Fifty new Soldiers take the oath of enlistment during a break in the 108th annual Army Navy football game in Baltimore, Md. Dec 1, 2007. (Photo by Kenneth Drylie, IMCOM)
By: FEDweek StaffNew Army recruits who agree to serve for at least six years could qualify for enlistment bonuses amounting to as much as $50,000. The total would depend upon selected career field, individual qualifications, enlistment-contract length, and the ship date for training. In the past, such incentives topped out at $40,000.
The Army is offering the bonuses in hopes of luring prospective talent away from the private sector and other services.
“This is an opportunity to entice folks to consider the Army,” said Brig. Gen. John Cushing, the deputy commanding general for operations at U.S. Army Recruiting Command. “We’ve taken a look at critical [military occupational specialties] we need to fill in order to maintain the training bases, and that is where we place a lot of our emphasis.”
The incentives are higher for infantry and Special Forces, as well as radar repairers, signal support systems specialists and motor transport operators. Recruits who agree to “quick ship” to basic training within 90 days of signing up could receive anywhere from $2,000 to $9,000.
Those who select airborne training could get $10,000. Getting Ranger-qualified could bring as much as $20,000. New soldiers who qualify for $50,000 would meet a combination of qualifiers.
“We know this generation likes to have the opportunity to make their own decisions, so now they can choose where they want to be assigned after training. We didn’t have that last year,” said Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, Recruiting Command’s top officer. “We also have opened two-year enlistments for 84 different career fields. Many people are apprehensive about long-term commitments right now, so we think having a shorter option will help give them some time to see if the Army fits their life and goals.”
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