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

Other Pay: Selective Re-enlistment Bonus

To keep some experienced, highly skilled people in uniform, the military can offer re-enlistment bonuses.

The selective re-enlistment bonus is calculated based on length of re-enlistment, time in service and need of skills. The bonus may be paid in an up-front lump sum or it may be paid in installments.

Currently, maximum bonuses are $40,000 in the Army; $60,000 in the Air Force; $45,000 in the Marine Corps; and $75,000 in the Navy. The Navy offers people in eight nuclear-qualified supervisor specialties up to $100,000 in “enlisted supervisor retention pay,” essentially a re-enlistment bonus by another name. The Army does something similar with its “critical skills retention bonus” for personnel in certain job fields; the top payment under that program is $150,000 for Special Forces personnel who agree to stay in for an additional six years.