The salary chain links the national treasury to soldiers with their boots on the ground. It is often long and complex, with money transferring hands several times along the way. The intricacy of salary chains makes them highly susceptible to corruption—accountability is not always demanded at every step of the way.  

Corruption in the salary chain may occur at all levels. Even if just a small percentage is taken, if this occurs throughout the chain, the soldier receives far less than his or her due, or even none at all. This encourages other forms of corruption, such as demanding small bribes to supplement income, or paying to get into a higher position. The problem of salary chain corruption is often extreme in conflict environments, but is also common in peacetime.

Tackling this form of corruption requires accountability at each link in the chain, and requires that chains of command are separated from salary chains.

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