Armed Forces Pay Award 2024 - Is It Enough?

Armed Forces Pay Award 2024 Explained

The pay award has been announced for the UK Armed Forces, coming in at 6%. The 23 different recommendations made by the Armed Forces Pay Review Board (AFPRB) have been accepted by the UK Government.

The British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force received pay increases higher than many other public sector roles. Recruitment and retention were at the forefront of the reasoning.

Backed up by the fact that the Initial Pay for someone joining the military has increased to £25,200 which is a huge increase from £18,687. This means a junior soldier, in Harrogate, will be paid around £1,800 a month after tax. Most of that will be disposable income.

However, there has been some confusion. The 6% rise only applies to OR2-04 and above. In simple terms, this is a private on increment level 4 and above. The most junior privates did not receive a pay rise. But why is this?

Because back in April 2024, they received a pay award to keep them in line with the rising national living wage. I explain this in more detail in this video.

Recruitment and Retention Payments have increased by 6% as well as compensatory allowances. But then, of course, accommodation has also increased by a maximum of 6% depending on the quality of it.

But, as some people wrongly think, this 6% increase in accommodation costs does not cancel out the 6% increase that many will see in their salary.

All of this is being backdated to 1st April 2024 and we will see our backpay and all the changes at the end of September.

Overall, I am pleasantly surprised at this pay award and you’ll hear no complaints from me. What are your thoughts?

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Timecodes:

0:00 Intro
0:50 Main Pay Award
1:25 What about OR2-01, OR2-02 and OR2-03?
2:57 Initial Pay Increase
3:29 Backpay
4:26 My thoughts on the pay award
5:30 Read the AFPRB 2024 Report
5:47 Recruitment and Retention Payments (RRPs)
6:03 Volunteer Reserves Training Bounty
6:11 Compensatory Allowances (LSA)
6:37 What costs have increased - Food?
6:56 What costs have increased - Accommodation?
8:09 Why the pay award is not cancelled out by the increased costs.
8:49 Potential issue for junior privates
9:08 Final thoughts
10:18 Outro

Sources:

DISCLAIMER:

The views and opinions expressed in this video are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the British Army or the Ministry of Defence.

I am not a professional financial advisor and this video is not financial advice. Please do your own research before making any decisions with your money and seek professional financial advice if need be.

[thesavvysquaddie]

Timecodes:

0:00 Intro
0:50 Main Pay Award
1:25 What about OR2-01, OR2-02 and OR2-03?
2:57 Initial Pay Increase
3:29 Backpay
4:26 My thoughts on the pay award
5:30 Read the AFPRB 2024 Report
5:47 Recruitment and Retention Payments (RRPs)
6:03 Volunteer Reserves Training Bounty
6:11 Compensatory Allowances (LSA)
6:37 What costs have increased - Food?
6:56 What costs have increased - Accommodation?
8:09 Why the pay award is not cancelled out by the increased costs.
8:49 Potential issue for junior privates
9:08 Final thoughts
10:18 Outro

[MalcolmXpat]

Awsome to have a youtuber who addresses so many military issues. Much appreciated, great content as always.

[mrogers]

Great video! Could you please do a video on how to do a self assessment for MoD personnel? Too many people getting ripped off. I think it’d be super beneficial

[Brownsugar-ekwn]

Cheers mate loud and clear as always.. My back payment will be invested in my Trading 212 portfolio 😊.. ❤

[winston]

Your maths explanation of increased accom charges not wiping out increased pay was unclear. I've ate my crayons.

[asmaar]

Hang on, does this mean a new recruit earns 25k, and not 18k anymore?

[butlerpa]

Well 6% is a good start. But the doctors have been offered 22% but that’s not enough.

[zakhall]

Can you explain the back pay more ? Just finish pirbight 1 month ago but I’m still on the basic 18k salary until September so am I going to be owed 6months backpay ? Or just from my time in basic training ?

[Steele]

Just curious, im or2-02, how does it work as in going up to or2-03 or or2-04? Many thanks in advance

[tyson]

Hey mate, I’m going up to OR-04 in August. Assuming I will not get any backdate in pay? Not sure if you can answer

[CalMcManus]

Does this mean that any LSA and other allowances paid will have the 6% increase backdated to April?

[symoncurtis]

My son started basic training with the RAF at the end of April, has passed out and is now about to start phase 2 training. He joined on £18, 687 and i think it was 6 months service before he got a salary increase to £25K approx. Do i understand you correctly that he'll now be considered to have been on £25, 200 from the day he started and that he'll get the back pay in September?

[ashleysimms]

Hey mate im due to go up increment level in october how will this be affected by the pay rise? I will be going from or4-2 to or4-3

[markblance]

Our troops deserve every penny. For me NHS and Armed forces are due every penny. Council workers and civil servants should get less the 5.5% to allow more to to to the forces.

[street]

you earned yourself a sub with harrogate billionnare comment 😂😂😂. lmaooo those boys are gona go

[johnribble]

It’s not enough, still below what nurses, fireman,police get paid, underpaid, overworked, been there done it 16 yrs, good luck to all who are in

[CampervanTravelsInDora]

Great content as always from @thesavvysquaddie but here's a novel idea - imagine the pay award process being addressed each year, so that the increase comes in on 1 April as it should 😅

[ryanredmond]

Is basic training anything like the real army?

[lordvader]

No its not enough in the current economic climate. But i guess its a tempory solution.

[Kilex]

Prior to April 2024, OR2-09 received an annual wage of £28, 873.80.

From April 2024 it has now been changed to OR2-07, but still with the same annual wage of £28, 873.80.

Will those SP previously on OR2-9 now on OR2-7 have an increase to £30, 606 and remain the same at £28, 873.30, with a MTRP End Date 31 March 2034?