The Air Force’s Selective Retention Bonus (SRB) list for this year will offer payment incentives for airmen in 73 specialty codes who agree to reenlist or extend their tours.
The bonus, which takes effect Oct. 1, includes the same career fields as it did in 2023.
Eligible airmen can choose to collect the bonus in a lump sum or partial payments. The maximum allowable bonus per zone has increased to $180,000, an $80,000 increase from prior years. The career cap is set it $360,000.
Additionally, the Air Force announced that airmen now can reenlist up to 12 months before their term of service expires, opening the pool of personnel eligible to collect SRBs and maximizing the amount they can get.
The reenlistment process involves steps such as an eligibility check, including meeting the required time-in-service, time-in-grade, physical fitness standards, and the completion of any necessary training.
You also need to notify your chain of command of your intentions, starting with, for example a counseling session with a supervisor or career advisor. Expect reenlistment counseling where you can discuss options, benefits and get clarification on the retention bonus and your specific eligibility – as well as other options.
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