Benefit Fact Sheet
As service members advance in their military careers, there are opportunities to earn additional money. Bonuses may be available for new enlisted service members, new commissioned officers, prior service reenlistments, retention bonuses for service members in certain career fields, and bonuses for those who transfer between components to meet manning requirements.
Active Duty Service members may be eligible for a variety of bonuses. Visit your Military Personnel Flight (MPF) office for information specific to your career.
Some of the available bonuses are listed below.
The enlistment bonus, authorized by Section 331(a)(1) of Title 37, U.S.C., provides a monetary incentive that may be offered to encourage an individual with no prior military service to enlist. Specifically, the bonus is authorized when an individual agrees to enlist and serve for a specified period of obligated service. Eligible service members must:
- Possess a high school diploma, a completion or attendance certificate in lieu of a high school diploma, or a General Educational Development program certificate
- Be an initial enlistee in Regular or Reserve Component
- Have:
- Not previously served in the Military; or
- Served, but was released from such service before completing basic training requirements and the service was characterized as either honorable or uncharacterized
- Not have previously received an enlistment bonus in accordance with Subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 37, U.S.C., or Section 331(a)(1) of Title 37, U.S.C.
- Successfully complete training and become technically qualified in a designated skill if completion of such training and technical qualification forms the basis under which the bonus is paid
- Either enlist for at least two years or extend an initial period of obligated service to a total of at least two years in the Regular Component or Selected Reserve of the Reserve Component for the purpose of qualifying for award of an enlistment bonus.
The enlistment bonus for a designated military skill or the cumulative amount of enlistment bonuses to any individual must not exceed $50,000 for a minimum two-year service obligation. The length of the initial enlistment period(s) will be considered when determining bonus amounts.
The accession bonus, authorized pursuant to Section 332(a)(1) of Title 37, U.S.C., offers a monetary incentive for a service member to accept a commission or appointment as an officer and serve for a specified period on active duty or in an active. An accession bonus is authorized when an individual agrees to serve for a minimum four-year period in a designated military skill or career field, a unit, a grade, or some other role that meets a condition or conditions imposed by the Secretary of the Military Department. In addition, an eligible person must:
- Meet the qualification standards listed in DoDI 1304.26 for a commission or appointment
- Be an initial recipient of a commission or appointment in a Regular or Reserve Component
- Have completed all previous service obligations incurred as a result of receiving a bonus or special pay while serving as an enlisted service member or Reserve Officer Training Course cadet
- Not have received:
- Pre-commissioning compensation pursuant to Sections 2106, 2107, and 2107a of Title 10, U.S.C.
- Financial assistance through a loan repayment program, in accordance with Sections 16201, 16301, 16302, or 16303 of Title 10, U.S.C.
- An accession bonus in accordance with Sections 324 and 330 of Title 37, U.S.C.
- Accept a service obligation on active duty for at least four years.
Restrictions, an officer:
- May receive only one officer accession bonus during a career. Officers accessed from the enlisted ranks are eligible for an accession bonus as officers or warrant officers.
- Reappointed in a Military Service after resignation or termination of a commission or appointment from an earlier period of service is not eligible for an accession bonus.
- May not receive an accession bonus and a transfer bonus for the same period of service
The maximum accession bonus may not exceed $60,000 for a minimum four-year period of obligated service, nor may it exceed an annual amount of $15,000.
The Secretary of the Military Department may offer a prior service reenlistment bonus to individuals with previous service who reenlist after a break in active duty or reserve duty. The service member must:
- Not have previously received, or currently be entitled to, a Selective Retention Bonus (SRB) in accordance with this issuance or a critical skills retention bonus in accordance with Section 355 of Title 37, U.S.C.
- Not have more than 16 years of total military service and have received an honorable discharge at the conclusion of all previous periods of service.
- Not have been released, or not be released, from active duty for the purpose of enlistment in a Reserve Component.
- Provide either:
- The original DD Form 214 (copy 1 or copy 4)
- A reproduction of the DD Form 214 with a certified true copy stamp and the appropriate Federal Government authenticating seal imprinted on the reproduction for any period of previous service; or
- Other official documentation verifying member’s satisfactory participation for all periods of previous service in the Active Component and Selected Reserve.
- Successfully complete any additional training or re-training required to become technically qualified in a designated critical skill for which the member is projected to occupy.
- Reenlist for at least three years in the Regular or Reserve Component for the purpose of qualifying for award of a prior service reenlistment bonus in accordance with this issuance.
- Execute an agreement to serve as an enlisted member in the Regular or Reserve Component for a period of not less than three years upon acceptance of the agreement by the Secretary of the Military Department.
