Military.com reports that “President Barack Obama on Wednesday set the military pay raise at 1.6 percent for next year.”

“The figure is higher than the 1 percent increase he approved for civilian employees in the federal government but lower than the 2.1 percent bump service members are supposed to receive under the formula in current law.”

“The change to monthly basic pay will take effect Jan. 1 and marks the fourth straight year troops will see their pay raise fall short of private sector-wage growth.”