacola, Fla., and Newport, R.I.
Source: Defense Department
