CommunityEditor
04-23-2009, 08:57 PM
The Bonus Extension and Retraining (BEAR) program will be hit by several rate cuts in late April similar to those pending for the regular Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program.
Reductions to the Enhanced SRB program were announced in early April, and will take effect April 24, the same day as the new cuts for the BEAR program.
Both of these programs are targeted at Regular Army enlisted soldiers.
The BEAR program is a force alignment tool that allows soldiers in overstrength specialties to re-enlist and retrain in a new MOS, and collect a flat-rate, lump sum cash bonus upon the successful completion of training. Reclassifications typically are limited to shortage MOS and priority specialties, such as Special Forces, military intelligence and communications.
Retention bonus rates and categories have been in a steady decline since January, when re-enlistments sharply increased, apparently the result of rising unemployment in the civilian sector.
The April 24 changes to the BEAR program eliminate short-term extensions in the critical skills category, while cutting bonus rates across this category of 13 MOS.
For example, bonuses for Zone A staff sergeants who re-enlist for five years drop from $12,500 to $9,500, while rates for the similar Zone B category plunge from $16,000 to $12,000, and for Zone C from $12,000 to $6,000.
The revised BEAR program does introduce a new category for certain 68W (health care specialists) who re-enlist for assignments to general support aviation battalions and Special Operations Command. Bonus rates for the Critical Skill Location Option range from $1,500 to $15,500 for service extensions of 12 months to five years or more.
Article: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/04/army_bear_042309w/
Chart: http://www.armytimes.com/projects/careers/army/enlistmentbonusupdates/2009/04/
Reductions to the Enhanced SRB program were announced in early April, and will take effect April 24, the same day as the new cuts for the BEAR program.
Both of these programs are targeted at Regular Army enlisted soldiers.
The BEAR program is a force alignment tool that allows soldiers in overstrength specialties to re-enlist and retrain in a new MOS, and collect a flat-rate, lump sum cash bonus upon the successful completion of training. Reclassifications typically are limited to shortage MOS and priority specialties, such as Special Forces, military intelligence and communications.
Retention bonus rates and categories have been in a steady decline since January, when re-enlistments sharply increased, apparently the result of rising unemployment in the civilian sector.
The April 24 changes to the BEAR program eliminate short-term extensions in the critical skills category, while cutting bonus rates across this category of 13 MOS.
For example, bonuses for Zone A staff sergeants who re-enlist for five years drop from $12,500 to $9,500, while rates for the similar Zone B category plunge from $16,000 to $12,000, and for Zone C from $12,000 to $6,000.
The revised BEAR program does introduce a new category for certain 68W (health care specialists) who re-enlist for assignments to general support aviation battalions and Special Operations Command. Bonus rates for the Critical Skill Location Option range from $1,500 to $15,500 for service extensions of 12 months to five years or more.
Article: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/04/army_bear_042309w/
Chart: http://www.armytimes.com/projects/careers/army/enlistmentbonusupdates/2009/04/