Aviation Incentive Pays

Start Here If You Are New to Aviation Incentive Pays

Three pays cover flying duty. Flying-duty HDIP for Marines required to fly but not entitled to AvIP or CSIP. AvIP for officers performing qualified flying duty. CSIP for enlisted aviation skills. Each has its own eligibility framework, rate table, and performance requirement.

This page walks you through the aviation pays from your seat as a General Marine. By the end you will know.

• The three aviation pays and how they relate
• The 4-hour-per-month flight requirement (2 hours for RC) for HDIP
• The grace-period rule for shortage of flying hours
• AvIP rates for Marine Corps officers (Table 22-10)
• CSIP for enlisted aviation skills (Air Force enlisted flyers in current scope, with Marine applicability per Service designation)

Every fact on this page comes from DoD 7000.14-R Volume 7ADoD 7000.14-R Volume 7A Chapter 22 (March 2024), DoDI 7730.67DoDI 7730.67, and Title 37 U.S.C.Title 37 U.S.C. sections 334(a), 351(a)(2), and 353.

What These Pays Are

Per Chapter 22 paragraph 1.1, the chapter describes three aviation pays.

• HDIP for flying duty.
• Aviation Incentive Pay (AvIP) for officers.
• Critical Skill Incentive Pay (CSIP) for enlisted aviation skills.

Per paragraph 2.2, the three pays are mutually exclusive in specific ways. Officers entitled to AvIP and enlisted entitled to CSIP are NOT entitled to flying-duty HDIP for the same period.

Flying Duty HDIP

Per Chapter 22 paragraph 2.0, the Secretary concerned is allowed to pay HDIP to Marines required by competent orders to participate in frequent and regular aerial flights as an aircrew member, or to non-aircrew members who otherwise meet the requirements.

Eligibility

Per paragraph 2.1.

• Required by competent orders to participate frequently and regularly in sustained, powered, controlled aerial flights.
• Generally complete 4 hours per month (2 hours for RC) of aerial flights.
• Excess hours credit forward for up to 5 subsequent consecutive months.
• A 3-month grace period allows retroactive crediting of future hours to earlier monthly requirements.

Restriction

Officers entitled to AvIP and enlisted Marines entitled to CSIP are NOT entitled to flying-duty HDIP for the same period.

Aviation Incentive Pay (AvIP)

Per Chapter 22 paragraph 3.0 and Title 37 U.S.C. section 334Title 37 U.S.C. section 334(a). Monthly pay for officers performing qualified flying duty.

Marine Corps Officer AvIP Rates

Per Chapter 22 Table 22-10, monthly AvIP rates for Marine Corps officers vary by years of aviation service and aviation career stage. The rate tables structure typically includes brackets for first 6 years, 6-12 years, 12-18 years, 18-22 years, and over 22 years.

The DTMO publishes the current Marine Corps AvIP rates at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Aviation-Pay/.

Eligibility

Officer must be qualified as a pilot, naval flight officer, combat systems officer, or qualifying aviation specialty.

Disqualifier

Officers entitled to AvIP are not entitled to flying-duty HDIP for the same period (per paragraph 2.2.1).

Flying Duty Assignment Terms

Your orders carry one of two flying duty assignments, and the assignment drives whether pay runs continuously or month to month. Per MCO 1000.6MCO 1000.6 Chapter 1 Section 2, the Marine Corps defines the terms.

• DIFOP, duty involving flying, operational. You train for an aeronautical designation or hold an operational flying billet. Operational flying time accrues.
• DIFDEN, duty involving flying, denied. No flight activity and no operational flying time accrual, though continuous entitlement survives absent another disqualifier.
• Aviation Service Entry Date (ASED). The date you first report to a squadron conducting flight training, adjusted for broken aviation service. If you trained as an enlisted Marine, the ASED is your date of commissioning.
• Officer Service Date (OSD). The date first commissioned, or the date you accepted appointment as a warrant officer, adjusted for broken officer service.
• Continuous entitlement pays regardless of assignment. Monthly entitlement pays only in a DIFOP assignment and only when you meet the flying hour minimums.

Screening points, called gates, sit at fixed years of aviation service. Failing a gate drops you from continuous to monthly entitlement.

Critical Skill Incentive Pay (CSIP)

Per Chapter 22 paragraph 5.0 and Title 37 U.S.C. section 353Title 37 U.S.C. section 353(a). Monthly pay for enlisted Marines in critical aviation skills.

Current Authorization

Per Chapter 22 Table 22-11, CSIP for Air Force enlisted flyers is the current scope. Marine Corps enlisted aviation skill applicability depends on Service-specific designation.

Eligibility

Per paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2, enlisted Marines must be qualified in a critical aviation skill designated by the Service Secretary, must execute a written agreement, and must meet performance requirements.

