DUSHANBE, January 6, 2014, Asia-Plus – In press release issued on January 3, the United States Department of Defense announced the recertification of some locations as imminent danger pay areas while discontinuing that designation for others.

A periodic review and recertification was conducted for Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) purposes and was made in coordination with the joint staff, combatant commands and military services.  The combatant commands conducted in-depth threat assessments for countries within their areas of responsibility.

Following the Defense Department’s review, it was determined that the imminent threat of physical harm to U.S. military personnel due to civil insurrection, civil war, terrorism, or wartime conditions  has been significantly reduced in many countries.  As a result, IDP will be discontinued in those areas. 

IDP is authorized in areas designated by the Defense Department.  Periodic recertification of IDP ensures that imminent danger designations match the actual conditions of designated countries so that the department can provide fair entitlements and benefits.  The last recertification was completed in 2007.

The following locations will no longer be designated as imminent danger areas for IDP purposes, effective June 1, 2014: the nine land areas of East Timor, Haiti, Liberia, Oman, Rwanda, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan; the six land areas and airspace above Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, and Montenegro; the four water areas of the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea; and the water area and air space above the Persian Gulf.

IDP will remain in effect for Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, and Egypt within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility