Vet News: Increased National Guard Bonuses Outlined

ARLINGTON, Va. March 28, 2005 -- A substantial increase in enlistment and reenlistment bonuses for Army National Guard Soldiers that the chief of the National Guard Bureau announced in mid-December has begun to pay dividends, according to the Army Guard’s Strength Maintenance Division.

Some of the bonuses have been increased from $5,000 to $15,000. All are for enlisted personnel except for one that is earmarked for officers and warrant officers.

Guard officials continue to make a concerted effort to inform all Guard Soldiers about what is available to them if they remain in uniform as well as what is available to people who want to join the Army Guard for the first time and how much is available to people who join the Army Guard after leaving active duty service.

These are the bonuses that LTG H Steven Blum, the Guard Bureau’s chief, announced in December when he said "We’re putting our money where our mouth is." They have been spelled out in a recent edition of GX magazine based on information from the Army National Guard.

The Army Guard is offering a six-year, prior-service enlistment bonus of $15,000 with a payment schedule of 50 percent at the time of enlistment and 50 percent at the fourth-year anniversary.

The Guard is also offering a two period, three-year enlistment option of $7,500 for the first three years and $6,000 for the second three years. The payment schedule is 50 percent at the beginning of the three-year commitment and 50 percent upon completion of that commitment.

The Army Guard is offering a six-year reenlistment, or extension, bonus of $15,000 payable in a lump sum upon the reenlistment or extension. It is also offering a two period, three-year reenlistment, or extension, bonus of $7,500 for the first three years and $6,000 for the second three years. The payment schedule for that option is a lump sum upon the reenlistment or extension. Soldiers with no more than 16 years of service are eligible for this bonus.

The Army Guard is also offering $2,000 bonuses to Soldiers who agree to retrain into a critical military occupational specialty (MOS) to meet the Army Guard's needs. The payment will be made in a lump sum upon completion of the training in the new MOS. This bonus cannot run concurrently with any other incentives that the Soldier has.

There is also incentive for new people to join the Army National Guard.

It is offering non-prior service enlistment bonuses of up to $10,000 for a six-year enlistment. The Guard will pay 50 percent of that bonus upon successful completion of individual advanced training and the other 50 percent at the end of the fourth year.

Here is the breakdown:

• $10,000 for enlisting in one of the Army Guard’s 10 most critical military occupational specialties. Those are infantryman, cannon crewmember, combat engineer, military police, light-wheel vehicle mechanic, motor transport operator, health care specialist, automated logistical specialist, food service specialist, and unit supply specialist.
• $6,000 to non-prior service Soldiers who choose to train in a MOS that is considered critical to the readiness of that Soldier’s state. States cannot exceed 30 MOS’s.
• $2,000 bonuses to non-prior service Soldiers who agree to perform their initial One Stop Unit Training during the off-peak months of October through May.

The Army Guard is offering $50 for each month of obligation to another military service provided the individual agrees to join the Army Guard. The Soldiers must be assigned to a vacancy for which they are MOS qualified. The MOS must have been awarded while the Soldier was on active duty.

The Army Guard is offering $6,000 bonuses for newly commissioned officers and warrant officers and for officers affiliating from active duty. The rate of pay will be 50 percent upon commissioning and the other 50 percent on the 24-month anniversary of commissioning. Officers joining the Guard from active duty will receive 50 percent upon the execution of their contract. The other 50 percent will be paid on the 24-month anniversary of the contract.

A $20,000 Student Loan Repayment Program is being offered as an enlistment option for non-prior service people. Soldiers must have existing student loans when they enlist. Loans established or disbursed after the date of enlistment will not be reimbursed. This bonus is good only for the initial enlistment.

SOURCE: VNIS - American Forces Press Service