"Air Force Introduces Cold-Weather Incentive Pay for North Dakota Bases"

The Department of the Air Force has approved cold weather pay for airmen and Guardians stationed at seven U.S. bases with extreme cold conditions, effective April 1. The new lump-sum payment is aimed at incentivizing service members to serve at least a yearlong tour in locations where temperatures can drop 20 degrees below zero. The pay ranges from $500 to $5,000 depending on location and dependents, and is intended to ease the financial burden of purchasing cold weather essentials. The announcement comes more than a year after the passage of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, and is part of the Air Force's efforts to take care of service members and their families stationed at critical installations in extreme cold-weather environments.