An Army paratrooper prepares for an airborne operation at Fort Bragg, N.C., May 14, 2025. During a visit to the base Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that Army paratroopers and jumpmasters will see an increase in hazardous duty incentive pay. (Gianna Sulger/U.S. Army)
U.S. Army paratroopers will soon have more to leap for, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced this week during a visit with 82nd Airborne Division soldiers at Fort Bragg, N.C.
“We are increasing jump pay,” Hegseth told the paratroopers during a speech Thursday at an event celebrating the famed division’s achievements over the years.
Jump pay, formally known as hazardous duty incentive pay, will increase from $150 per month to $200 for paratroopers, Hegseth said.
The jumpmasters responsible for training others on jumping techniques will receive an additional $150 per month on top of the $150 in jump pay they already earn, he said.
“Here’s to our paratroopers, our jumpmasters, who do the difficult things in difficult places that most Americans can never imagine,” Hegseth said.
In Europe, soldiers with the Vicenza, Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade also will benefit from the pay increase.
During his speech, Hegseth emphasized priorities focused on “reestablishing deterrence.”
“We’re going to bring it back to the basics,” he said. “We’re going to restore the warrior ethos ... and we are across our formations, a standard that’s set here every single day.”
In February, Hegseth ordered the base, formerly known as Fort Liberty, to revert to its original name. Now it honors World War II veteran Pvt. Roland Bragg, rather than its previous namesake, Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg.
Hegseth has explained that the change maintains a connection with generations of soldiers who served at the base.
“Nothing wrong with ‘liberty,’” said Hegseth, whose remarks drew applause from the crowd Thursday. “Give me liberty or give me death, I love it. But give me Fort Bragg every day of the week.”
The 82nd Airborne plays a central role in the military’s global response force, with units prepared to deploy anywhere in a matter of hours.
Some of the division’s troops are currently participating in training drills in Europe. Earlier this month, paratroopers jumped into Norway in a “forcible entry” operation aimed at testing the unit’s ability to fight through resistance.
