Military Pay, pay raises, pay allowances, pay charts - Military Times

Other Pay: Nuclear Duty

Navy officers with critical skills in the nuclear field are eligible for several kinds of special pay:

å A one-time accession bonus composed of two parts: a nuclear officer accession bonus and a nuclear career accession bonus. The first is paid to those who sign a contract to participate in naval officer nuclear power training; the second is paid upon successful completion of officer training in connection with the supervision, operation and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants.

The Navy is authorized by law to pay up to $20,000 in combination for both parts of the bonus, but currently limits payments to $15,000 for the nuclear officer accession bonus and $2,000 for the nuclear career accession bonus.

å Nuclear officer continuation pay of $25,000 per year for three, four- and five-year contracts, and $22,000 per year for three-year contracts.

A change in law under the 2008 Defense Authorization Act extends eligibility for nuclear officer continuation pay to 30 years of service; previously, the pay ended at 26 years of service.

å A nuclear career incentive bonus of $10,000 per year for chief warrant officers and limited duty officers; $12,500 per year for unrestricted line officers and lateral transfer officers; and $22,000 per year for those who are serving or have served as major command unrestricted line officers or major program acquisition professionals.

All nuclear duty special payments are taxable.