Where your LES comes from
myPay (DFAS). Log into myPay at mypay.dfas.mil with your CAC or login credentials. Your LES posts a few days before each end-of-month payday. Soldiers also see personnel data in IPPS-A, but the LES itself comes from myPay.
Army-specific gotchas
- IPPS-A and the pay system talk to each other, and the handoff is where Army pay breaks. Promotions, duty station changes, and dependent updates entered in IPPS-A can take a cycle or two to reflect on your LES. If a change you made is not on the next LES, do not assume it is coming. Ask.
- Army National Guard and Reserve members switching between drill status and active orders are the single most error-prone group in military pay. GAO documented widespread pay problems for mobilized Guard soldiers. If you mobilize or demobilize, audit your next three statements line by line.
- Special duty pays (drill sergeant, recruiter SDAP) are tied to the assignment. Arriving and leaving those billets is when the start and stop errors happen.
The five lines to check every month
- BASE PAY: Basic Pay errors almost always happen at a promotion or when your Pay Entry Base Date is recorded wrong.
- BAH: BAH is the number one source of real pay errors.
- CR BAL: This is the number to plan vacations and terminal leave around.
- REMARKS: Read the remarks every single month.
- DEBT: You have rights here.