The U.S. Air Force has recently decreased the number of jobs eligible for Special Duty Assignment Pay, a bonus provided for challenging assignments. This reduction, from 103 eligible positions to just 70 for the upcoming fiscal year 2024, has sparked concern and frustration due to the Air Force's lack of transparency regarding the specific jobs affected.

While the extra pay, ranging from $75 to $450 monthly, is a significant factor for many service members in choosing these assignments, families who rely on this information for budgeting are left in the dark. The list of affected jobs is currently only accessible through an internal Air Force portal (myFSS), leaving families and government watchdogs without crucial information.

Critics, including Jason Paladino, a researcher at the Project on Government Oversight, have expressed concerns over the Air Force's secrecy, emphasizing the public's right to know how taxpayer money is being allocated. Despite multiple requests for details, the Air Force has remained tight-lipped, only stating that the decisions were based on a "defendable scoring methodology" and were not influenced by budget constraints.

The Air Force press release highlighted that of the remaining 70 eligible positions, four are newly added, 48 retained their current rate, 11 saw an increase, and seven had a decrease to maintain parity with similar roles. However, the lack of specific job details continues to be a point of contention.

As of now, the Air Force has not responded to requests for comment on this matter.