What's inside

• Page 1: a sample LES with all 15 sections numbered and color-coded, plus a two-minute check for every LES

• Page 2: every section, what it means, and the one thing worth checking

• Page 3: find your situation: new to the military, drilling Guard and Reserve, short orders, AGR and long orders, dual-status technicians, deployed, overseas, and jobs with special pays

• Page 4: the codes people ask about, how to read your leave, and plain definitions of the words on your LES

• Page 5: what to do when something looks wrong, and who to ask in each service

The Monthly Check and Problem Log gives you a 12-month checklist that matches the guide, and one place to record every pay problem: what was wrong, who you talked to, the case number, and when to follow up. It flags follow-ups when they come due.

Who it's for

New members reading their first LES, spouses who handle the family money, Guard and Reserve members, and leaders helping someone read theirs. Covers the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force. No military pay experience needed. Marines: your LES layout differs but is still on myPay. Coast Guard: your statement is in Direct Access through the Pay and Personnel Center. Army pay is changing over to IPPS-A; until your unit says otherwise, myPay has your LES.

Why I built this

At the Force Support Squadron, the pay problems that hurt people most were the ones nobody caught for months. A BAH rate that never updated. A debt that started with no explanation. Leave that disappeared on October 1. Most of them showed up on the LES first. Two minutes a month would have caught them.

Brian Mongold, Chief Master Sergeant (retired), former Force Support Squadron senior enlisted leader

Common questions

How often should I check my LES?

Every month, and again after any big change: a PCS, promotion, marriage, new child, deployment, or new orders. Guard and Reserve members should check after every drill payment and every set of orders.

Where do I find my LES?

In myPay (mypay.dfas.mil). It also has your W-2, tax withholding, TSP elections, and direct deposit. Coast Guard members use Direct Access.

What does USE/LOSE mean on my LES?

It is the leave over your carryover limit, usually 60 days, that you are projected to lose if you do not take it by September 30, the end of the fiscal year. Zero is the goal.

Why is mid-month pay listed as a deduction?

On an active duty end-of-month LES, the mid-month payment you already received is subtracted so you are not paid twice. Your EOM PAY is what is left.

Why don't I have allotments as a drilling Guard or Reserve member?

Drilling members usually cannot have allotments, so section 4 stays empty. AGR members and members on orders over 180 days can have them.

What do I do if there is a debt on my LES?

Read the remark for the cause and balance, then ask your finance office for the debt notice in writing. You can ask about a payment plan, and you can apply for a waiver or remission on DD Form 2789.

Who fixes my LES?

Army: your S-1 first, then finance. Navy: your CPPA or PSD. Air Force and Space Force: your Comptroller Squadron for pay, your Commander Support Staff for grade, dates, and leave. Marines: your IPAC. Coast Guard: your SPO. For missed drill pay, start with your unit admin or readiness office.

Why did my federal taxes drop to almost nothing while deployed?

In a combat zone, pay is excluded from federal income tax for each month you serve there, with a limit for commissioned officers. Social Security and Medicare still come out.

Help keep this accurate

DFAS and your service finance office are the official sources, and this guide points you to them. Something out of date or wrong? Send me a note and I will fix it.

Version 1.2. Checked October 2026. Official sources: DFAS (dfas.mil), myPay (mypay.dfas.mil), Military Compensation (militarypay.defense.gov), TSP (tsp.gov), FINRED (finred.usalearning.gov).

The fine print

This is an unofficial plain-language summary. Not affiliated with DFAS or DoD. Not legal, tax, or financial advice.

More free tools

Guard Orders and Pay Tracker, TSP Contribution and Match Check, and How to Read Your Civilian LES. See more Guard and Reserve tools or all free tools.