2021 Military Clothing (Uniform) Allowance Rates

The FY2021 military clothing allowance tables below are effective as of October 1, 2020 for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.

NOTES:

• Members of the United States Naval Academy Band, the U.S. Navy Band, Washington, DC, and all Navy Chief Petty Officers receive special cash clothing replacement allowances as follow-on to the special initial clothing allowances.
• Reserve Chief Petty Officers will receive 18 percent of the Active Duty Special Cash Clothing Replacement.  This allowance will be paid annually during the anniversary month of the qualifying member.

NOTES:

• By law, an officer is authorized a civilian clothing allowance only if the officer’s permanent duty station is outside the United States.
• Unless exception is given, the maximum amount payable for all temporary duty performed in any 36-month period will not exceed the maximum prescribed for duty of at least 30 days.
• The 15-day qualification requirement does not apply to Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Explosive Detector Dog personnel on U.S. Secret Service support duty, Defense Courier Service couriers, or Defense Threat Reduction Agency military personnel.  These personnel may be authorized up to the maximum temporary duty civilian clothing allowance for 30 days upon their initial temporary duty travel requirement.

NOTE:

• The supplementary clothing allowances listed are, unless otherwise noted, payable upon initial assignment to a normal tour of the duties described at the frequency specified in this table.  Annual allowances will be paid upon assignment and upon each subsequent anniversary date of the initial assignment or entitlement, provided the member is projected to remain in the assignment for at least 6 additional months.  Allowances to be paid as once in 3-year allowances, will be paid after 36 months from the date of any prior payment provided the individual’s condition/duties continue to require the supplementary allowance, and they are projected to remain in the assignment for at least 6 additional months.  Members will be paid allowances only when first assigned to specified duty.  A supplementary allowance may not be paid more frequently than once per year for similar duty, even if at different locations or commands or for subsequent recalls to active duty within 1-year, except by special authority of the Service Secretary or designee.
• Eligibility requires completion of Recruit Company Commander or Recruit Drill Instructor School.
• Recruiting or recruiting support duty means active duty assignment to: Navy recruiting areas, Navy recruiting districts, Navy recruiting “A” stations, Navy recruiting stations, Military Entrance Processing Stations, or to Naval Reserve activities.  It also includes Naval aviation cadet procurement teams at Naval Air Reserve activities.  It is payable to recruiters after reporting to the enlisted Navy Recruiter Orientation Course or upon completion of the Veteran Recruiter Orientation.  It is payable to recruiting support personnel upon receipt of orders to such duty.  It is payable to members in BUPERS controlled recruiting billets or a recruit support billet upon initial assignment, when specialized training is not required prior to the recruiting assignment.

Notes:

• The supplementary clothing allowances listed are, unless otherwise noted, payable upon initial assignment to a normal tour of the duties described at the frequency specified in this table.  Annual allowances will be paid upon assignment and upon each subsequent anniversary date of the initial assignment or entitlement, provided the member is projected to remain in the assignment for at least 6 additional months.  Allowances to be paid as once in 3-year allowances, will be paid after 36 months from the date of any prior payment provided the individual’s condition/duties continue to require the supplementary allowance, and they are projected to remain in the assignment for at least 6 additional months.  Members will be paid allowances only when first assigned to specified duty.  A supplementary allowance may not be paid more frequently than once per year for similar duty, even if at different locations or commands or for subsequent recalls to active duty within 1-year, except by special authority of the Service Secretary or designee.
• Eligibility requires completion of Recruit Company Commander or Recruit Drill Instructor School.
• Recruiting or recruiting support duty means active duty assignment to: Navy recruiting areas, Navy recruiting districts, Navy recruiting “A” stations, Navy recruiting stations, Military Entrance Processing Stations, or to Naval Reserve activities.  It also includes Naval aviation cadet procurement teams at Naval Air Reserve activities.  It is payable to recruiters after reporting to the enlisted Navy Recruiter Orientation Course or upon completion of the Veteran Recruiter Orientation.  It is payable to recruiting support personnel upon receipt of orders to such duty.  It is payable to members in BUPERS controlled recruiting billets or a recruit support billet upon initial assignment, when specialized training is not required prior to the recruiting assignment.

NOTES:

• The supplementary clothing allowances listed are, unless otherwise noted, payable upon initial assignment to a normal tour of the duties described and at the frequency specified in this table.  Annual allowances will be paid upon assignment and upon each subsequent anniversary date of the initial assignment or entitlement, provided the member is projected to remain in the assignment for at least 6 additional months. Allowances to be paid as once in 3-year allowances, will be paid after 36 months from the date of any prior payment provided the individual’s condition/duties continue to require the supplementary allowance, and they are projected to remain in the assignment for at least 6 additional months. Members will be paid allowances only when first assigned to specified duty. A supplementary allowance may not be paid more frequently than once per year for similar duty, even if at different locations or commands or for subsequent recalls to active duty within 1-year, except by special authority of the Service Secretary or designee.
• When the reduced maternity uniform allowance has been paid and the member subsequently qualifies for a full maternity uniform allowance within 3 years of the reduced payment, the member will receive only the difference between the two allowances. A member may not receive more than the full maternity uniform allowance value within any 36-month period. A reduced maternity uniform allowance may not be paid within 36 months of a full maternity uniform allowance.

