How to Read Your LES (Leave and Earnings Statement)
Your LES is the military's pay stub, published monthly in myPay. Most pay problems are caught by members who read it — here's what every section means and the five things worth checking each month.
The three money columns
- ENTITLEMENTS — everything you earn: Basic Pay, BAH, BAS, special pays (FSA, HDIP, flight pay...). Each item is listed separately, which is how you confirm a new entitlement actually started.
- DEDUCTIONS — everything taken out: federal taxes (FITW), FICA — Social Security and FICA — Medicare, state taxes (SITW), SGLI, mid-month pay (the money you already received on the 15th appears here as a deduction), TSP contributions, and any debt collections.
- ALLOTMENTS — payments you set up voluntarily (insurance, savings, support payments).
The math: Entitlements − Deductions − Allotments = End-of-month pay (=NET AMT). Your mid-month deposit was an advance on the same month, which is why it shows as a deduction.
Other blocks worth understanding
- LEAVE — BF BAL (balance carried forward), ERND, USED, CR BAL (current balance), and USE/LOSE — days you forfeit on October 1 if not taken (the cap is generally 60 days).
- FED TAXES / STATE TAXES — your filing status and the wage bases. WAGE YTD here is your taxable pay only — it's much lower than total compensation because BAH/BAS are tax-free.
- TSP — your contribution percentages and YTD totals; BRS members should confirm Agency/Service contributions are posting (that's the match).
- BAQ TYPE / DEPNS — your BAH category and dependent status; PEBD (pay entry base date) drives your years-of-service pay steps.
- REMARKS — the fine print where starts/stops/debts are explained. Read it every month.
Five things to check every month
- BAH rate and ZIP match where you actually live (look yours up).
- Years-of-service step — did your pay bump at your 2/3/4/6... year mark (check PEBD)?
- Special pays started/stopped when they should (deployments, flight status, etc.).
- TSP percentage and the 5% match (BRS) actually posting.
- USE/LOSE leave before the October 1 cutoff.
Cross-check your LES against an independent estimate of your pay.
Calculate my pay →Frequently asked questions
What is an LES?
The Leave and Earnings Statement is the military's monthly pay stub, available in myPay. It lists entitlements, deductions, allotments, leave balance, taxes, and TSP.
Why does mid-month pay show as a deduction?
Because the LES covers the whole month: the money you already received on the 15th is subtracted so the end-of-month deposit equals the remainder.
What does USE/LOSE mean on my LES?
Leave days above the carryover cap that will be forfeited on October 1 if you don't use them.