For the first time, the Air Force has added cyber warfare operations to its list of career fields eligible for special duty pay, effective Oct. 1.
Airmen in the 1B4X1 cyberspace defense operations career field can get paid an extra $150 per month if they've been on the job for six to 12 months, or $225 monthly if they've been in that job more than a year, according to a list of the special duty assignment pay changes obtained by Air Force Times.
But recruiters who are permanently assigned to be group or squadron superintendents, group or squadron training noncommissioned officers, or Military Entrance Processing Station liaisons will see their monthly special pay cut from $375 to $300. The Air Force considered cutting those recruiters' special pay last year to $225, but instead left it unchanged in fiscal 2015.
But a few other recruiters are seeing their special pays increase to $300, the Air Force said.
The Air Force announced that cyber warfare operations had been added to the special duty pay list in an Oct. 22 release, but did not say how much they would be paid. In that release, the Air Force said special pay has been modified or added for 14 career fields or assignment areas.
"We use this program to ensure the Air Force is attracting the right people for these high-demand specialties and appropriately compensate them based on the complexity, difficulty and degree of responsibility required of their duties," Brig. Gen. Brian Kelly, director of military force management policy, said in a statement.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody's special duty pay is increasing this year from $375 to the maximum $450 monthly.
The Air Force said that is to align his special duty pay with that of the other services' senior enlisted members.
The newly formed 1N7X1 human intelligence Air Force specialty code is making its appearance on the list for the first time, replacing the old 8D000 strategic debriefer special duty.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
