Big bonuses aimed at specialized soldiers

[JohnP]

Big bonuses aimed at specialized soldiers

By Jim Tice - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 29, 2008 7:13:38 EST

Despite pending cuts in the Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program, senior NCOs in several priority specialties again are being targeted for career extension incentives of up to $150,000.

Changes to the Critical Skills Retention Bonus program took effect Dec. 22, the first update to this program since Feb. 1.

Sixteen military occupational specialties, including all MOSs of the Special Forces career management field, are eligible for CRSB incentives of $8,000 to $150,000.

Renewal of this priority program comes just days after the Army announced across-the-board cuts in the regular SRB program and Bonus Extension and Retraining, or BEAR, program on Jan. 1.

These programs are targeted at first-term and midcareer soldiers with fewer than 15 years of service.

The CSRB program is targeted at senior NCOs in priority specialties who are at or near retirement eligibility.

Most specialties in the CSRB program require extensive training and experience, and all play critical roles in the war on terrorism.

Career management field 18, Special Forces, has the largest bonuses, with lump-sum payments of $18,000 to $150,000 for sergeants first class and above who agree to service extensions of two to six years.

Soldiers who meet the specialty, rank and service requirements of the Dec. 22 CSRB chart qualify for a bonus if they meet the criteria of Army Regulation 601-280 (Army Re-enlistment program) without regard to their retention control point.

Additionally, soldiers must have fewer than 23 years of active service as of the approval date of their request.

[JohnP]

In case it wasn't noticed, $150,000.00 for a bonus??????

Is the Army losing SF E-7's and above in droves to the civilian markets? I may be mistaken, but the original intent for a bonus was to keep soldiers, sailors and airmen in the military and not to leave for the civilian sector.

Someone please straighten me out on this.

[Ben Shotalot]

SF soldiers & intel types who have a SOF background, etc. are in high demand by a various companies. I know many a SF soldier who has gone "contracting". I turned down a 3 week $10,000 job last year (to train others), only because there was no guarantee that other "contracts" were far behind. I have a family to support.

Many retire at 20 years as a SFC or MSG then go out to 'add' to the retirement paycheck, taking needed experience with them. They can live the good life and only work a few months out of the year. Most who get out earlier than 20 years are single soldiers.

Those higher bonuses are geared to retaining that experience and training, which cost the Army much more than $150,000 to begin with.