The military really doesn't get enough credit for how it mangaes the hpsp. Everything for the hpsp doesn't happen exactly when it should, but it eventually does. In all, I think the hpsp has quietly become a well-oiled machine.
The yearly pay raises in the military are significant because they are comparable to the cost of living increases that occur yearly as well. Having worked some lackluster civilian jobs, I can attest that "joke" pay raises such as 0.15 an hour readily occur in the civilian world, making essentially no substantial change to the employee's standard of living.
Whether this pay raise happens or not, we can all believe that some sort of increase will take place. As clinicians, the civilian world will always offer more money and prestige, but for other skill sets, I can see why the military might appeal to them.