Posted on 12/19/2025 8:35:02 AM PST by Miami Rebel
President Donald Trump's promised one-time $1,776 payment for U.S. service members dubbed a “Warrior Dividend” is being framed as both a financial boost and a symbolic gesture tied to the nation’s founding.
The announcement made Wednesday evening during a nationally televised address immediately sparked questions across the force—not just about the money itself but about who actually qualifies, when it would show up on paychecks, whether it would be taxed, and whether it would affect existing pay and benefits.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a video posted Thursday morning on X, said the payments will be tax-free and issued to more than 1.45 million service members "in the coming days." He made a mention of payments being issued before Christmas.
He said the payments provide "a whole new modern meaning" to 1776 and the American Revolution, as well as to the current joint force, praising Trump's "unwavering commitment" for the military.
"This has never happened before, every member of our military from E-1 to O-6," Hegseth said.
In the hours after the speech, similar questions repeatedly surfaced across installations, unit group chats, and military family networks. While Hegseth provided some context regarding the tax aspect, most other questions currently remain unanswered.
Trump said the administration plans to issue a one-time $1,776 payment to roughly 1.4 million active-duty and eligible reserve service members, tying the amount to 1776—the year of American independence.
White House officials have said the payment would apply to service members through the rank of colonel (or Navy captain equivalent), but final eligibility rules have not yet been released by the Department of Defense.
Active-duty service members are expected to be the primary eligible group based on Trump’s remarks and historical precedent.
However, no formal eligibility memo has been released....
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
The problem with “one-time gifts” is that they are just that - one time. Why not raise salaries?
Doing the RIGHT THING !!!
Should be sent out right after the tariff and DOGE dividends.
If you were a young soldier, would you rather have $3.50 extra on your check each month starting next year sometime, or $1776 right now before Christmas ?
I believe they are also getting a 4% increase to their Base Pay.
Well, have to see if Congress approves.
I LIVE ON SOC SEC OF $1488 A MONTH.
I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO GET A NON- TAXABLE PAYMENT OF $1776.
Where are you getting $3.50 a month?
Raises are in the package they just passed.
My neighbor says her grandson already got his check.
There’s another problem COP—servicemembers, especially young ones without significant obligations or responsibilities outside just themselves, making it to muster, etc., tend to have a thorny problem: Blowing bonus cash almost immediately on wasteful and unnecessary things.
For all of them to become temporarily semi-rich all at once is, frankly, to invite booze-filled, extravagance-strewn mayhem.
This Guy suggests parceling out the $1776 over six months instead of all at once.
Here's a thought. How about looking at it for what It is?? More than money, it is a gesture of gratitude to the 1% putting their butts on the line.
Was a young military member - a booze filled few days with a few of my co-military sounds like perfect use of the $$$...
Absolutely!
It’s not happening right now.
The politicians want the gifts to have influence
To curry favor. And dependency.
(I’d be fine with a pay raise but people tend to believe they actually earn their wages. It is clearer to them when some politicians bestow “gifts” on them that they’re supposed to be thankful for the largesse. And show it with their votes
If Biden had done this there wouldn’t be all these so-called questions. The msm would be saying how great it was and not one peep about questions, confusion etc like downplaying this as it’s more trouble than it’s worth. I paid $2.34 a gallon for gas today, where’s that news?
“Why not raise salaries?”
One possibility. Why not use it for expanded health care, VA hospitals, home renovations for disabled, boosting social security for members both retired and active... I’m sure there are a number of things they can do with the money rather than give it to the members to spend in a retail economy that would do good for all. Not everyone is depending on gifts like this while working. And with today’s salaries and amenities, the active member is living far greater than from years past. We have a lot of vets that need help, some more than others. We shouldn’t leave soldiers behind.
And even though it is money under the tree, it could be, accumulated, maybe better used by those that need it more. And if Trump wants to make it even more desirable, make it a tax write off as a donation. Everyone gets use of it that way.
wy69
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