The prior service reenlistment bonus amount must not exceed $20,000 for each year of obligated service in a Regular Component. The Secretary of the Military Department concerned will determine the bonus amount based on a business case model that targets retention of adequate levels of enlisted personnel in a reenlistment or extension category. Members may not receive more than one prior service reenlistment bonus for a career.
Retention Bonus
A retention bonus authorized in accordance with Section 331(a)(3) of Title 37, U.S.C., provides a monetary incentive that may be offered to retain adequate numbers of qualified enlisted personnel in certain reenlistment categories. Specifically, the bonus may be used to obtain the reenlistment or voluntary extension of an enlistment in exchange for a member’s agreement to serve for a specified period. The Secretary of the Military Department must consider the following when designating a military skill for the purposes of paying a retention bonus:
- The critical personnel shortage in a particular skill with respect to at least three of the preceding year groups, as defined by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned.
- The degree in which a retention bonus is likely to improve the reenlistment or extension category, as compared to the overall cost of the bonus.
- Retention bonuses based solely on unit, grade, or such other condition or conditions of service are subject to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASD(M&RA)) approval. Service requests will at least include the rationale for a designation, redesignation, or condition(s) of service, the requested level of payment, the number of eligible persons or members, and available funding.
- The Secretary of the Military Department concerned may establish other such criteria as unit, grade, or other condition or conditions of service with respect to skill based retention bonus; as determined necessary to mitigate a significant current or projected personnel shortage or changing force structure requirements
A retention bonus, authorized in accordance with Section 332(a)(3) of Title 37, U.S.C., and implemented by this issuance, provides a monetary incentive that may be offered by the Military Department to retain adequate numbers of qualified officers. (a) Specifically, the bonus may be used by the Military Department to obtain the voluntary extension of an officer’s service in exchange for an agreement to serve for a specified period in a designated skill, career field, unit, or grade or to meet some other condition or conditions imposed by the Secretary of the Military Department.
In order to meet the designated skill or career field criteria, the Secretary of the Military Department concerned may, with the officer’s consent, convert the officer to a designated career field or skill in which there is a shortage of trained and qualified personnel. Officers appointed after a period of disenrollment, discharge, or separation who meet the eligibility requirements in DoDI 1304.34, Paragraphs 3.1.a. and 3.4.b. may be eligible for a retention bonus.
In addition an eligible officer must:
- Have completed a minimum of four years of active commission service or qualifying service for a Reserve Component officer, in accordance with DoDI 1215.07.
- Agree to remain on active duty or in an active status for a period of at least two years.
The Secretary of the Military Department may prorate bonus amounts for retention requests greater than two years. The additional service time will be calculated on a monthly basis at a rate equal to 1/12, the annual amount. The maximum retention bonus may not exceed $25,000 for each year of obligated service in a Regular Component.
Selective Retention Bonus (SRB)
SRB is a monetary incentive paid to service members serving in certain selected critical military skills who reenlist for additional obligated service. The bonus is intended to encourage the reenlistment of sufficient numbers of qualified enlisted personnel in skills with either demonstrated retention shortfalls or high training costs. Service members can expect to serve in the SRB specialty for the entire enlistment for which the bonus was paid.
Service members qualify for the SRB if they meet all the following:
- Are serving in the grade of E3 or higher
- Are qualified and serving in an SRB skill in the appropriate zone and reflected on the current SRB authorized listing (See DAFI 36-2606, Table 4.1 for SRB Eligibility Zones)
- Service members on their initial enlistment contract who require retainability to PCS to their career field three-level awarding training course may have their additional retainability/service obligation obtained for the PCS waived for immediate reenlistment within 30 days of class graduation
- Are eligible to reenlist or extend
- Reenlist for at least three years or extend their enlistments for at least 36 months in the RegAF/USSF, without a break in service of more than 24 hours
There may be additional qualifications based on the service member’s specific situation. Refer to DAFI 36-2606, Chapter 4 or consult your local MPF for details. Refer to the Air Force Personnel Center’s Selective Retention Bonus Program for specific skills and careers that qualify for SRB.
Transfer Bonus
Transfer Between Components:
The transfer bonus provides a monetary incentive that may be offered to an enlisted member to encourage transfer between the Regular Component to the Ready Reserve of the same branch to meet manning requirements. The Secretaries of the Military Departments may pay a bonus to an enlisted member who agrees to transfer between the Regular Component and the Ready Reserve of the same branch, to obtain a member’s agreement to serve for a specified period. All intra-component transfers will be conducted in accordance with DoD Instruction 1300.04.