Disqualifier

Enlisted Marines receiving CSIP are not entitled to flying-duty HDIP for the same period (per paragraph 2.2.2).

Multiple HDIP Restriction

Per Chapter 22 paragraph 2.4, an officer receiving an incentive pay under Title 37 U.S.C. section 334Title 37 U.S.C. section 334 (AvIP) is not allowed to receive HDIP under Title 37 U.S.C. section 351Title 37 U.S.C. section 351(a)(2) for the same skill and period of service. Marines receiving a skill incentive pay under Title 37 U.S.C. section 353Title 37 U.S.C. section 353(a) are not allowed to receive HDIP under Title 37 U.S.C. section 351Title 37 U.S.C. section 351(a)(2) for the same period of service in the same career field or skill.

In addition to flying-duty HDIP, Marines (officers and enlisted) are allowed up to 2 additional HDIP payments per month under Chapter 24 conditions (parachute, demolition, etc.) provided independent eligibility is met.

Verifying Aviation Pays on the LES

A monthly LES check confirms aviation pay entries.

Step 1. Pull Your LES

Through MyPay each payday.

Step 2. Verify the Aviation Pay Line

The LES shows aviation pays as line items under Entitlements. Common abbreviations.

• AvIP or ACIP (Aviation Career Incentive Pay, the older terminology still seen on some LES formats).
• HDIP-FLY or AVHDIP.
• CSIP.

Step 3. Verify Flight Hour Requirements

For flying-duty HDIP, verify monthly flight hours meet the 4-hour requirement (2-hour for RC). The grace period covers shortfalls if future-month hours can be retroactively credited.

Step 4. Resolve Discrepancies

Coordinate with your S-1 and your aviation operations section. The reporting unit (I&I S-1 with direct UD/MIPS access, or a battalion S-1 routing through their PAC) routes through DFAS Marine Corps Pay.

Common Questions Marines Ask

I am a Marine Corps pilot at the 8-year point. What is my AvIP rate?

Per Chapter 22 Table 22-10, the AvIP rate brackets at 6-12 years of aviation service. The specific rate is in the DTMO table. Verify the current rate against the DTMO Aviation Pay table.

I am a CH-53 pilot and I missed my flight hours this month due to maintenance issues. Will my AvIP stop?

Per Chapter 22 paragraph 2.1, the grace period (3 months) allows retroactive crediting of future-month hours to earlier monthly requirements. Coordinate with your aviation operations section to verify the grace period applies. AvIP itself (officer monthly pay) is governed by Title 37 U.S.C. section 334Title 37 U.S.C. section 334 with separate continuity rules.

I am crew chief on an MV-22. Do I get flying-duty HDIP?

Per Chapter 22 paragraph 2.0, flying-duty HDIP applies to aircrew required by competent orders to participate frequently and regularly in aerial flights. As a crew chief, you should qualify if your billet is documented as aircrew with the 4-hour/month requirement. Verify with your S-1.

What is the difference between AvIP and the older "ACIP" I see on my LES?

ACIP (Aviation Career Incentive Pay) is the older name for the officer aviation pay. AvIP (Aviation Incentive Pay) is the current statutory and regulatory designation. Some LES formats and historical references still use ACIP. The pay is the same.

I am AvIP-eligible AND parachute-qualified. Do I get both?

Yes. AvIP plus parachute HDIP (military free fall, $225) is allowed. The restriction is that officers entitled to AvIP cannot receive flying-duty HDIP. Other HDIP categories (parachute, demolition, etc.) are independent. The 3-HDIP-per-month maximum applies across all categories.

Where to Go for Help

Routing by Issue

• AvIP rate verification. The DTMO Aviation Pay table at https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Aviation-Pay/.
• Flying-duty HDIP flight hour tracking. Your aviation operations section with backup from the unit S-1.
• CSIP eligibility for enlisted Marines. Coordinate with your S-1 against the Marine Corps designated critical aviation skills list.
• LES corrections for aviation pay. Your S-1 routes through DFAS Marine Corps Pay.
• DFAS Marine Corps Pay direct contact. Phone 1-888-332-7411 (DSN 312-571-9450 from overseas).

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Pay and Entitlements landing page lists all the pay topics.
• Aviation Bonus covers the parallel bonus framework for Marine Corps officer pilots.
• Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay covers other HDIP categories.

Related Roles

• Leaders track Marines' flight hour requirements and surface aviation pay eligibility.
• Admin at S-1 processes aviation pay starts, stops, and corrections through the reporting unit.
• Commanders certify aircrew billet assignments and ensure aviation pay flow continues during the assignment period.

Aviation pays are time-sensitive. Track flight hours monthly. The 3-month grace period covers occasional shortfalls. Stack with other HDIP categories up to the 3-per-month cap.