Special Duty Assignment Pay increase approved for MTIs Published June 16, 2009 WASHINGTON -- Pentagon officials recently revised Special Duty Assignment Pay for Military Training Instructors. The revision, effective June 1, increases SDAP levels for MTIs. According to officials, Air Force Basic Military Training has faced a shortage of MTIs since 2007. To incentivize MTI recruitment and retention, Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel and Manpower, approved an increase to SDAP for MTIs on June 1. "Increased accessions and the recent extension of BMT from six to eight weeks triggered a requirement for additional instructors and placed a heavy burden on our current MTIs," said General Newton. "The pay increase will help compensate MTIs for their increased workload and help with the recruitment of more." According to the Air Force Personnel Center, the increased length of basic training coupled with an increase in active-duty accessions rapidly raised the requirement for MTIs. With aggressive recruiting efforts and the increase in the SDAP, manning levels are on the rise and should meet the command's expectations this fall, said Tech. Sgt. Michelle Cardassi, NCO in charge of MTI assignments. "That said, we are still looking for high-quality Airmen who want to serve in the demanding yet rewarding MTI mission," Sergeant Cardassi added. MTIs receive SDAP based on their duty position and with the increase, will now receive the following: $300 a month for Officer Training School instructors, $375 for instructors in support positions, or $450 for BMT flight instructors at Lackland or the U.S. Air Force Academy. In addition to the increased SDAP level for permanently assigned MTIs, the personnel and manpower community also approved SDAP for Airmen performing MTI duties in a manning assist capacity (179-day temporary duty to BMT). These MTIs are authorized SDAP based on the MTI duties they perform while TDY. "SDAP is designed for duties identified as extremely demanding," Sergeant Cardassi said. She also explained SDAP may be re-evaluated and adjusted in the future to meet Air Force requirements. For more information, contact your local military personnel flight or visit the "Ask" AFPC site and search for "MTI."