Transfer Bonus Eligibility Requirements, the service member:
- Has satisfactorily completed all terms of enlistment within their current component
- Is qualified for reenlistment in the Regular or Reserve Component to which the member is transferring
- Agrees to remain in the component for which the transfer bonus is offered for a minimum two-year period.
- Has fewer than 15 years of active service time.
- May not receive an intra-service transfer bonus in conjunction with an affiliation bonus.
The Secretary of the Military Department concerned will establish the amount and method of payment for the bonus (i.e., lump sum or periodic installments). The bonus amount must not exceed $10,000 and is payable upon approval of the Secretary of the Military Department concerned.
Transfer Between Services:
The transfer bonus provides a monetary incentive that may be offered to an enlisted member to encourage transfer to another branch to meet its manning requirements. In the case of an inter-Service transfer between two branch, the Secretary of the gaining Military Department may pay a bonus to an enlisted member who agrees to transfer and serve in another branch for a specified period. Inter-Service transfers include members transferring from the Regular Component or Ready Reserve to the Regular Component or Ready Reserve of a branch.
The member must have:
- Satisfactorily completed any term of enlistment as defined in the Service specific policy.
- Qualified for reenlistment in the Regular or Reserve Component to which the member is transferring.
- Before the transfer, fulfilled the requirements established by the Secretary of the gaining Military Department.
- Signed a written agreement to remain in the branch for which the transfer bonus is offered for a minimum three-year period.
- Fewer than 15 years of active service time.
- Not received of an inter-Service transfer bonus in conjunction with an affiliation bonus
The Secretary of the gaining Military Department may pay the transfer bonus in one $10,000 lump sum amount upon approval of the transfer by the Secretary of that Military Department. Alternatively, the bonus may be paid in annual installments, the total of which may not exceed $10,000.
Transfer Between Components:
The transfer bonus provides a monetary incentive for an officer to transfer from the Regular Component to the Ready Reserve of the same service to meet manning requirements. The Secretaries of the Military Departments may pay a bonus to an officer who agrees to transfer from the Regular Component to the Ready Reserve (and vice versa) and agrees to serve for a specified period in a designated military skill, career field, unit, or grade or to meet some other condition or conditions imposed by the Secretary of the Military Department. The Secretaries of the Military Departments may offer an intra-service transfer bonus in conjunction with an affiliation bonus. Officers receiving both bonuses incur an additional 12-month service obligation for a minimum service obligation of four years. All transfers among components will be conducted in accordance with DoDI 1205.05.
Transfer Bonus Eligibility Requirements, an officer must:
- Have fulfilled all service obligations satisfactorily within his or her current Regular or Reserve Component.
- Meet the qualification criteria for the transfer bonus of the Regular or Reserve Component to which the officer is transferring.
- Agree to remain in the component for which the transfer bonus is offered for a minimum of two years.
- Have fewer than 15 years of active service time.
The maximum amount for a transfer bonus may not exceed $10,000.
Transfer Between Services:
The transfer bonus provides a monetary incentive for an officer to transfer to another branch of the military to meet manning requirements of that branch. The Secretaries of the Military Departments concerned may pay a bonus to an officer who agrees to transfer to and serve in another branch for a specified period in a designated military skill, career field, unit, or grade or to meet some other condition(s) imposed by the Secretary of the gaining Military Department. Transfers between branches include officers transferring from the Regular Component or Ready Reserve one branch to the Regular Component or Ready Reserve of a different branch. The Secretaries of the Military Departments may offer an intra-service transfer bonus in conjunction with an affiliation bonus. Officers receiving both bonuses incur an additional 12-month service obligation for a minimum service obligation of four years. Officer transfers will be conducted in accordance with DoDI 1205.05 and DoDI 1300.04.
In order to successfully transfer, an officer must:
- Qualify for retention in the branch to which the officer is transferring.
- Have fulfilled all service obligations satisfactorily within the officer’s current Regular or Reserve Component.
- Meet the qualification criteria established by the Secretary of the Military Department to which the officer is transferring.
- Agree to sign a written agreement to remain in the branch for which the transfer bonus is offered for a minimum three-year period.
- Have fewer than 15 years of active service time.
The maximum amount for a transfer bonus may not exceed $10,000.
For more information about Bonuses, please visit the following websites:
Selective Retention Bonus (SRB) Program:
https://www.afpc.af.mil/Retention/
Department of the Air Force Instruction 36-2606: Reenlistment and Extension of Enlistment:
https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-2606/dafi36-2606.pdf
DoD Instruction 1304.31: Enlisted Bonus Program:
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/130431p.PDF
DoD Instruction 1304.34: General Bonus Authority for Officers:
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/130434p.pdf