How are special pays introduced into a Sailor's pay, and who authorizes them?

• A. Special pays are assigned automatically without documentation.
• B. Special pays are optional extras chosen by the Sailor.
• C. Special pays are granted only after retirement.
• D. Special pays require eligibility and authorization by the appropriate authority, usually with documentation.

Answer: (D)

Special pays are added to pay only after the sailor meets the required criteria and the entitlement is officially approved. This involves eligibility being verified and the appropriate authority authorizing the pay, with the necessary documentation (orders or official paperwork) in place. When these steps are completed, the special pay is formally included in the sailor’s compensation.

This isn’t automatic, not something a sailor can simply decide on their own, and it isn’t something granted only after retirement. It’s an entitlement tied to specific duties or conditions that requires proper authorization and documentation.