NOTES:

• The supplementary clothing allowances listed are, unless otherwise noted, payable upon initial assignment to a normal tour of the duties described and at the frequency specified in this table. Annual allowances will be paid upon assignment and upon each subsequent anniversary date of the initial assignment or entitlement, provided the member is projected to remain in the assignment for at 6 least additional months. Allowances to be paid as once in 3-year allowances, will be paid after 36 months from the date of any prior payment provided the individual’s condition/duties continue to require the supplementary allowance, and they are projected to remain in the assignment for at least 6 additional months.  Members will be paid allowances only when first assigned to specified duty. A supplementary allowance may not be paid more frequently than once per year for similar duty, even if at different locations or commands or for subsequent recalls to active duty within 1-year, except by special authority of the Service Secretary or designee.
• Required for all SNCO whose approved duty assignment requires the white Skirt, Slacks, and Trousers.

Military Clothing Allowances Definitions

3 Basic Types of Allowances

A. Initial Clothing Allowances – 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.

B. Cash Clothing Replacement – Allowances are provided to enlisted members upon the anniversary month, each successive year following the provision of an initial clothing allowance. Cash clothing replacement allowances are for replacement of required uniform items based on a normal wear rate.

C. Extra Clothing Allowances –  They are additional to initial and replacement allowances and do not reduce, replace, or otherwise affect them. Extra clothing allowances provide for unusual circumstances when an enlisted member may require additional uniform items or when an officer (with a permanent duty station outside the United States) or enlisted member may require civilian clothes to perform their assigned duties.

Cash Clothing Replacement Allowance (Enlisted Members Only)

Basic Cash Clothing Replacement Allowance – This is a preliminary replacement allowance for uniform items. It is used during the first 3 years of active service subsequent to receipt of a Standard Initial Clothing Allowance or a reduced or partial Standard Initial Clothing Allowance.

Standard Cash Clothing Replacement Allowance – This allowance provides for replacement of uniform items after completion of 3 years of active service subsequent to receipt of a Standard Initial Clothing Allowance or a reduced or partial Standard Initial Clothing Allowance. It is also used as the preliminary replacement allowance during the first 3 years of active service subsequent to receipt of a Special Initial Clothing Allowance or a reduced or partial Special Initial Clothing Allowance.

Special Cash Clothing Replacement Allowance – This allowance provides for replacement of uniform items after completion of 3 years of active service subsequent to receipt of a Special Initial Clothing Allowance. It accrues beginning with the first day of the month following the date the member completes 36 months active duty, subsequent to receiving a Special Initial Clothing Allowance or a reduced or partial Special Initial Clothing Allowance, without regard to time lost, and continues during the remaining period of continuous active duty. It is payable annually at the end of the service member’s anniversary month using the applicable fiscal year rate then in effect. During the period for which the Special Cash Clothing Replacement Allowance is payable, the Service member is not entitled to any other cash clothing replacement allowance.

Additional Clothing Allowances

Extra Clothing Allowances – Provided in addition to any other entitled clothing allowance. Entitlement to or payment of an Extra Clothing Allowance does not replace or reduce any other clothing allowance.

Supplementary Clothing Allowances – In addition to any other clothing allowance authorized, an enlisted member may become entitled to a Supplementary Clothing Allowance. Supplementary Clothing Allowances may be authorized only for an enlisted member assigned to duty in a special organization or detail where the nature of the duty necessitates that he or she have, as a military requirement, additional quantities or special items of individual uniform clothing normally not required for most enlisted members in the same Service. Except for maternity uniforms, Supplementary Clothing Allowances may not exceed 30 percent of the current value of the Standard Initial Clothing Allowance.

Civilian Clothing Allowances

Civilian Clothing Allowances for Officers and Enlisted Personnel – In addition to any other clothing allowance authorized, service members (officer or enlisted) directed by competent authority to dress in civilian clothing more than half the time when performing official duty, as a military requirement, may be authorized a Civilian Clothing Allowance. By law, an officer is authorized a Civilian Clothing Allowance only if his or her permanent duty station is outside the United States. During any period in which an enlisted member is on an assignment requiring the wear of civilian clothing, the applicable replacement allowance for uniform items continues to accrue. The Service Secretary or Commandant of the Marine Corps may prescribe reduced civilian clothing allowances, as appropriate for their respective Service.

Temporary Duty Civilian Clothing Allowances  – Generally, the Temporary Duty Civilian Clothing Allowance is for use when the Permanent Duty Civilian Clothing Allowance is not applicable. The Temporary Duty Civilian Clothing Allowance has two maximum rates, one for temporary duty of at least 15 days within any 30-day period and one for temporary duty of at least 30 days within any 36-month period. The total amount of all Temporary Duty Civilian Clothing Allowances payable in any 36-month period will not exceed the maximum allowed for temporary duty of at least 30 days.