Ask Military Pay -- Online Customer Service

Category:
Pay & Allowances

Subcategory:
Entitlements

Created:
2005-12-12

Modified:
2015-10-29

Clothing Allowance

Question

What are the different types of clothing allowance and who is eligible?

Answer

Clothing allowances may be issued to help members pay for their uniforms. There are three main types of clothing allowance:

Initial Clothing Allowance
Both officers and enlisted members of the U.S. Armed Forces are entitled to an initial clothing allowance. Officers, however, are only entitled to the allowance once except in the situations noted below:

Upon first reporting for active duty (other than for training) for a period of more than 90 days.

Upon completing at least 14 days of active duty or active duty for training as a member of a Reserve Component.

Upon completing 14 periods of inactive-duty training as a member of the Ready Reserve. (Each period must be of at least 2 hours duration).

Upon reporting for the first period of active duty required of a member of the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program. NOTE: Upon transfer to another Reserve Component that requires a different uniform, a Reserve officer may receive another initial uniform allowance. Regular officers may not receive this allowance when transferring to another Military Service.

For restrictions of payment of the above see the Department of Defense Financial Management Regulations (DoDFMR), Volume 7A, par 300204

Officers may also be entitled to Additional Active-Duty Uniform Allowance see eligibility requirements at Department of Defense Financial Management Regulations (DoDFMR), Volume 7A.

Initial Clothing Allowance is provided to enlisted members upon initial enlistment or upon other special qualification for entitlement to a prescribed outfitting of uniforms. The initial issue may be an in kind issue or a combination of in kind issue and cash payment.

Cash Clothing Replacement Allowance

This allowance is payable to enlisted members at regularly scheduled intervals (depending on the type of allowance) following initial clothing allowance on the anniversary month. This is for the replacement of uniforms based on normal wear and tear. Depending on the anniversary, basic, standard, or special cash clothing replacement allowance will be made. See DoDFRM, Volume 7A, par 290302-290304

Extra Clothing Allowances

Extra Clothing Allowances are in addition to the other two types of clothing allowance and do not affect them. These allowances are for situations in which a member may need additional uniforms or is required to have civilian clothing to perform his/her duties. See DoDFRM, Volume 7A, par 2904

If a member has a break in military service, he/she will start over with the initial clothing allowance upon returning to the service. He/She will then receive Cash Clothing Replacement Allowance and Military Clothing Maintenance Allowance as applicable.

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